"The Upsides" is a record about hope. During the past year, The Wonder Years found themselves trudging through their early twenties along side an army of downtrodden friends. It felt like sadness had become the status quo and that didn't sit well with the Philadelphia-based five piece. On a bike ride around the fountain at Logan Circle on the first day of spring, the idea struck that this constant state of defeat was no way to live and out of that, "The Upsides" was born. Instead of a writing format derived from the ideas of one member, The Wonder Years built a record out of opposing influences, colossal arguments and gallons of sweat. The band all moved into a one-bedroom house in South Philly and spent a scorching month and a half locked in a 15 square-foot basement obsessing over every single part of every single song, refusing to move from the practice space until everyone was content. The result is 12 tracks of overly honest pop punk that resonates with the band's past influences like Motion City Soundtrack, Saves the Day and The Starting Line, but also speaks to new influences like Latterman, Thursday and even The Hold Steady. Fans can expect to see the familiar soaring hooks and energetic guitar-driven songs that made The Wonder Years what they are, but will also find themselves engaged in new aspects as the band makes use of different dynamics, instrumentation and structures. In writing "The Upsides," The Wonder Years have created a soundtrack for the hopeful. Throughout the LP, the band continually sings, "I'm not sad anymore" in the hopes that everyone still feeling the weight of the past year can soon sing along.
"The Wonder Years have crafted a passionate testament to the confusion of being twentysomething with The Upsides, their sophomore full-length. If you've grown up and care about more than just girls, but still love Say It Like You Mean It, listen to the Wonder Years." - ALTERNATIVE PRESS (4 out of 5 Stars)
"Upsides is a beautifully recorded (pure) pop-punk album" - PASTEPUNK.com
"7/10" - ROCK SOUND
"Since their inception, The Wonder Years have been getting better with each release, and The Upsides is their greatest accomplishment yet." - ABSOLUTEPUNK.net
""The Upsides" is setting the bar high for pop punk records to be released in the next few years. This record should put The Wonder Years further in front of the pack they are already leading." - KILL YOUR STEREO
"This foul laden release should really be given a chance - it's hard not to crack a smile when hearing The Upsides. Stop being so up tight; enjoy yourself you fucker" - LEXINGTON MUSIC PRESS
"My take: you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't give this album a shot. Get on it, holmes." - I BREATHE THE UNDERGROUND
"They simply don't have anything to be sad about anything anymore, as the only way is up now for The Wonder Years." - ALTER THE PRESS!
"With admirable inten tions and unflap pable per se ver ance, The Wonder Years are a band who seemed poised to ascend to the top of the pop-punk scene. Congratulations The Wonder Years, 2010 appears to be your year boys." - REVIEW RINSE REPEAT
"the bar has already been set for pop punk releases in 2010." - THE INTERLUDE
"To put it simply, The Upsides is without a doubt, the best pop punk release of the last decade." - UNDER THE GUN REVIEW
"If you had any doubts on "Get Stoked On It!", then "The Upsides" will prove that TWY are the best band in the genre." - ROCKFREAKS.net
