Underclass Hero (album)
| Underclass Hero | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Sum 41 | ||||
| Released | July 18, 2007 | |||
| Recorded | November 6, 2006 – March 14, 2007 | |||
| Studio | Ocean Way Studios, Los Angeles, California; Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, California; Sage & Sound Studios, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Pop punk, alternative rock | |||
| Length | 51:49 | |||
| Label |
Aquarius (Canada) Island (US) |
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| Producer | Deryck Whibley | |||
| Sum 41 chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Underclass Hero | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 50/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AbsolutePunk | 74% |
| AllMusic |   |
| BBC | unfavourable |
| Billboard | favorable |
| Entertainment Weekly | B |
| IGN | 7.0/10 |
| NME | 4/10 |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Sputnikmusic | |
| Robert Christgau |  |
Underclass Hero is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Sum 41. It is the first album by the band not to feature former guitarist Dave Baksh since he left a year early to focus on Brown Brigade and is also the first recorded as a trio. The album was first released July 18, 2007 in Japan. It was released under the Island Records label and distributed worldwide by Universal Records, by Aquarius Records. The album cover features a photo with singer Deryck Whibley spitting. This album features more alternative rock songs than their previous albums. The album's lyrics have been described as more mature and personal than in some of the band's previous records. It was written as a concept album focusing on lead vocalist Deryck Whibley's outlook on life, covering subjects such as politics, atheism and family life. The album has more of a pop punk sound in comparison to the alternative metal style of their last album, Chuck.
The album was a commercial success, peaking at number 1 on the Canadian Albums Chart and at number 7 on the U.S. Billboard 200. It received generally mixed reviews from critics, with some critics praising its mature subject matter and style, while others criticized it for being unoriginal. The album would become the band's last release for four years until 2011's Screaming Bloody Murder. It is also Sum 41's last release on Aquarius.
In 2004, Sum 41 released Chuck, which became a success upon release, gaining high success on the charts and receiving praise from critics. The album had a more heavy metal-influenced sound, and the band gained multiple awards for the album. The band spent most of 2005 and some of 2006 touring in the support of Chuck until the band stopped touring to deal with some problems. In mid 2006, the band's lead guitarist Dave Baksh had left the band due to arguing with Deryck about the band's musical direction afterwards. Deryck wanted to go to an "artistic pop punk style" while Baksh wanted to play in a more heavy metal-styled band. Baksh left to form his own band Brown Brigade.
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