Recorded on a shoestring budget in Miami, Florida, Nothing Gold Can Stay captured the raw, unfiltered essence of suburban teenage life and was a staple in my Walkman during my middle school years. Tracks like “Hit or Miss” blended catchy hooks with a relentless tempo, laying the groundwork for the infectious, emotionally charged sound that would dominate pop punk in the early 2000s. The whole album is a summation of what coming of age meant for me– it’s filled with heartbreak, humor, hope, and helpless yearning for something meaningful. While it flew under the radar at first, Nothing Gold Can Stay became a cult favorite, spreading through DIY shows and word-of-mouth, cementing New Found Glory as torchbearers of a new generation. With this scrappy debut (recorded while half the band members lived with their parents and worked at Walgreens), they not only announced their arrival but also helped define a golden era of pop punk that is starting to have a significant renaissance today.
Standout Songs: “Hit or Miss”, “That Winter of ’95”, “The Goodbye Song”
