Pop Goes Punk 5 is the fifth compilation (usually one is released every year) of fairly recent pop songs covered by bands with a usually less generic or mainstream approach to music, however the way they have performed these songs brings a much more approachable insight into the bands in general - in other words, those who may have given bands such as Memphis May Fire a miss for whatever reason may find themselves becoming fans.
The aforementioned Memphis May Fire kick off the album with a cover of ‘Bruno Mars’ Grenade’, whilst staying true to the original they give it their own distinctive flare of synthesised vocals and pounding complex double bass beats and layered with a vocal clarity that would make Bruno himself blush, a very original piece of work despite being a cover.
Upon This Dawning bravely attempt the infamous ‘Carly Rae Jepson’s – Call Me Maybe’ next, but there’s something about this song that isn’t right, and I didn’t figure it out until the third or fourth listen; the drums are slightly out, it seems the drummer is playing in a 6/4 time signature to a 4/4 song and it gives the sense of bad rhythm, and the synth is inappropriately misplaced in contrast to the vocals, which actually aren’t bad, but the song is uncommonly ruined by the instruments.
The next song is my favourite from the album, Mayday Parade totally claim ‘Gotye’s – Somebody That You Used To Know’, the way they have incorporated it into their trademark sound, it gives you a totally new perspective to an already originally good song, they in fact make it brilliant. Vic Fuentes from Pierce The Veil provides the female perspective of the song, the band is tight totally on top of their game.
We Came As Romans do a disappointingly mediocre cover of ‘Glad You Came’ next, similar to Like Moths To Flames go at ‘Fun’s – Some Nights’, both of these songs can be lumped into a simple category, bland. It’s not that they don’t have a good attempt, perhaps it’s the song choice, they just fails to inspire or create a mood much different to the original songs.
Breathe Carolina go Jackson with ‘Billie Jean’, a refreshing almost halfway point for the album, you’ll find yourself dancing along to this one. It could be argued the song is over synthesised, they have also ‘dubstepped’ it up slightly. I think it works quite well.
My least favourite is next, Forever The Sickest Kids cover ‘Rihanna’s – We Found Love’, the vocalist actually sounds like Rihanna, not punk, nuff said.
Issues cover another controversial song, ‘Justin Beiber’s – Boyfriend’, they metal the song up something chronic, with a solo and blasting drums, jumping into intensity, makes you actually like the song, a very good cover.
I’ll finish on The Maine’s cover of ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’, personally it is a brilliant track, they have kept all the original components of the song, but staged it out in different ways, slightly faster but I feel more true to the song’s original purpose. You can really tell these guys want to have fun. It’s the kind of song you imagine yourself performing to a crowd, done with an impressive uncaring that makes you want to stick this one on repeat over and over again.
Overall, Pop Goes Punk 5 is quite a clever simile for the quality of pop music this year, some of it is good, and some of it you’ll hate, more frequently though you find yourself annoyed at why X band has done some certain bit in the song or smiling to yourself in how they’ve incorporated something you really love. Definitely worth a listen as there’s something for everyone in there, be it your girlfriend, boyfriend, mum or dad.
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