If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Bowling for Soup are back with “Sorry for Partyin’,” and no worries, they may be apologising but the party is still fully on. Their formula hasn’t changed a bit; this is an excellent Bowling for Soup album with the usual catchy, uplifting, pop punk riffs and tongue in cheek lyrics. This should be enough for anyone who knows the band to decide if it’s worth spending their cash on this CD. Then again, I’ve been listening to it for the past two weeks, so I might as well tell you a bit more...

Let’s start with the opener ‘A Really Cool Dance Song.’ Bowling for Soup give a go to electro dance, filling it with self irony and feel-good choruses; although they don’t normally do 80s style keyboards, the result is brilliant. It’s not like they’re trying to reinvent themselves, but it’s nice to find a song that stands out from the rest. Following ‘No Hablo Ingles’ brings us back to the Bowling for Soup pop punk sound we’re more familiar with. Then it’s time for first single ‘My Wena.’ Like it or not, you’re going to find yourself laughing the first time you listen to this, and singing it from the second time through. ‘I Don’t Wish You Were Dead Anymore’ is a break up song, but thank God they can make you laugh even when you’re heartbroken! Another catchy pop number you’re going to end up singing in the shower, mainly to cheer yourself up after being dumped. ‘BFFF’ is the funniest and most bro-mantic song I’ve heard in ages, “trying to say I love you in a heterosexual way” is one of the things men seem to find more difficult unless they have had way too much too drink, so here you go lads, you’ve got a song for it now!

It goes from bro-mance to proper ro-mance with heartfelt ballad ‘Me With No You,’ proving they can do serious and do it well. But would you buy a Bowling for Soup album if you were looking for a song to dedicate to your girlfriend (unless you had been badly dumped)? I bet you wouldn’t, so let’s move on. ‘Hooray For Beer’ is simply an anthem which doesn’t need any additional comment, you will quickly develop a soft spot for it unless you’re teetotal. ‘I Gotchoo’ has some reggae-ska colours, much in the style of an old Sugar Ray, chilled and pleasantly stoned. And why not experiment with a hint of country and line dancing in bonus track 'Belgium Polka'?

There’s absolutely nothing new in ‘Sorry for Partyin’” (apart for fourteen brilliant pop pieces) and honestly I’m glad. Making people smile is a very rare and sought after talent, and when it’s coupled with some good musicianship and song writing we can only look forward to the next Bowling for Soup release, and hope again they won’t change a bit.