HEAVY MUSIC HISTORY: Simple Plan – Simple Plan

There comes a time in every pop-punk band’s life where they have to move on from the jovial ditties about sex, drugs, and teenage angst. While SIMPLE PLAN still has elements of the juvenile running through their material, the initial move from adolescence to adulthood wasn’t an easy transition. In 2008, the band released their self-titled effort and declared “I am an adult, hear me complain about life some more”.

New projects always come with teething problems but the follow up to 2004’s Still Not Getting Any… saw an upheaval in more than just material. Writer’s block would be the first hindrance to the process. When a band has been writing a specific type of material for music of their career, time for change can prove difficult. Though the tandem of Pierre Bouvier [vocals] and Chuck Comeau [drums] would tap into personal experiences and begin crafting the songs we now know as the self-titled. Bouvier and Comeau had produced demos using Pro Tools and, according to Atlantic Records, were ready to hit the studio in November 2006. This wasn’t to be, however, as members of the band weren’t impressed with the material they’d compiled. Though this wasn’t to be the only bump in the road.

The band reunited with Arnold Lanni who had produced their debut album, No Pads, No Helmets… Just Balls (2002). Though Lanni wouldn’t return in a producer capacity. He would instead put ideas to paper and co-write seven tracks for the album including singles When I’m Gone and Your Love Is A Lie. So who would fill the role of producer? The band initially wanted to work with the legendary Bob Rock but he had been delayed working with THE OFFSPRING on their Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace effort of the same year. Without someone at the mixing desk for their third album, SIMPLE PLAN took a leap of faith and travelled to Miami, Florida, to work with Danja. Known as Timbaland’s protégé, Danja had previously worked with the likes of BRITNEY SPEARS. To the point this producer had never collaborated with artists before March 2007.

While SIMPLE PLAN remained true to their roots and produced stadium rock anthems in When I’m Gone, various elements of electronic influence worked their way in throughout the record. Guitarists Jeff Stinco and Sébastien Lefebvre would use less distortion effects to give their instruments a bigger sound. Something which was vital in an album which saw SIMPLE PLAN begin to evolve into something more “mature”. This would lead to difficulties in production and a delay in release from January 29 to February 12.

Before that though, the band had a taste of the criticism to come. Their first version of the cover art made an appearance on the band’s MySpace account to much… vitriol. The preliminary cover would feature the band emerging from the ruins of a city which was still on fire. After the fans gave their input the only way we music types know how – commenting our displeasure – SIMPLE PLAN were forced to return to the drawing board. Returning with a much more appropriate monochromatic cover, peace was restored. For the time being.

Though the album would debut at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, it would be met with mixed reviews. Fans praised the album for being able to bridge the gap between SIMPLE PLAN of old and this newer, more mature sound. More stalwart purists of pop-punk (yes, they exist) criticised the hip-hop influence of Danja. Though they hadn’t yet experienced some of SIMPLE PLAN’s later material which would feature the likes of FLO-RIDA. Slight step down from BLINK-182’s Mark Hoppus we must admit. 

“The whining hasn’t let up” AllMusic penned, citing No Love and Generation as reference, “but neither has the fun”. Rolling Stone weren’t so kind however, branding the effort “barely distinguishable from a dozen or so other Warped Tour bands” and Entertainment Weekly would follow suit stating “this Plan to update their sound winds up being too Simple”. The simplicity which the band were being slated for on one hand was being praised by others claiming it made the material more effective. While that can be the case, listening back to the record now, much of it does just float by without much pomp and circumstance making it wholly forgettable.

With that aside, the ballad Save You would prove to be significant for the band. While a typical SIMPLE PLAN slow-dance to many, the song would have much more sentimental value. Dedicated to Bouvier’s brother who had been diagnosed with cancer, the single’s proceeds would be donated to a myriad of cancer charities through the Simple Plan Foundation – an organisation set up in 2005 to help young people in need and supporting those diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Released on October 10, 2008, Save You would debut at number 88 on the Canadian Hot 100 based on airplay alone and slowly ascend the charts. In the week of release, the single would garner 7,000 downloads leading it to shoot from number 53 to 18 making it the third top twenty single from the self-titled album. Impressive when only three singles were released that campaign.

So has SIMPLE PLAN’s eponymous left much of a legacy? In the realms of the band’s charity work, yes it has. Though this album also opened the floodgates for their pop-punk-meets-hip-hop hybrid and the change in subject matter and a more adult approach was sorely needed for SIMPLE PLAN at the time. Leaning further into the hip-hop and pop nuances as their career advanced has ultimately caused the wider populace to lose interest and the band to teeter on the edge of obscurity. A milestone album for them indeed but perhaps not for the right reasons.

Simple Plan was originally released on February 12th, 2008 via Atlantic Records.

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