ALBUM REVIEW: TAYLOR ACORN - POSTER CHILD (24/10/25)
Pop‑punk fans, rejoice: Taylor Acorn’s new release Poster Child is a pure, anthemic pop-punk journey that sends listeners back to the early 2000s whilst planting itself firmly in 2025 with a clear modern twist. The album also marks a major moment in her career, being the first release on Fearless Records after almost a decade of releasing music independently.
Taylor Acorn is not new to pop-punk. The singer-songwriter first found her passion for performing as a teenager in Northern Pennsylvania, where she formed her first pop-punk band and began playing solo shows. But her real breakthrough came after moving to Nashville in 2014, where she met producer Dan Swank (known for working with All Time Low). The two quickly connected over a shared love for early 2000s pop-punk, setting the stage for the next chapter of her career.
Now channeling the authentic spirit of the late ’90s and early 2000s, she has created a sound that feels both nostalgic and brand new, which is exactly how to best describe Poster Child.
The album starts off with ‘People Pleaser’, an infectious opener that is incredibly catchy and gives you that early 2000’s pop/punk nostalgia feel instantly. The opening line ‘‘you’re pissing me off’’ is a bold statement, setting the tone for the rest of the album.
‘Crashing Out’ follows, one of the album’s singles that can be best described as a pure cathartic release, with emotion being front and centre. ’Hangman’ also needs no introduction, another single and one of our first tastes of the new album that delivers powerful vocals from Acorn. It is another hard-hitting anthem that connects on every level, emotionally charged, musically explosive, and already a standout moment in the live shows - and our favourite single.
The album title track ’Poster Child’ comes next, delivering lyrics that feel vulnerable and powerful in equal measure, with strong hooks, a crowd-friendly chorus, and the kind of energy built for live performance. Next up is ’Home Videos’, a beautiful track giving listeners a trip down to memory lane with the classic pop/punk vibe and heartfelt lyrics that captures that specific childhood joy and the emotional weight of memory perfectly.
Meanwhile, ‘Cheap Dopamine’ slows the pace slightly, which helps give Poster Child texture beyond just the heavy anthems or nostalgic material we’ve come to experience so far.
Poster Child feels like an album built for the live experience, thriving on audience connection and lyrics shout back from the crowd. The seventh track ‘Blood On Your Hands’ channels that brilliantly: a post-breakup track that’s very punchy and deeply cathartic, a real standout for us.
Acorn doesn’t pretend to be post‑genre. Throughout the record, she leans into what she is fully: a pop‑punk/alt singer who grew up on the era when that sound was everywhere and wants to play that vibe for now. In her words: “When people listen to this album I just want them to feel like they’re back in a time period that makes them feel good” and Poster Child does exactly that.
With ‘Goodbye, Good Riddance,’ Acorn delivers another track practically begging to be played live, with an undeniable stage energy. Lyrically, it dives into the freedom that comes with leaving a toxic relationship, another relatable theme that threads through the album’s honest, emotionally charged storytelling.
When it comes to influences, the nods to Avril Lavigne and Paramore are clear, but ‘Sucker Punch’ also channels a powerful Kelly Clarkson energy, blending pop-rock with emotional punch. Meanwhile with its hazy opening and soaring finish, ‘Theme Park’ captures the euphoria of new love, that giddy feeling where “I get that hit of adrenaline / You make me feel just like a kid again.” whilst keeping the same catchy energy Poster Child has been delivering up until now.
The closing track ‘Masquerade’ strips things back a little before bursting into the pop-punk rhythm Acorn knows and does best. It’s a well-executed closer that ties the album together and really ends on a high note.
Poster Child is a strong album from Taylor Acorn. It shows confidence, purpose, and a clear sense of her identity as an artist who grew up loving pop‑punk and now wants to contribute to it, not just mimic it. For fans of the genre, or anyone who wants something full of energy, emotions, and honesty, there’s plenty to enjoy here, and we certainly did.
