[ALBUM REVIEW] NEW FOUND GLORY – Listen Up! (2026)
Artist: New Found Glory
Album: Listen Up!
Date Of Release: 20th February, 2026
Label: Pure Noise Records
Track Listing:
- Boom Roasted
- 100%
- Laugh It Off
- A Love Song
- Beer And Blood Stains
- Medicine
- Treat Yourself
- Dream Born Again
- You Got This
- Frankenstein’s Monster
Review:
When you read the backstory of what was happening with New Found Glory when they were working on their new Listen Up! only one thought comes to my mind – sometimes through adversity you get beauty.
Much of this album was written while the band was going through tough times – none tougher than guitarist Chad Gilbert who almost lost his life to a rare form of gland cancer – so you could forgive them if they wanted to write a dark album. The kind that you pull out when life has kicked you in the stomach or you’re going through a tough break-up.
Instead, though New Found Glory make this one of the most positive albums that you will ever hear. This is an album that both sonically and lyrically makes the audience look back at the good times of your life while concentrating on making the future something bright and something to look forward to.
There is no secret what kind of sound the band wanted with this album as opening track, Boom Roasted, instantly takes you back to the glory days of pop-punk – the early 2000s. This wouldn’t have sounded out of place on Sticks And Stones or Catalyst – although underneath its catchy vibe if you take a listen to the lyrics you will quickly notice that the band are highlighting a lot of the faults with the music industry.
100% is the track that sees the album’s positive energy kick in. As Jordan Pudnik declares that he won’t let people down in the vocals it is difficult not to feel yourself getting inspired. And in case you don’t get the meaning of the track the slowed down vocals at times really pushes the point across. At the same time Gilbert blitzes the track by letting his guitar do its own thing – something that keeps happening throughout the album.
Many might dismiss Laugh It Off as a simple track but anybody that has been in a long-term relationship will be able to relate to the short-lived arguments that the vocals are talking about while the heavy riff and vocals of A Love Song quickly takes you back to your first teenage love. There are some real Blink 182 Rock Show vibes about it all – and I mean that in a good way.
The heavy distorted riffs continue with Beer And Blood Stains – another time machine track that takes you back to the good old days of dirty bars and clubs. The ‘Florida’ part of the track is extremely infectious and will have you singing along in now time. Then comes Medicine which makes you reflect on friends from the past as it draws you in with its Weezer inspired sound.
The positivity continues with Treat Yourself, You Got This and Frankenstein’s Monster – the latter two also being as catchy as hell. After a couple of listens to this album you just know that this will end up being track that you want to listen to in the car with the sound turned right up.
Also for all the lovebirds out there you are going to love Dream Born Again. This would have the perfect track for love mix tapes in the past but these days I get the feeling that we are going to hear it pop up at a few weddings in years to come.
Listen Up! is going to become a very important album for a lot of music lovers. This is the kind of album that you can get you through a tough day or fill you with confidence when you need it the most. The tracks are so infectious you will find yourself singing along and falling in love with them each time you hear them.
Rating (out of 5):
