For all you angst-lovers out there, the hype around New Found Glory's new release called Not Without a Fight is that it returns to the band's former punk rock glory and shies away from the softer side of previous releases like Catalyst and Coming Home. This album supposedly shows that they are "back to their roots" after a long hiatus from which fans were not quite sure they would ever come back. So I'm reading all of these reviews and I'm thinking about how there must be something wrong with me because I actually liked Coming Home. I mean, does everyone think if Jordan's not screaming and spitting into the microphone (for all of you who don't know, this is definitely what he does live), that it's not the real NFG? Can't punk rockers show their sensitive side at times too? No one had a problem with Blink's "I Miss You."

I mean sure I love the old stuff from Self-Titled and Sticks and Stones, but when you listen to a song like "Boulders" off of Coming Home, with its slow, steady guitar lines and choir vocal breakdown, how can you not give them credit for doing something different? When you think about hearing an album for the first time, songs like that are the ones that are going to stick out right away. For me, nothing really sticks out yet on Not Without a Fight. I'm not saying I like it or dislike it, it's just I usually appreciate an album with more depth over one with more drum-beating and more lyrics that make you want to start a riot or break up with your girlfriend (or boyfriend).

-- Beth Ann