Dietro a una copertina che non è certo il massimo, si cela uno dei, forse il migliore album Pop-Punk di sempre. Forse non il migliore in assoluto, forse uno dei, ma il gruppo è sicuramente il mio preferito nel genere. Si formano nel 1987, il loro primo album è del 1994 e i successivi sono una climax ascendente che nel 2001 porta al picco di "How I Spent My Summer Vacation". 

L'album ha la capacità di stabilire fin da subito un grande valore affettivo con chi segue questo gruppo, non so perchè, forse perchè nella sua semplicità è un album facilmente definibile come "Nostro","Mio","Tuo" o forse semplicemente per il fatto che è l'album più rappresentativo della band. Forse il più bello.

Risalta in fatto l'inno, il pezzo più acclamato, uno dei più amati che abbiano fatto i Bouncing Souls ovvero "True Believers". Non da meno "The Something Special", "That Song", "Broken Record" e "Gone". Brani semplici, melodici, diretti e soprattutto belli. Non abbiamo i livelli di cazzoneria di Screeching Weasel e Queers, siamo su territori meno grezzi e più melodici, abbiamo anche toni nostalgici assenti nel primo Pop-Punk, una maggiore serietà (ma non troppo) e maturità che si fonde  comunque bene con una certa scherzosità (non so se si dica cosi ma onestamente non me frega poi molto) che in un album così non può mancare. 

E comunque "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" è solo uno step di una carriera caratterizzata dalla più totale assenza di passi falsi. 

Elenco tracce testi e video

01   That Song (02:03)

02   Private Radio (02:13)

03   True Believers (02:31)

I've met some people along the way,
Some of them split some of them stay,
Some of them walk some walk on by,
I've got a few friends I'll love till I die
From all of these people I try to learn,
Some of them shine some of them burn,
Some of them rise some of them fall,
For good or bad I've known them all

We live our life in our own way,
Never really listened to what they say,
The kind of faith that doesn't fade away
We are the true believers
We are the true believers

Well you can fight or you can run,
Hide under a rock till the war is won,
Play it safe and don't make a sound,
But not us we won't back down
True believers all the way,
You and I...

We live our life in our own way,
Never really listened to what they say,
The kind of faith that doesn't fade away
We are the true believers
We are the true believers
True believers

04   Better Life (01:50)

05   The Something Special (03:25)

We can't agree on a single thing
I don't know why
We almost killed each other
On the inside
I managed to be a jerk anyway
It doesn't have to be this way

Forget about
The things I said
I make no
Excuse for them
I want to start again
I want to start again

We all walk our separate ways
I don't know why
I hope we meet again
Somewhere some day
I can't change the way you feel
It doesn't have to be this way

Forget about
The things I said
I make no
Excuse for them
I want to start again
I want to start again

I think about the two of us
I don't know why
I feel good on the inside
It's different now
I'm one I stand alone
I have to be this way
I have to be this way

Forget about
The things I said
I make no
Excuse for them
I want to start again
I want to start again
I want to start again
I want to start again

Forget about
The things I said
Forget about
The things I said
Forget about
The things I said
Forget about...
Forget about...
Forget about...
Forget about...
Forget about...

06   Broken Record (02:50)

07   Lifetime (03:22)

Just like a sunny day can turn all dark and gray
This game goes on and on
Out on the streets, broken dreams they come so cheap

But no one can leave me for dead
Cuz I got one good fight left in me tonight
And the most beautiful girl in my head

Sometimes she comes to me in a song
sometimes she comes in a dream
She's all the joy in my heart, she's everything that I see

Days they come and days go by
Sometimes we fight and I don't know why
I'll give it all up to her

Everything I did and said
I've got all i want now in my sight
And the most beautiful girl in my head

Sometimes she comes to me in a song
Sometimes she comes in a dream
Shes all the joy in my heart, she's everything that I see

When we're together,
there is no time, there is no space
When we're together
Everything is in it's place

Turn myself inside out for her
My endless love is without form
Let my heart be the light that guides her through the storm

Tomorrow's a lifetime away
She's all I want today

08   Manthem (03:08)

I was alone I decided to get up
I decided to get out I picked up the phone
and gave my boys a shout
Told em I'd be out around nine,
no particular plan,
just whatever comes to mind
(pete) - Bryan called me up and said theres a show tonight,
and do ya wanna go tonight
(bryan) - I'm giving my girl the night off,
'cause I'm hanging out with Steinkopf
Whenever im down I know where my friends can be found,
whenever theres a doubt i just have to shout

He's my friend he's my alibi,
my accessory to the crime a bond that will never die,
till the end of time
Another night and we got somewhere to go,
goin out meeting up at the punk rock show,
where the air is hot and the music is loud,
my kind of place this is my kind of crowd
And we'll be here till the night is done,
Loyal to my friends and sworn to fun

09   Break-Up Song (01:52)

10   Streetlight Serenade (To No One) (02:04)

11   Late Bloomer (02:48)

12   No Comply (01:58)

I'm on the outside looking in...
That's where my story begins
Took the pain of growing up and I walked on through
This is how I'm showing up, I feel great, how about you?

So here I stand out on my own...
Myself, the only truth that I've known
I went through all the things that I had to do
You know sometimes it stings but, I feel great how about you?

Playing life just like a game...
Good or bad it's all the same
Let the world know how I feel and you know it's real
And you know I'm real

13   Gone (04:07)

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