Brian and Lizzie look back at Boys Like Girls' self-titled debut, an album that built a massive online following before it even hit the radio. Join us as we explore how Martin Johnson's pop-punk songwriting stands the test of time nearly two decades later.
"This record is objectively for people who were in high school between 2006 to 2008. You cannot avoid how f***ing good Martin Johnson is as a songwriter."
This week, Brian and Lizzie celebrate the nearly 20-year anniversary of Boys Like Girls' self-titled debut album. They break down the band's PureVolume and MySpace origins, Martin Johnson's undeniable songwriting chops, and why these pop-punk anthems still hold up today.
Take a trip back to 2006 as the Emo Social Club dives into Boys Like Girls' massive self-titled debut album. Brian and Lizzie explore how four kids from Massachusetts leveraged PureVolume and MySpace to build a devoted fanbase before ever signing a record deal or hitting mainstream radio. We analyze the album's incredible staying power, from the delayed success of iconic singles like 'The Great Escape', 'Hero/Heroine', and 'Thunder', to fan-favorite deep cuts like 'Five Minutes to Midnight'. Plus, we discuss Martin Johnson’s undeniable earworm melodies, the album's sunny pop-punk production by Matt Squire, and how Boys Like Girls seamlessly bridged the gap between the emo scene and TRL pop stardom. Whether this record was the soundtrack to your high school summers or you're discovering it for the first time, join us to find out if it earns a perfect 10/10 rating.
"This record is objectively for people who were in high school between 2006 to 2008."
"You cannot avoid how f***ing good Martin Johnson is as a songwriter. He knows how to write a song. He knows how to write hooks."
"They uploaded the demos to MySpace and PureVolume and quickly hit number one on the PureVolume top unsigned artist chart. By the time their self-titled debut arrived in August 2006, the audience was already there."