If Underclass Hero had....

[fergal41]

Does anyone think that if Underclass Hero had come out in Autumn 2004 instead of Chuck that it would have gone mega-platinum seeing as it's quite similar to American Idiot?

[Heather]

personally I don't think it sounds anything like AI. I think Chuck came out at the right time and so did UH

[fergal41]

Not that it sounds the exact same as American Idiot cos it doesnt. I just think they're similar enough albums in style and even the way there is (supposedly) a common theme running through both albums. I think Underclass Hero would definately appeal to the American Idiot buyers of 2004 but I'm not too sure if it would have launched the Sums back to the superstardom of the All Killer days

[d4rkst4r]

You can't compare albums like that and changing the time period. Look at the bands image in 2004 compared to 2007. Underclass wasn't even written until the problems started to form (dave not wanting to play anymore).

[Billy41]

personally I don't think it sounds anything like AI. I think Chuck came out at the right time and so did UH

[Bobbyjames]

i reckon if UH came out in 1964, it would of revolutionised the way people looked at music, and changed their politcal views and made babies.

sadly it came out in 2007 and done fuck all.

[CIRCUITzach]

i reckon if UH came out in 1964, it would of revolutionised the way people looked at music, and changed their politcal views and made babies.

sadly it came out in 2007 and done fuck all.

lmfao

[xmarryxx]

You can't compare albums like that and changing the time period. Look at the bands image in 2004 compared to 2007. Underclass wasn't even written until the problems started to form (dave not wanting to play anymore).

i agree

[Jeremy Kill]

i reckon if UH came out in 1964, it would of revolutionised the way people looked at music, and changed their politcal views and made babies.

sadly it came out in 2007 and done fuck all.

That.

And I think I made a topic like this a while back. I also asked if Underclass Hero (the song) replaced Fat Lip, if Sum 41 would've still became as popular.

Anyways, I do believe they would've become more popular if Underclass came out in 2004 than with Chuck. Only because more people seem to like happy Sum 41 than good Sum 41.

[fergal41]

You can't compare albums like that and changing the time period.

I think you need to read the post again... I'm not at all comparing the two albums. I'm asking for the opinion of the users of this forum on whether they think one album would have better suited to a different musical landscape than the one it was released in.
The latter part of your post is quite irrelevant too!

Sorry I'm not trying to come across as a dickhead honestly maybe the question was misunderstood or whatever?

[fergal41]

Anyways, I do believe they would've become more popular if Underclass came out in 2004 than with Chuck. Only because more people seem to like happy Sum 41 than good Sum 41.

Yeah but, if you think it would have been more popular solely for that reason, what stopped it from being such a hit in 2007?

I think that, for a few different reasons, Underclass Hero as an album would be much more suited to that time period .

[Jeremy Kill]

Anyways, I do believe they would've become more popular if Underclass came out in 2004 than with Chuck. Only because more people seem to like happy Sum 41 than good Sum 41.

Yeah but, if you think it would have been more popular solely for that reason, what stopped it from being such a hit in 2007?

Well, in 2007 Sum 41's singles barely got any radio play since Deryck herniated his back at the beginning of the Strength in Numbers tour and the few months that the band had off lost pretty much all momentum. The promotion for the album was pretty crap as well. I think I've heard Pieces and Fat Lip on the radio more times than I've heard all of Underclass Hero's singles. If Deryck didn't injure himself, there would've been a better response to the new album. I guess that can't really be helped.

Also, the actual music isn't that good at all. I think this review is the most accurate.

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/sum ... class-hero

[Nic]

Does anyone think that if Underclass Hero had come out in Autumn 2004 instead of Chuck that it would have gone mega-platinum seeing as it's quite similar to American Idiot?

No

[casper]

no, if it came out when chuck did then it wouldve followed DTLI? and sum fans still wouldve been like wtf is this. even if it had come out in 04 you cant substitute that for the serious flaws in the album and shitty promotion.

plus green day always had more popularity and appeal than sum 41 even though the sums were pretty popular in their all killer days. i still hear green day all the time on the radio, old and new. Sum 41, not so much.

[upperclasszero]

nope

[LTS]

Please don't compare American Idiot to Underclass Hero...

that's like comparing sex to.... non-sex...

[xmarryxx]

^thats an opinion
i actually didn't like american idiot as much as i liked greendays earlier albums. and i certiantly didn't like it more than underclass hero. (although that may be slightly biased)

[rockindrummer41]

i reckon if UH came out in 1964, it would of revolutionised the way people looked at music, and changed their politcal views and made babies.

sadly it came out in 2007 and done fuck all.

That.

And I think I made a topic like this a while back. I also asked if Underclass Hero (the song) replaced Fat Lip, if Sum 41 would've still became as popular.

Anyways, I do believe they would've become more popular if Underclass came out in 2004 than with Chuck. Only because more people seem to like happy Sum 41 than good Sum 41.

I know that someone posted this saying almost the exact same thing a while back. Also, I agree with fenderrocks that Chuck and UH came at the right time.

[Jeremy Kill]

seeing as it's quite similar to American Idiot?

Okay, I've compiled a list of the similarities between Underclass Hero and American Idiot and I've been itching to just post them without looking like a douche. And before you say that parts of it are nit-picky, yes, some of it is, but that's more for a "Fun Fact" thing than a true similarity.



Both albums...
Are named similar. They can both be used as titles (i.e. He's an American Idiot, she's an Underclass Hero). Both title tracks start off their respective albums and are pretty much the "mood-setter." So, track 1 of American Idiot is American Idiot. Track 1 of Underclass Hero is Underclass Hero.

The title tracks...
Underclass Hero and American Idiot, have the same style of solo. Musically, they are composed the same and both solos just use the melody of the respective song's chorus. To see a comparison, watch this video at "3:01".

Walking Disaster...
Is basically the story of Jesus of Suburbia in a nutshell. The story goes: kid hates life, kid leaves town, kid is surprised how much life sucks and decides to come back home. The difference is Sum 41 does it in one song, Green Day uses it as the backbone of their rock opera. Also, the second verse of Walking Disaster is similar to the verses in Dearly Beloved (from the Jesus of Suburbia 9-minute behemoth):

Dearly Beloved:

Dearly beloved are you listening?
I can't remember a word that you were saying
Are we demented or am I disturbed?
The space that's in between insane and insecure
Oh therapy, can you please fill the void?
Am I retarded or am I just overjoyed
Nobody's perfect and I stand accused
For lack of a better word, and that's my best excuse

Walking Disaster:

As far as I can tell
It's just voices in my head
Am I talking to myself?
'Cause I don't know what I just said
(And she said)
Far is where I fell
Maybe I'm better off dead
Am I at the end of nowhere
Is this as good as it gets?

Both Deryck and Billie...
Write about their fathers. Now I know Deryck wanted to write a song about his dad, but never had the courage to do so until now. The only problem I have with Dear Father though, is that it doesn't sound real to me, like there's no emotion in the song. When I listen to it, it sounds unfinished. The lyrics are pretty weak on that song as well.

The Les Paul Junior...
Makes an appearance on both albums. There's nothing wrong with that. I'm just saying. Also, I don't think the Junior would've really been used on Chuck anyways since Chuck was a heavier album.

Political Rants...
Exist in both March of the Dogs and Holiday. Both are presented with a distorted effect on the voice giving it that megaphone effect.

Holiday:

Sieg Heil to the president Gasman
Bombs away is your punishment
Pulverize the Eiffel towers
Who criticize your government
Bang bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the fags that don't agree
Trials by fire, setting fire
Is not a way that's meant for me
Just cause, just cause, because we're outlaws yeah!

March of the Dogs:

And now the president's dead
Because they blew off his head
No more neck to be red
Guess to heaven he fled
Was it something he said
Because of who's in his bed
By whom will we be led?
From whose hand will we be fed?
All the lies by the lying liars who said
We'll be fine,
It's OK,
Hey look mom no head!

St. Jimmy is the king of 40 thieves and...
"Here to represent! The needle in the vein of the establishment!"

The Underclass Heroes are...
"Here to represent! The spit right in the face of the establishment!"

Track 10 on both albums...
Have screams. Letterbomb's scream occurs at 2:20, Pull the Curtain's scream happens at 2:00.

The solo on Best of Me...
Had to have been inspired by the solo of Wake Me Up When September Ends, it just had to.

Empty streets, vital signs...
Have made appearances on both albums.

The beginning of Letterbomb...
Sounds like the beginning of Take a Look at Yourself.

---
Even though it's not comparing to American Idiot, So Long, Goodbye is like Good Riddance in that it incorporates the same three chords played in Good Riddance and the first lines of both songs sound way too similar. Time and direcion?

Good Riddance:

Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.

So Long, Goodbye:

Time passes by, direction unknown.

Hell yeah, I got bored!

[I'm A Cunt [*banned*]]

Underclass Hero got pwnt.


Still, Sum > green day. for me at least.