Let’s get one thing straight: if you’ve ever cranked up “1985” in your car like a caffeinated karaoke god, you know Bowling for Soup isn’t exactly the band you turn to for brooding, soul-crushing existentialism. But Fishing for Woos—yes, the brand-new 2025 album, not a typo or a lost mixtape from your older cousin’s glovebox—might just surprise you.
First off, this thing rips. It’s wall-to-wall good vibes, catchy hooks, and enough pop-punk energy to make your knees remember what a trampoline feels like. It’s got that classic blend of 90s alternative goofball humor and unshakable optimism, but there’s also… dare I say… some depth?
Sure, there are a couple tracks that are delightfully ridiculous. “Girls Are Evil All Over the World” had me laughing out loud while simultaneously questioning how many exes this song may or may not have been inspired by. And when they get to the Moms part, that’s really the icing on the cake. And S-s-s-saturday? Not exactly Pulitzer-winning poetry, but it’s been squatting in my brain rent-free for days. Honestly, it might be my favorite just because of how much pure serotonin it shoots into my bloodstream every time it hits the chorus.
But here’s where Fishing for Woos surprises you—it’s got heart. Real heart. There are a couple of strong ballads tucked between the sing-along anthems and laugh-out-loud moments, and they work. They don’t feel like an obligatory acoustic guitar moment; they feel honest, like the band took a second to look you in the eyes and say, “Hey, it’s not all a joke. We feel stuff too.”
Now, I won’t pretend I’ve been dissecting BFS albums like a music critic at NPR all these years, but this one’s got me curious. Did I miss the emotional underbelly in previous albums? Was I too distracted by the punchlines and power chords? Possibly. Probably. I’m going back to check.
In the meantime, Fishing for Woos is an unexpected gem. It’s the kind of album you throw on expecting a good time and end up getting a little more than you bargained for—in the best way. It rocks. It jokes. It tugs at your heartstrings. It makes you wish it was Saturday (s-s-s-saturday) already.
7/10 – Would listen again. And again. And again.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some back-catalog listening to do. But here’s how I rate it track by track:
Let’s Pretend We’re Not in Love
6/10 – Strong start for the album,
Girls in America
5/10 – Listenable, but not one of the stronger songs. This is more like a Blink-182 song.
S-S-S-Saturday
9/10 – Here’s where the album really starts to kick in. This is a catchy, pumped up for the weekend kind of song.
4 What About Us
8/10 – Then they slow it down with a pretty sweet ballad.
5 Here’s Your Freakin’ Song
7/10 – This is one of the highest played songs by Spotify users from the album, I don’t think it is the best on it but it’s a fun and catchy song nonetheless.
6 This Ain’t My Day
8/10 – I really like this one, continues the working class struggle theme from the S-S-S-Saturday track and it sounds like a really good late 90s alternative song, just the kind of thing I need right now.
7 Smiley Face (It’s All Good)
7/10 – Enjoyable and positive vibes. I love the chorus line “It’s okay, it’s all good
You get a smiley face for showing your good side” and that’s paid off with “You know you can’t shake it
Why don’t we just get naked?”
8 Turbulence (Ft. Gabriel Mann)
8/10 – Another strong ballad on the album with a strong theme of perseverance.
9 I’ve Never Done Anything Like This (Ft. Kay Hanley)
5/10 – This one seems to have a lot of plays, but it’s not high up my list of songs I really like from the album, but it’s listenable.
10 Friends Chicks Guitars
5/10 – The album gets a bit thinner and more forgettable for me here on out except for track 14.
11 Guard My Heart [2010]
5/10
12 Graduation Trip
4/10
13 Dear Megan Fox
3/10
14 Evil All Over The World
8/10
15 My Girlfriend’s An Alcoholic
6/10
