12 neon pop-punk songs you’ve already forgotten about
During the late ‘’00s, pop punk took on a new, synth-laden face. Sure, it wasn’t the first time a band decided to put fuzzy keys over their chord progressions, but it was a time when that formula was perfected. Here’s a look back at 12 songs you’ve probably already forgotten from pop punk’s neon era.
Cobra Starship – “Guilty Pleasure”
Cobra Starship might be finished, but their neon-slathered power pop continues to live on. “Guilty Pleasure,” which features Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump, is a standout gem.
Farewell – “Stay Pretty”
Neon pop-punk darlings Farewell made a hook-driven statement with this Warped Tour 2008 Compilation track “Stay Pretty.” Listen above and dive into a pool of nostalgia.
The Secret Handshake – “TGIF”
Oh, Luis Dubuc. If you didn’t listen to the Secret Handshake in the mid/late ‘’00s, you missed out—plain and simple. Listen to “TGIF” and reminisce on your favorite cartoons.
Call The Cops – “Room 410”
Call The Cops (not to be confused with the Italian punk band of the same name) were a PureVolume mainstay for a majority of their early years. “Room 410” will be stuck in your head after just one listen.
The White Tie Affair – “Candle (Sick And Tired)”
The White Tie Affair really hit it out of the park with this one. Remember hearing it everywhere in 2008? TWTA may have fizzled out after few years, but we will always have this banger to look back on.
Danger Is My Middle Name – “Revenge On The Radio”
There’s a good chance you came across Danger Is My Middle Name online in 2007 and 2008. They had a prominent MySpace presence, were a featured artist on PureVolume multiple times and even played dates on Warped Tour. “Revenge On The Radio” put the band on many people’s radars.
The Maine – “You Left Me”
The Maine have evolved far beyond their debut LP, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, but that doesn’t deter from the fact that it still jams just as hard eight years later. While they’ve since gone in an entirely different direction, “You Left Me” showed off the band’s neon potential.
eleventyseven – “Love In Your Arms”
eleventyseven began as an unabashed pop-punk band, but quickly evolved into a synth-driven rock outfit. “Love In Your Arms” is basically 8-bit pop punk—and it’s wonderful.
The Morning Of – “Reverie”
The Morning Of’s music just feels refreshing; tthere’s such a lightheartedness about it. “Reverie” is a bright ode to pop-punk’s neon days.
October Fall – “Keep Dreaming Upside Down” ft. Hayley Williams
October Fall’s 2006 studio album, A Season In Hell, featured guest appearances from both Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump and Paramore’s Hayley Williams. Williams, who had just offered her first full-length debut with Paramore in 2005, guested on the keys-driven “Keep Dreaming Upside Down.”
Capital Lights – “Outrage”
Capital Lights (originally a screamo band called afterEIGHT) were Tooth & Nail’s inadvertent venture into the world of neon pop punk. The band’s 2008 LP, This Is An Outrage!, is underrated in every sense of the word. Hear “Outrage” above for a look back.
Forever The Sickest Kids – “Hey Brittany”
Forever The Sickest Kids’ Underdog Alma Mater was a big moment for neon. With a No. 45 debut on the Billboard Top 200, worldwide tours and performances (including the 2008 AP Tour) and a bright future, FTSK catapulted themselves into the scene’s forefront with their synth-laden power rock. “Hey Brittany” is one of the first songs they wrote as a unit. Take a look back above.
