When Busted split at the start of 2005, the separation was an acrimonious one. Charlie “Eyebrow” Simpson had outgrown the band and fled into the arms of Fightstar, with whom he made sweet music, and passionate, rain-drenched videos. God knows – and probably doesn’t care – what happened to the third one, but in the divorce James Bourne got the house, for with Son Of Dork the premise is the same: copy Blink 182, but appeal to preteens.
You can buy toy mobile phones for kids to pretend they’re all grown up. Son Of Dork exist as a similarly plastic precursor to proper music. All the predictable elements are included: those all-important three chords, ginoromous choruses, impeccable hair, yet it’s stripped of the irony that turns Blink 182’s musical crimes into comic genius.
What is shocking is that the album was produced by Gil Norton. That’s right, the man responsible for works by The Pixies, Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World and James. Regardless of the fact that Son Of Dork know how to pander to their audience, its an album that cannot be forgiven for dirtying that fine producer’s name.
Naughty album. It’s grounded for a month.