Pop-punk trailblazers of the early 2000s- Good Charlotte, burst back onto the scene after seven quiet years with Motel Du Cap. A highly anticipated release, expectations were high after the release of the lead single “Rejects”, which felt like a true return to form.
The record kicks off with a spoken word monologue, an homage to earlier Good Charlotte albums. This feels like a reintroduction to their world, setting the tone for the album. The first half of the record leans heavily into relaxed, pop-forward styles, with “Rejects” and “Stepper” delivering polished, radio-ready hooks that are undeniably pleasant, but lack the emotional grit that once defined the band’s legacy.
“I Don’t Work Here Anymore”, with its quirky workplace metaphors, lands awkwardly- fun in spirit but at odds with the band’s real-life success story. Collaborations like “Life Is Great” featuring Wiz Khalifa are great in the moment and provide the kind of laid-back ‘window down’ vibe that was intended, but feel inserted rather than integral, as if they exist more for trend than substance.
The second half is where the album finds its footing. Tracks like “Mean” ignite the familiar fire of pop-punk energy, while “Bodies” delivers a striking and welcome change of pace with distinct sonic textures. “Vertigo”, featuring Petti Hendrix, crackles with agility and grit, recalling Good Charlotte’s earlier, emotionally-charged energy.
After a few more highs and lows, we reach the albums’ close: “GC Forever”. This track serves as a nostalgia-driven, reflective swan song that not-so-subtly acknowledges the band’s enduring legacy, but it lacks passion, and in my opinion the record would have been better off ending on a more upbeat note. In fact, the album’s sequencing overall undermines it’s potential cohesion. There’s jarring shifts between the light, poppier tracks and the more emotionally weighty ones that feel disjointed and dilute the momentum rather than sustaining it.
Motel Du Cap is a fun record and marks a welcome return for Good Charlotte. There are moments on this record that may remind listeners of why they fell in love with the band in the first place, and it’s in those moments that it truly shines. While there are standouts, they’re interspersed among tracks that, while easy to listen to, rarely pierce the heart and lack authenticity. A reshuffle of the track list would have served the album well as it feels more like two halves rather than a whole, cohesive record.
Motel Du Cap showcases Good Charlotte’s willingness to experiment with new sonic territories, even if they don’t always land perfectly. It may not fully recapture the raw intensity of their earlier eras but it offers heartfelt moments and hints of promise. Without delving too deep, this is a fun listen and guarantees a good time, so if that’s what you’re after, look no further.
THREE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Motel du Cap from Good Charlotte is out now – grab a copy HERE
Header image credit: Jen Rosenstein
