Boys Like Girls: 'The Great Escape'

Boys Like Girls have gradually slain the States, with sales of their debut album, released in August 2006, nudging past the 500,000 mark in December. The secrets of the pop punkers' success? One, a touring schedule that would shame even Bob Dylan; and two, 'The Great Escape', whose video became a favourite on US MTV's flagship show, Total Request Live.

A big, brash blast of power pop giddiness, it boasts lyrics that sound like lost couplets from Billie's 'Because We Want To'. "We'll scream at the top of our lungs," wails frontman Martin Johnson. "And they'll say it's just because we're young." Its gleeful, chant-a-long chorus should seduce anyone who's never let go of his inner teenager, but, for maximum enjoyment, you'll probably need to have gone through puberty within the last three years.


> Click here to watch the 'Great Escape' video