This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Simple Plan’s plan is indeed simple. So simple, in fact, it seems painfully obvious — the Montreal popcore quintet want to be the next Sum 41.
They’ve certainly laid the musical groundwork. The dozen tunes on their debut album No Pads, No Helmets … Just Balls pack all the requisite pop-crunch guitar riffs, sweet ’n’ sour vocals and cotton-candy harmonies. And the lyrics to cuts like singles I’m Just A Kid, God Must Hate Me, The Worst Day Ever and Addicted (“I’m a dic … ted to you”) offer the well-balanced blend of teen alienation and snotty mischief that are essential to any young punk fan. Too bad the tunes themselves are predictable and wishy-washy — neither poppy enough to be giant hits nor punky enough to satisfy the purists. The simple truth is Simple Plan are no Sum 41.
