Customer Reviews

Guilt Show

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been an outside fan of The Get Up Kids for a few years now. I found that they had catchy hooks and a fresher outlook lyrics-wise than their supposed "peers" such as Blink, etc...I also felt that they damaged what could have been power pop perfection by, at times, trying to imitate those inferior bands to the point of being lumped in with those bands. At times I thought that the strained/yelled vocals were getting a bit common and that The Kids needed to scale it back and find their niche, sucessful or not. "On A Wire" took it too far back and and while a good CD, it still didn't define TGUK. "Guilt Show" finally, finally, finally dials it down to show the absolute talent this band posesses. Smart, insightful lyrics as well as perfectly executed hooks. I would also suggest 4 Minute Mile and Something To Write Home About as an introduction and see how far they have come with this release.

First: I bought "Something to write home about" then I fell in love with the cd
Second: I bought "On A Wire" and loved the whole cd for it's differences and everything
Third: I bought "Guilt Show" and loved how all the songs seemed upbeat and had good rhythms, this is a good cd!

There is little emotion on the new Get Up Kids album. It was a disappointment. If you're looking for their old, poignant sound, check out "Something to Write Home About."

I read many gushing 5 star reviews on Amazon. Sometimes I actually buy on their basis but I'm regularly disappointed. The reviews must be posted by anonymous band members or band friends.

A prime example of this is "Guilty" by The Get Up Kids. I have a rule - I only keep a CD if there are 2 decent songs on it. I could not find 1 on this CD and it will be sold.

So why this harsh judgement:

1. The production is jam packed with instruments, up front guitars, there's no space, not nearly enough dynamics. Power pop is allowed to have space - go check the early 80's recordings by The Records.
2. The songs are not catchy, not hooky. They drone on with predictable chord changes and harmony choruses. It's just so unimaginative. Pop music is allowed to be surprising.

Power Pop has been around for 20 years and there is no need to waste your money on this inferior example.

I've been listening to the Get up kids for a long time now but what happened with this new album? I took it home and was so excited to listen to it but it definitely fell short. It sounds more like the New Amsterdams side of the band rather than the Get up kids and honestly I was expecting a lot more out of it.

a lot of people are saying that this album is a return for the get up kids to their earlier (pre-on a wire) stuff. i would disagree on some levels. this album doesn't hold a candle to red letter day/woodson ep's, or something to write home about, or even four minute mile. however, it's an improvement on on a wire, to be sure. the songs on guilt show are much faster, catchier and more power-poppy and in that way, it is a throwback to their earlier stuff. however, it lacks the raw emotional quality of the earlier lp's and ep's. if you're new to the get up kids, i recommend something to write home about. however, if you're a tried-and-true guk fan, i wouldn't pass this album up; it's pretty good. i just can't see it as a soundtrack to my life like stwha and the red letter day/woodson ep's once were.

Sometimes it takes a while for music to grow on me. That was definitely true for the Get Up Kids. At first i thought they were kind of slow and boring. Now i love them. i still think some of their songs are boring but i absolutely adore several.

So obviously i bought this CD. And i've listened to it ~50 times. And i feel guilty saying this, but it's really rather boring. Tracks 3, 5 and 13 especially annoy me. i kind of like 4 and 12 and maybe 8 but overall, this is a slightly below average CD with some very unlikable tracks.

Everyone has their own taste, of course, and the people who like this CD seem to be the same ones who disliked On A Wire. My favorite Kid tracks are Red Letter Day (from Red Letter Day), Action and Action (Something to Write Home About), Anne Arbor (RLD; this one had to grow on me), Burned Bridges (Eudora), Don't Hate Me (4 Minute Mile) and Fall From Grace (On A Wire), Overdue (On A Wire; a little unusual for them, i probably like it because of the video) and Worst Idea (On A Wire). So i guess i was one of the ones who liked On A Wire and maybe this CD just wasn't meant for me. i'm glad others like it

FINALLY! GUK is back!!!!! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH (just not as much during their country "on a wore" phase)
1. Man of Conviction - catchy tune, back to the "Four Minute Mile" Days
2. The One you Want - Great begining, but i'm not too crazy about the "woo wooo wooo" at the end
3. Never Be Alone - profound and it makes you think with the line: Never love anyone else/this i promise you/maybe yourself
4. Wouldn't Believe It - this is amazing i love how it deals with lying and deception: trespass fits you like a charm/scarlett letter on your arm
5. Holy Roman - such a great song!! lyrics are amazing and vocals are too...makes you think. buy the CD and check out the first version of this song
6. Martyr Me - If you really think about it, the verse and the chourus dont really mesh, but they sound good together
7. How Long is Too Long - Vocals are amazing. chours a little weak
8. Sick in Her Skin - i didn't like it at first, but during the day, the lyrics replayed in my head and now i love this song
9. In Your Sea - catchy tune, profound lyrics, amazing overall
10. Sympathy - this song is one of the best reasons to buy this cd. lyrics, vocals, and tune are all amazing. listen to this and you'll be scribbling the lyrics all over your stuff
11. Dark Night of a Soul - depressing, but great lyrics. the end is really awesome...something to think about
12. Is There a Way Out - great sound, but drowned out by the legnth of the song
13. Conversation - with the first line of the song, i thought they were going back to the "On A Wire" phase with the all gooey and mushy country feel, but by the chorus they redeemed themselves and made an amazing song

Overall, this is a must have. The special features are awesome too!

I may be alone in my views on this one, but I was dissapointed in the Getup Kids latest offering "Guilt Show." Their 2002 release "On A Wire" was a huge musical step for the Kids-it showed maturity and interest in experimenting. I appreciated them for putting out something different and original. On "Guilt Show," it seems that the Kids are taking a step back-perhaps to appease the fans who seem to only beg for "Something to Write Home about, part II" and whine about it when they don't get it. Guilt Show is a consistent album, it has solid instrumentation and lyrics-but what it lacks is a spark. It has neither the energy of "Something to Write Home About" or the Introspect of "On A Wire" A few notable tracks make the album worthwhile for the die-hard Getup Kids fan. "Is there a way out" "Dark Night of the Soul" and "Conversation" hint at some of the inner struggles in a poweful way- but if you want great energy and emotion, or great introspect and originality, stick to the older albums.

I used to think this album was crap but now I think it is really good. I still think if you are starting to listen to The Get Up Kids then you should get the album, Something To Write Home About. If you don't have that and you're a fan then you have to get it. If you have that album, then you should get this one. Or any other in that case. They all rock, they are the Get Up Kids.