The Lawrence Arms
We Are the Champions of the World
(Fat Wreck Chords)
4/5
This “retrospectus” from Chicago punk rockers The Lawrence Arms features a collection of songs off their previous records, plus a few previously unreleased tracks. It serves as a tour of their nearly 20 years making music, and it’s a treat for diehard fans and newcomers alike.
The trio has been making music since 1999 and has released six full-length albums; listening to We Are the Champions of the World, you can really hear how their style of music has evolved over time, from sounding like ’90s melodic punk to a more refined pop-punk with alternative rock sounds.
Some songs have the fast pace of hardcore, and some are a bit more slow and soulful. In all, the songs featured here are some of the best punk tracks you could hear.
The Lawrence Arms are still around, and they want to make sure you know.