Additional personnel: Mark Hoppus (bass); Matt Skiba, Danny Andriano, Bane, What Feeds The Fire, Rusty Pistachio, Toby Morse (background vocals).

Recorded at DML Studios and Signature Sound, San Diego, California; Larabee West Studios, West Hollywood, California; NRG Studios, North Hollywood, California.

This limited edition of STICKS AND STONES includes a bonus disc with additional material by New Found Glory plus a collection of favorite artists of the band's.

New Found Glory: Jordan Pundik (vocals); Chad Gilbert, Steve Klein (guitar); Ian Grushka (bass); Cyrus Bolooki (drums).

Additional personnel: Mark Hoppus (bass); Matt Skiba, Danny Andriano, Bane, What Feeds The Fire, Rusty Pistachio, Toby Morse (background vocals).

Recorded at DML Studios and Signature Sound, San Diego, California; Larabee West Studios, West Hollywood, California; NRG Studios, North Hollywood, California.

There isn't much difference between Sticks and Stones and New Found Glory's prior, self-titled MCA effort. It's highly accomplished, energetic punk-pop, the harmonies radiating youthful cheer, Jordan Pundik's lead vocals adding a tinge of youthful defiance and vulnerability. It's much more upbeat, for instance, than the opening lines of the opening cut, "Understatement," might portend: "I'm sick of smiling, and so is my jaw." Could it be that they're tiring of their usual upbeat demeanor and slyly slipping in a subversive message there? Not likely -- most of these are still upbeat if ambivalent songs about tense relationship growing pains and breakups, though sometimes colored with the wider territory of finding inner strength, dealing with loss, and coming out of rough experiences for the better. It's more engaging than exciting, and though it sounds pretty radio-ready in the better sense of that term, it does start to blur together over a full-length hearing. ~ Richie Unterberger

Fast, loud, and full of attitude, these Florida boys have got everything it takes to make it as a punk band. The trick is that--as they've also proved on previous releases--they've got the hooks, harmonies, and rhythmic savoir faire to come across as a convincing pop group, if you like your pop on the hard side. While every tune on STICKS AND STONES teems with driving, hard-edged guitars and bristles with pounding drums and breakneck bass lines, it doesn't stop there. Though they're not exactly Steely Dan (and wouldn't THAT be a trip), New Found Glory utilizes plenty of melodic and harmonic smarts to spice up their sound without detracting one bit from the viscerality of it all. They even throw a few left hooks into the groove now and then, and how many of their earthbound peers can claim that?