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

The Arrivals

Payload
Recess (2026)

It's been a short lifetime since the last Arrivals record, Volatile Molotov, but in many ways the new Payload picks up exactly where the last one left off. It straddles the mid-tempo punk spectrum while drawing influence from seemingly all realms of the rock 'n' roll cannon. I'd state that mod, power-pop, Brit Invasion, and even R&B are some of … Read more

UDDER

Self Titled
Depose Records (2025)

Some records feel like they were carefully constructed. Others feel like they were barely contained. Udder’s three-song 7” on Depose Records lands firmly in the second category with a short, strange burst of psych-leaning noise rock that feels less like a statement and more like something unearthed. That’s not far from the truth either. Originally formed in the early ’90s … Read more

Various Artists

Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Independent (2026)

Gary Young wasn’t just a drummer; he was a beautiful, unpredictable glitch poking a hole in the sky where other lovable misfits could enter and leave this universe they’d grace with their presence. While Hendrix kissed the sky, Young merely bit a hole right through it. While Pavement was busy inventing the 1990s slacker blueprint for the masses, Gary was … Read more