2016 is off to a great start and with so much new music to look forward to, we’re breaking it down to our Friday Five pop punk albums (and EPs) that we’re stoked about!  We’ve got some oldies coming back for more, some newbies here to break new ground, and a genre that’s here to stay, saying “we’re more than just a phase, MOM!!!”

1. Good Charlotte: Untitled
Out: Spring 2016
Benji and Joel Madden are back with their original gang of misfits from Waldorf (worldwide) and are promising a new album filled with familiar sounds.  No word on an official release date yet but they’ve been reawakened by the pop punk forefathers are are working with John Feldman on this new record!

2. Simple Plan: Taking One For The Team
Out: Feb 19th, 2016
Pierre, Jeff, David, Chuck, and Seb never actually stopped making albums as Simple Plan, they just flew under the radar for a few years. Now that pop punk is having a revival of sorts, they’re here to show the newbies that you can branch out and have Nelly on a pop punk album with a video that looks like a 90s boyband throwback.

3. Waterparks: Cluster 
Out: Jan 15th, 2015
Waterparks recently signed with Equal Vision Records and MDDN management but these guys are set to be the most promising breakout of 2016.  Their new EP “Cluster” is sure to be filled with infectious hooks, sing along choruses, and melodies that’ll have you craving for more! (see what we did there?)  We suggest you get on this bandwagon before it’s too late – these guys are gonna be HUGE!

4. The Starting Line – “Anyways”
Out: Feb 5th, 2016
The Starting Line have been teasing new music at their annual Holiday Show for a while now but the tail end of 2015 saw the release of their first new song in SEVEN YEARS!!!!  We may or may not have clutched our computers and cried while we listened to it (spoiler: we did.) “Anyways”, the EP comes out February 5th and you should get it because The Starting Line Rock (.com)!

5. SWMRS – “Drive North”
Out: February 12th, 2016
Formerly known as “Emily’s Army” and featuring Joey Armstrong (yes, Billie Joe’s son & spitting image), SWMRS are the epitome of the Bay Area music scene.  They match bubblegum power pop with grit of punk rock to churn out a fun perpetual summer sound all their own.  Catch them on their first headlining tour this Spring!  Get the dates here.