Album Review

Papa Roach – Hollywood Whore

• 13th Mar 2009

It sounds crazy but Papa Roach and AC/DC have something in common. They have stayed pretty much the same throughout their entire careers. That thankfully is the end of the line as far as similarities are concerned. Whereas AC/DC can call on a legion of memorable songs, a legendary live show and Angus Young. Papa Roach are limited to maybe four songs (that were only good when you were 14 and angry), a turgid live set and Jacoby Shaddix. Oh. Yay.

New single ‘Hollywood Whore’ is relentlessly poor. As you have probably guessed the song is based around a Britney Spears type character who needs the limelight to exist. Which is nice. Except it isn’t. It’s boring, predictable and annoying. ‘Hollywood Whore’ is made from the same template that gave birth to ‘Last Resort’ and ‘Getting Away With Murder’. Which, unless you haven’t grown up, or have been locked in a nuclear bunker for the last 9 years, is not a good thing.

Papa Roach are no longer relevant and already feel like a nostalgia act, hanging on to the fact they had one hit album during the nu metal fiasco. The line ‘Wake up, the party is over’ couldn’t be more apt for their current situation.