5 Best Pop Punk Albums Of 2013

1. The Wonder Years €“ The Greatest Generation "I'm not sad anymore" sang Dan "Soupy" Campbell on The Wonder Years' breakout album 'The Upsides'; yet this year's finest pop punk album, 'The Greatest Generation', is seemingly built upon that most powerful of emotions. Of course, that's nothing new for TWY, often described as a "realist" pop punk band. That's why when Soupy sings about his apparent failures and worries in life (the lack of a girlfriend at the age of 26, for example) before asking "did I f*ck up?", it becomes one of the anthems of the year. With relatable lyrics and music that is unlike anything else in the genre right now, The Wonder Years are untouchable. 'The Bastards, The Vultures and The Wolves' is a great example of The Wonder Years' uniqueness €“ opening with a fiery salvo of melodic hardcore, the song leads into a massive sing-along chorus before the final punch of the "I came here looking for a fight" refrain, seemingly built into the song to send people crazy at live shows, with drum rolls and fast guitars creating a wall of sound unlike anything you've heard from a pop-punk band. 'The Greatest Generation' is full of great moments like this €“ moments designed to stick in the listener's mind for hours afterwards. It's later on in the album where Soupy's vocals can be truly appreciated for their emotional value €“ you can almost hear the tears in his eyes on 'A Raindance In Traffic'. Some may find him grating on the acoustic twangs of 'Madelyn' but follow-up 'Cul-De-Sac's driving nature ups the tempo again €“ this is an album that doesn't let up. Perhaps the greatest achievement on 'The Greatest Generation' is the levels of maturity that The Wonder Years have reached. This is a brutally honest album, soundtracked by a band that isn't afraid to experiment with the genre and refuses to be stifled by it. It seems rude to focus on one member's brilliance alone but Soupy may have established himself as one of punk's greatest songwriters here €“ capable of raising or suppressing your spirits with his own experiences and bitter reflections on the life of a twenty-something year old man. That's why 'The Greatest Generation' deserves the various accolades bestowed upon it €“ it's an unbelievably well-crafted record, showcasing just how mature the normally immature genre of pop punk can be. It will be genuinely thrilling to see where The Wonder Years take us next. Which were your favourite pop punk albums of the year? Share your own picks below.