Review / Multiple Authors
Midpoint
Shutup, That's Why

2nd Best (2003) — Shane, Sean, Zed

Midpoint – Shutup, That's Why cover artwork
Midpoint – Shutup, That's Why — 2nd Best, 2003

Incredibly boring pop punk. While I do not like pop punk all that much, I know when it is done the right way and these guys have managed to fail their final exam. To study up, I suggest they listen to Osker - Idle Will Kill on repeat for the next 6 months, hit the studio, and try again. I have to give them credit though. They must know they suck by the name of their website.

I was bored the whole time. Most of the muscles in my face have ceased all ability to move. This is one of the most generic, boring, derivative albums I have ever heard. Regular ol' pop-punk, except with a pretty bad vocalist. The band would take the step up on the ladder to being terrible if they got rid of the singer, who has a slight NOFX/Millencolin annoying sound to his voice. The lyrics seem to be subpar, even for a 12 year old. I hate to be mean, but this band should go back to junior college and get a degree in ANYTHING.

Obviously the trend of pop punk has not stopped yet, which is evident by recent releases like this. It's formulaic, with squeaky clean guitar riffs and "uplifting" vocals that are whiney as all hell. There is even a breakdown thrown in here and there, which seems to be the new element in this music. In "Non Stop Lying You" at 1:45 there is one of the most ridiculous back up "shouts" I've ever heard. The few lyrics I could pick up here and there sounded like fifth grade poetry. With an album name like Shutup That's Why you can be sure there is a lot of teen angst filled in the jewel case. The band name isn't even original, there is another pop punk band named Midtown. If you like Blink 182, New Found Glory, etc. you might like this release. Otherwise, NO.

2.0 / 10Zed

Midpoint – Shutup, That's Why cover artwork
Midpoint – Shutup, That's Why — 2nd Best, 2003

Average score across three writers

3.0 / 10 — Shane, Sean, Zed • February 25, 2004

Recently-posted album reviews

Action/Adventure

Ever After
Pure Noise (2025)

Chicago’s Action/Adventure have been grinding the pop-punk trenches since 2014. They have always played pop-punk like it still has something to prove because for them, it does. They went viral in 2020 on TikTok with their song “Barricades” by calling out the exact thing no one in the scene wanted to say out loud. The genre is full of white … Read more

217

In Your Gaze
Time To Kill (2025)

If you didn’t know, hardcore and punk are alive and thriving in Italy. When I come across bands from there, their scene never ceases to amaze me. Italy gave us Raw Power and Negazione in the ’80s, Slander and Strength Approach in the 2010s. Now 217 picks up that lineage with their own mix of fire and reflection by keeping … Read more

Ugly Stick

Absinthe
Hovercraft Records (2025)

Contrary to what I said on Vh1’s Behind the Music, Tim from Hovercraft is one of my favourite human beings. I suppose in some ways that’s not saying much but Tim plays in one of my favourite bands, I’m a fan of his art and on top of those two things and running a label, his day job is saving … Read more