Search - Good Riddance :: My Republic

Yeah, but, where's the anger?

Stuart Sutton | VA United States | 07/26/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is, make no mistake, a great recording; no regrets about the purchase. The lyrics are as well thought out as the best stuff from Bad Religion. It's just that I'm used to hearing stuff from these guys that comes across as blind seething rage about issues they cover in their songs (try listening to "Waste" from Ballads From The Revolution). So, when they sound like NOFX or the Descendents (both bands that I love, by the way), well, that's all well and good, but, it's not really the west coast hard-core punk sound that they have been labelled as representing. All their albums seem to have a couple of songs with a similar sound as is more prominent on this recording. Those songs are also slower and thoughtful while still clearly punk rock. Another reviewer correctly described this as a very good "punk pop" recording and, sadly, I'd agree. Hopefully, however, that comment will make the band cringe."

More Produced than Their Earlier Stuff, but Still Great

Diane Mcgough | Lake Oswego, OR | 08/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the band's seventh release or Fat Wreck Chords which is typical of their punk and hardcore rants. They have harmonies and choruses in the vein of Bad Religion, especially on "Tell me Why" and "Rise and Fall," but with a more produced feel than their earlier releases. "Up to You" features interchanging vocals throughout, plus the chorus, strong baselines and loud kick drums all add up to make this the most memorable song on the album. "Boise" takes the album into a different route -- being a love song -- to a more sensitive vibe. "Uniform" closes out the CD on an uplifting note."

Would have been a better EP than a full length...

Daniel Fitzgerald | Santa Cruz, CA USA | 03/27/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Good Riddance are one of my all time favorite bands, so I have a hard time with this record. There are two eras of Good Riddance to me. The Ryan Greene days, and the Bill Stevenson days (when they sounded less like the unique Good Riddance, and started to do a poor job of trying to sound like mediocre 80s hardcore influences). All though I don't dislike anything by the band, I really don't think anything after Ballads From The Revolution has ever compared to that album, and its predecessors.

Sean Sellers returns to the drums on this record, but I honestly would not have been able to tell without reading the liner notes, as his drumming meshes with the last couple albums, and sounds nothing like his razor-speed fury witnessed on A Comprehensive Guide and Ballads From The Revolution. The drum tone (as well as the overall recording) sounds very dull, as has every album starting with Operation Phoenix.

I felt that Bound By Ties of Blood and Affection was the best song writing since Ballads From The Revolution, since it had a feel back to Good Riddance's style before they tried to go simple hardcore. However, This album feels like the songs were quickly thrown together merely to fill 30 minutes and not like a collective effort with interested band members.

The energy and speed is at the lowest for any GR CD.

I usually really like Russ's creative lyrics, but it sounds like he penned these out line by line as he was recording. Lines like "Live your life, its up to you" on repeat really are as simple and uncreative as it gets, which isn't the usual case. I love left-wing political lyrics. I do not like lyrics from bands complaining about career life (as found on a couple tracks here). A successful musician (even if not wealthy) can't empathize with the daily struggles of those who aren't musically successful, and those who have never had anything handed to them.

A few of the songs on this record are really good though, such as the opener Out Of Mind, Tell Me Why, Broken, Torches and Tragedies, and creative slower tracks Boise and Darkest Days. In fact, had those songs alone been put on an EP, I don't think I'd miss not having the non-mentioned tracks.

The "pop punk" aspect of this album doesn't bother me at all since I always found Good Riddance to be more distinctive and interesting as a skate punk band, than a psuedo-80s Hardcore band.

This album isn't bad, but its at the bottom of GR's list of best efforts. I don't think this is the end of the line for Good Riddance though. A next release can prove to be redeeming (as Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit was pretty bad, and Bound By Ties corrected all the weaknesses of the former). I look forward to what these guys have to offer for a next release."