‘God Save The Teen’ shows Mod Sun at his most vulnerable

Derek Smith, known by his stage name Mod Sun, released his newest album, “God Save The Teen” on Friday, Feb. 3, almost two years after the release of his genre-shifting, pop-punk album “Internet Killed the Rockstar.” 

2022 was a big year for the singer after he became engaged to Avril Lavigne and supported Palaye Royale during their “Fever Dream” tour. He also released some standalone singles while teasing this record. 2023 seems to hold even bigger opportunities for the singer, with this album being the tip of the iceberg. 

Mod Sun took a huge risk as no singles from the album were released prior to its scheduled debut. That strategy worked in his favor because fans were not able to guess the album’s theme right away. They were not completely left in the dark as Mod Sun revealed a song title once a day in the weeks leading up to the release. Either way, it was an interesting marketing tactic. 

The record’s best songs are the ones that pull an emotional punch, something that was missing from “Internet Killed the Rockstar.” There’s “Avril’s Song,” which is dedicated to his fiancée, where he sings, “She blew me a kiss / And I didn’t wanna blow my brains out anymore / And she is everything I’m not / Without her, I am lost.” She is his saving grace; he may not even be here without her. 

Mod Sun and Avril Lavigne’s love story is a breath of fresh air compared to some of the other celebrity romances that have blossomed in the last few years. It’s a reminder that we may all be able to find that special person one day.

Another emotional song is “Single Mothers,” a track dedicated to his own mother. The last line of the chorus, “There’s no one tougher than a single mother,” emphasizes all the challenges Mod Sun’s mom went through so that he could have a stable parental figure. A unique aspect of the song is the inclusion of a recorded message from his mom. Being a single parent is not easy, but you have to remember that you are trying to do your best for your kids so they can have a childhood to look back on. 

Of course, there are some guitar and drum-heavy tracks that fans will sing at the top of their lungs. “Eyelids,” “SOS” and “Courtney Fucked Kurt” are great examples of songs that sound like the Mod Sun fans fell in love with from previous releases. 

He also sings a beautiful cover of The Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 hit “Iris.” The cover will have listeners craving the simpler, more acoustic songs of the 1990s, yet the song has the same elements of past Mod Sun songs fans know and love.

Mod Sun has really grown as a songwriter. The haunting lyrics of these newer songs show that he is not the same person rapping about partying, drugs and girls. Sobriety may have played a hand in that, but people also change as they get older. Life changes, and getting in touch with your emotions, while scary, is completely normal. “God Save The Teen” is going to be an album you play when you are unsure of what lies ahead but know it will work out in the end.

The album is sure to become one of Mod Sun’s most memorable, exceeding its predecessor “Internet Killed the Rockstar.” It can be streamed on all music streaming platforms. Mod Sun is also going on a headlining tour later this month. You can catch him in New York City on March 15.