"Those of us who love pop-punk are fortunate to have this band back in our lives. Nearly two years in the making, Life Got In The Way finds The Young Hasselhoffs coming home in spectacular fashion." - Lord Rutledge
"Omaha’s greatest (only?) pop punk band finally coughed up another record. The 12-track Life Got In the Way is a nearly flawless exercise in frenetic guitars and drums blending with honey sweetened melodies and vocals. The record is far better than their novelty (yet still funny) band name would have you believe. The record starts off with the minute-long, sweet, breezy, acoustic number “Little Poems,” giving little hint at what follows. But from the ringing, distorted guitars on the title track, just two songs in, it’s clear the band have plenty of Ramones and Descendents on their playlist." - New Noise Magazine
"Back when they released ‘WIn A Date With’, The Young Hasselhoffs were barely out of high school. Now in their 40s, it is an absolute pleasure to see them still having a great time making music together and proving that it is possible for a pop punk band to grow up gracefully." - Punk Rock Theory
"This highly melodic collection takes off like a Roman candle, spitting out one dazzling comet after another. Matt Hasselhoff has a compelling, instrumental voice, and songs like “Wish You Well” are mainstream power pop, like the Rubinoos or Knickerbockers." - Pop Geek Heaven
"Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, the Young Hasselhoffs first released an album back in the late nineties, but they recently reunited a couple of decades later for Life Got in the Way. (Quite.) Sounding like someone who grew up listening to the Beach Boys, sensitive singer/songwriters, and the Ramones side by side by side, frontdude Matt Stansbury leads his quartet through thirteen loud, frisky pop songs in a mere thirty-two minutes. Trading in teen angst for adult worries, Stansbury infuses “Pull Me Out of the Scene,” “Wish You Well” and the title track with aching sincerity, even as the power chords threaten to knock his bleeding heart right off his sleeve. Sometimes acoustic (“Sweet Matilda,” “Surround You”) but mostly electric, the songs go down easy, but stick in your throat, right where the lump is." - Michael "Denim" Toland, Big Takeover Magazine
"They'll slowly and surely pull you in with their masterfully-crafted melodies and sophisticated vocal arrangements. Stansbury shows the confidence to experiment with his craft, trying everything from the fully stripped-down "Sweet Matilda" to the almost jazzy "When I'm Gone" to the epic "Pull Me Out of the Scene" (which is practically a pop-punk symphony). But it's the big hooky pop songs that remain his bread and butter. The chorus to "Babydoll" will likely be stuck in my head until the end of time. "Wish You Well" is the kind of song I've been waiting for Green Day to write the past 15 years. "Eugene McCray: Ex-Guitar Hero" is so rousing and anthemic that it practically soars out of your speakers. "Barbara Part 2" is a sequel to a song off of the last album and, true to form, better than the original. The real show-stealer is "Quiet," which features a surprise appearance from Barbara Stansbury on lead vocals. In my book, it's the best tune that Matt Stansbury has ever written. And Barbara's vocal suits the song so perfectly. I've hit the repeat button on this stunner countless times over the past few weeks." - Faster And Louder
"Once they kick-in to the second song (the title track no-less) you’ll find yourself confronted with a brash, bouncing slice of hi-energy powerpop that with have you smiling and dancing within moments. The Young Hasselhoffs specialise in a style of unashamed pop music, infused with the energy of bands like the Buzzcocks or Undertones and more than a nod towards the early days of Greenday. Plenty of catchy melodies, great production and arrangements, together with frantic guitars and vocal harmonies. This is an album that only a very cynical or contrary loser would claim to dislike. It’s pop music as it should be… Fun!" - Fear And Loathing Zine
"Really dig this one. Regardless of the impetuous for this reunion, the record-buying public is better off living in a world where The Young Hasselhoffs are still making music." - John B Moore
"Sounds like Green Day if they'd never gone all concept album on our arses and started listening to the Buzzcocks and the Undertones instead. Good stuff." - Nite Songs
"Well written and well recorded tunes with excellent vocals. It makes you hanker to hear the whole thing, which is the idea of course." - Paul Blowfish
"Another once upon a time band that’s coming back, the new Young Hasselhoffs song “Life Got In The Way” is the title track from an upcoming album. The band lines up with the pop punk crowd (leaning towards the pop side), and this one opens with some infectious lead guitar and a vocal melody that does a fun wobble on the ending “oh-uh-oh’s”. That catchiness goes up a notch again on the chorus and the whole thing is going to get me back listening over and over. Looking forward to the full length." - That's Good Enough For Me
"Enter The Young Hasselhoffs from Omaha, Nebraska in the U.S.A. With the title song of its upcoming LP the band makes no qualms about loving music from long ago, while at the same time perfecting the genre with a 100% pop gem. If the perfect powerpop-punkpop single exists, The Young Hasselhoffs are in close reach of that holy grail." - WoNo Blog
Omaha, Nebraska's punk rock romantics return with an award winning blend of pop-punk meets doo-wop on their brand new full length release Life Got In The Way.
Friends since high school, middle aged pop-punkers The Young Hasselhoffs are reunited after a decade-long sabbatical, that followed a decade-long sabbatical, punctuated by a brief reunion. Confused? Let’s start over. Matt, Jason, and Phil started TYH in 1998, right out of high school. They very quickly earned a reputation for writing super-catchy, sugary sweet, pop punk meets doo-wop tunes and released their debut full length CD "Win A Date With" on the legendary Melted Records in 1998. TYH continued their historic pop punk legacy with a few more CD and 7inch releases on Insubordination and Far Out Records, made numerous comp appearances, and three US tours, reality intervened. The rock dream seemed dead. Matt, Jason and Phil decided to go their separate ways. And they did.
Ten years later.
In 2011 the band recorded “Obsolete Man,” and reunited for one final live performance at InsubordinationFest, for which Jason and Phil had to relearn their respective instruments. Shortly following the record’s release, the band was politely threatened with legal action due to an alleged trademark issue regarding their name, and the band was once again done for good. Or was it? It wasn’t.
(Another) ten years later.
Despite being considered largely irrelevant as an actual band 20 years ago, Phil managed to talk everyone into making a new record. Matt wrote demos from Colorado, Jason and Phil re-relearned their instruments in Omaha, and (with the help of the internet) they were ready to record with producer Andrew Berlin at the Blasting Room in August 2021.
credits
released November 25, 2022
The Young Hasselhoffs are Matt, Jason, Phil and Nick
All Songs by Matt Stansbury
Vocals on track 6 by Barbara Stansbury
Piano on track 5 by Brittany Helfon
Strings on Track 13 by John Grigsby and Elizabeth Crain
Produced by Andrew Berlin
Engineered by Andrew Berlin @ the Blasting Room, Ft Collins CO
Additional Engineering by Jonathan Luginbill
Mixed & Mastered by Jason Livermore @ the Blasting Room
Artwork by Jason Brown
Layout & design by Glenn Robinson
"Write this down: Rum Bar Records is turning into one of the absolute best labels for real rock & roll these days."
-- the legendary Bill Kelly, Bill Kelly's Blackhole Bandstand SiriusXm ch21 LSUG
supported by 7 fans who also own “Life Got In The Way”
Great upbeat songs with a positive message, skillfully performed with heart and soul by a really rocking band. Every track is a gem. A perfect album from start to finish, and a must have for lovers of power pop. andrewmiracle
Collected tracks from five bands including Cosmonauts, Susan, and Flat Worms provides a look into the vibrant Los Angeles music scene. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 19, 2017
supported by 6 fans who also own “Life Got In The Way”
As a concept album . . . well, no such thing has ever survived on the conceit of the concept if the songs aren't there. Even Townshend can't explain what the hell Tommy is about. But Ryan brings the songs "because he has to" (to paraphrase the last cut), and thank the rock gods that he does. The fact that this is better than the last Who album by about 50 miles makes me think there will never be a last rock band, and beyond that, the concept probably doesn't matter that much. Craig O'Neill
