Legacy pop punk act The Wonder Years have announced a new LP named The Hum Goes on Forever, releasing September 2 via Hopeless Records. The third single “Wyatt’s Song” released this week with an accompanying music video that is an ode to lead vocalist Dan Campbell’s son. Starting off with the lyrics “I recorded your heartbeat, It’s one thirty-three, The tempo’s in my blood now.” Unfortunately the song is not at 133 beats per minute, but who will check to see if they put that little Easter egg in? (I guess i did.)
Though it creates a contrast with the band’s thematic roots in suburban ennui and frustation, the natural progress of an aging punker would be to write songs about their family. Audiences would most likely rather hear that than a 30-year-old singing about high school romance. (Not to add a gratuitous Machine Gun Kelly diss, but the internet’s reaction to a song like “emo girl” — which sounds like a reversal on the “Sk8er Boi” story line — coming from a 32-year-old man should be enough.)
In a press release for the The Hum Goes on Forever, the record is described as “facing an onslaught of things outside of one’s control.” The Wonder Years are aiming for a message with wide-scale appeal no matter where you are in life. And harping on the usual youthful nature of the genre shifting to a more widespread message can hopefully bring this album out of the underground. Adding on to their already busy tour schedule, which includes a handful of major festivals, The Wonder Years will be at The Great Allentown Fair on September 4; more information can be found at WXPN’s Concerts and Events page.