There's nothing like a brush with death to make you take life more seriously. Even if you're a buncha snotty punks like Sum 41.

Earlier this year, these Ajax rockers found themselves caught in the crossfire of civil war while filming a documentary in the Congo. They were rescued by a UN aid worker named Chuck -- which explains the title of this disc. And it seems to explain why this third full-length is the Sums' smartest and most mature work to date.

No, the boys aren't writing about economic imperialism or bullets whizzing over their heads. But they are writing about taking responsibility for your actions and making the world a better place. Chuck also marks a musical evolution for the 41ers. While their basic recipe remains an equal mix of Green Day and Iron Maiden, they up the metal quotient while adding dashes of Nirvana grunge and Beatle-pop to these 13 cuts.

The result? Anthemic tracks like We're All to Blame, I'm Not the One and Open Your Eyes, which are simultaneously darker, heavier, sweeter and more thoughtful than anything they've done.

Maybe if we send them to Iraq, their next album will be a masterpiece.

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[[+3]] Friday, October 15, 2004

Sum 41 gets smart