Simple Plan: A New Blueprint

Wed 26th Mar, 2008 in Features

Before Simple Plan’s first album came out in 2003, members of Blink 182 and Good Charlotte sat in on the sessions, and their influence is clearly heard in the simple, straight-forward, pop-punk tracks. Since then, it’s been more of the same.

After nearly six years of radio-friendly anthems and puppy love power ballads, Simple Plan has attempted to change it up a bit. Enter their new, self-titled album, released February 2008.

Simple Plan spent a long time trying to break their mold, and it wasn’t always easy. “It took us a lot longer than before to write this record, a little over a year to figure out what we wanted to do,” says guitarist Sebastian Lefebvre. “It was into old habits right away. We’d be like, – œNo, we don’t want to do that. Let’s keep looking. Let’s keep working.’”

Despite their genuine efforts, Simple Plan hasn’t been able to break out of the pop rock mold. If anything, they’ve just gotten more pop. They hooked up with producer Nate Hills, who has recently worked with limelight artists Timbaland, Madonna, and Duran Duran. Working with Hills helped give Simple Plan a “new sense of confidence,” concedes Sebastian. “We’re really lucky at this point [in our career] that we can choose who we work with, and really get the best people out there.”

Simple Plan and Hills worked together on The End, When I’m Gone, and Generation. While these collaborative efforts are among the most divergent from the band’s previous sound, they’re still unmistakably Simple Plan.

“Everybody seems to be pushing the envelope,” continues Sebastian. He lists Green Day and Kanye West as major influences on the new album. “They’re innovators pushing limits.” Simple Plan, it seems, are taking a few notes from industry leaders. As a result, they’re riding a wave of radio success.

Recalling a recent trip to South America, Sebastian calls their crowd of followers “almost Beatle-esque.” The band has had similar success the world over. “It’s pretty insane.”

Fans can expect more of the same from Simple Plan’s live performances too. “We’re gong to approach it the same way we have before,” says Sebastian about the band’s upcoming European tour. “We’re there to have a good time and give it all we’ve got.”

While they may not be influential or substantive, the boys of Simple Plan certainly are positive.