10 2000s Rock Albums You Constantly Have To Defend Loving

Sum 41's fourth LP saw them move into more serious and even emo territory after considerable success as an energetic pop punk troupe.

'Underclass Hero' first hit the stands in July 2007. The likes of My Chemical Romance and The Used had caught fire by then, picking up steam with darker, moodier takes on indie rock as the budding emo scene took hold. For an often lighter in tone group like Sum 41, it appeared the early noughties boom period of pop rock had come to an end.

Their third album, 'Chuck', had confronted this issue by delving head-on into heavier fair, with the group experimenting with thrash metal. In comparison, 'Underclass Hero' seemed like a return to the norm. However, considering its eyebrow-raising, politically charged lyrics and moodier beats, it was clear to longtime fans that the group were still keeping a distance from what had originally worked for them.

While critics blasted it with unfavorable comparisons to albums such as Green Day's 'American Idiot', many fans appreciated the healthy middle ground the LP attempted to reach for the group's ever-changing sound. As it stands, the album has a 50/50 legacy that still has pop punk lovers arguing to this day.