Review / 200 Words Or Less
The Wonder Years / All or Nothing
Distances

No Sleep (2009) Michael

The Wonder Years / All or Nothing – Distances cover artwork
The Wonder Years / All or Nothing – Distances — No Sleep, 2009

The glorious split 7" - how I love thee. What's this? Two bands from opposite sides of the Atlantic? Even better! There is something strangely comforting in knowing that two bands that are separated by thousands of miles of ocean can found a place together on a slim piece of wax.

The Wonder Years return with two brand new songs. Picking up where they left off on their previous 7", The Wonder Years continue to fuse upbeat pop-punk and melodic hardcore into one. They band's songwriting continues to improve, finally finding a way to incorporate those 80's snyths/keys in a fashion that isn't obnoxious. This is their best stuff to date and I feel their next full-length is the release to break things open.

All or Nothing is new to me, but sometimes new is good. These British rockers unleash two songs of fast-paced melodic hardcore in the vein of Reach the Sky, but with a bit more melody in the vocal delivery. The music is fun and the vocals are quite enamoring. Overall, this is quality music with lots of potential. Check it out if you can't wait for the new Strike Anywhere any longer...

Two young bands show signs of great things to come on this split 7". If you appreciate pop-punk or melodic hardcore you should invest in a copy of Distances.

7.5 / 10Michael • March 18, 2009

The Wonder Years / All or Nothing – Distances cover artwork
The Wonder Years / All or Nothing – Distances — No Sleep, 2009

Related news

The Wonder Years / All Or Nothing Split Pre-Orders

Posted in Records on February 4, 2009

The Wonder Years / All Or Nothing Split

Posted in Records on December 28, 2008

Recently-posted album reviews

Sludgeworth

Second Time Around
Red Scare Industries (2026)

I never got very into Screeching Weasel and the extended family tree. Ignoring the politics of the matter, the music never really hit that sweet spot for me either. But Sludgeworth were an exception. The band released just one album, that I discovered at least 10years after its release, but seemingly disappeared -- only to resurface after a 2022 reissue … Read more

Social Distortion

Born to Kill
Epitaph (2026)

Rating: 🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸🚬 / 10 (8 Tipped Martini Glasses and a Cigarette) Remember that movie Fantastic Voyage, where a miniaturized submarine gets inserted into a person's bloodstream on a mission to clear a blood clot in the brain? Well, consider yourself in luck: I’m infiltrating your brain with my own fantastic journey with Social Distortion, which goes all the way back … Read more

Big Circle

Big Circle
Independent (2026)

There are plenty of supergroups that exist largely because of the names on the marquee. Big Circle feels different. While Glenn Mercer (The Feelies), Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE), Dave Weckerman (The Feelies), and Dan Francia (Speed the Plough) all bring decades of musical history to the table, this debut EP isn't interested in nostalgia or individual spotlights. Instead, it succeeds … Read more