The Lawrence Arms

The Lawrence Arms: Apathy and ExhaustionApathy and Exhaustion (2002)
Fat Wreck Chords

Reviewer Rating: 5

User Rating:

Contributed by: gregGreg
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on August 13th 2002Though the Lawrence Arms are known for releasing wonderful cds, I think this is the first year there cd takes the cake. It is without a doubt the best thing I have heard all year. The Lawrence Arms have put two cds on Asian Man Records, both of which are very good. They also have a mediocre spli.

Though the Lawrence Arms are known for releasing wonderful cds, I think this is the first year there cd takes the cake. It is without a doubt the best thing I have heard all year.

The Lawrence Arms have put two cds on Asian Man Records, both of which are very good. They also have a mediocre split cd with Shady View Terrance. Their other cd has some of their best material ever written like "100 Resoltions" and "Quintuplce Your Money". Oh and it has some shit by the Chinkees on it.

Along their musical jounrey. The band got signed to Fat along with their friends Dillinger Four. They released their cd "Apathy and Exhaustion" in feb. and it is one of the great theme orientated cds. It has a lot to do with negative thinking, but still it provides a positive outlook. Don't be thrownoff by the cover with the dismembered boy, he is merely full of apathy and exhaustion.

1. Porno and Snuff Films - If this cd were to have a single this would be it. It has a fast tempo, and great lyrics. Good song, but nothing to memorable.

2. First Eviction Notice - One of the top songs on this cd. It has a lot to do with how we end to 2nd guess ourselves and how we get nervous when were confronted from relationship topics.

3. Navigating the Windward Passage - Not my cup of tea, the only real mediocre song on the cd. Its fast, but it has little substance. It is not a filler track though. Maybe it's just my personal taste though, because I know a number of people who love this song.

4. Your Gravest Words - The slowest song on the cd, but not the worse by any means. This song got me into the whole cd. It has to do with two people who can't connect. Even though he is scarred he takes a chance, reaches out, and is no longer alone.

5. Boatless Booze cruise part 1 - This song is really spectacular. It seems to me to be about a guy who drinks a lot. But then comes to his friend in need, and finds comfort on his floor. One reference on here that keeps sticking out is being jackknifed. Maybe it has to do with a situtation that changed his viewpoint on his drinking habits.

6. Brickwall Views - This song does little musically, but its amazing lyrically. This song is very personal to the band. It has to do with how the city has changed, and how time is pasting for them. Then the song changes from his feelings about Chicago to his feelings about himself. He sees himself as a bitter and exhausted individual, compared to his old self. As he says "all we see is a faded image of what we used to be". Great Song.

7. Corpses of Our Motivations - This is my favorite song and it has very descriptive lyrics. It is about drinking too much. There is a vivid picture of how a life can be ruined by drinking. It is well portrayed when he talks about the "yellow growing grass", but is best inferred when it is sung softly at the end of the song.

8. I'll Take Whats In the Box Monty - Like many of the songs by the Lawrence Arms this one tells a story that is not complete, but the last verse puts it all in perspective. So, this song is about a guy who is attached to a woman, his attachment is dragging the life out of her. So he understands if she wants to leave.

9. Right as Rain part 2 - This song is linked to track 5. This part of the 2 part song is about how he is tired of being sad and apathetic. Then he reaches a moment of happiness with "one salty kiss", which is "right as rain".

10. 3am QVC Shopping Spree Hangover - This song is amazing, it has a normal pace, but then gets real fast toward the end. It is really about him dying as a person, and leaving his old self behind. He pissed on his corpse, and then left it, to have his newer self.

11. Abracadaver - What an amazing way to end the song. I have heard several intretations of this song, but overall it seems to be about a guy who breaks a relationship with a girl, because he doesn'r want to hurt her emotionally somehow.

In conclusion, this cd is just brillant. It has a lot of great metaphors - vampire fangs, smokestacks, pissing on corpses, faulty satelites and clouds as mirrors. It covers topics like broken mixed up relationships, alchoholism, and boredom. One can think this album has to do with the journey of the songwriter. While it may not be as good as Modest Mouse, it deserves a place one everyone's cd rack.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

owneroperator (July 29, 2010)

the best larrys album.

drbino (April 11, 2008)

Pop-punk? Fuck yes! I picked this album up last week because i saw all the 5-star reviews for it here. Thats the last time i listen to 14 year old girls who are rating crap bands with shitty lyrics instead of doing their homework. Theres 2 good songs on here but it's a pretty sub-par album. Worth forgetting.

assgoblin (January 7, 2007)

This is yet another great Lawrence Arms album. I seem to enjoy everything they release. This album review however is riddled with spelling/grammar mistakes and was rather subpar.

Klonny (February 8, 2006)

"Along with D4, these guys are showing the way that pop-punk should be played... "

Pop-punk? Fuck no.

Godfather (October 17, 2005)

words can not describe how good this album is

thatswack (January 7, 2005)

Good album.

Anonymous (February 26, 2004)

modest mouse fucking blows.

soulbleed (January 7, 2003)

this is without a doubt the best punk record of 2002: it doesn't have a boring moment in it. a huge improvement from their older stuff, including the old broadways records, which is quite surprising. i'd recommend this to anyone who has the slightest interest in punk, or god forbid i say it .. emo.

Anonymous (August 19, 2002)

Thought it was pretty good at first, but REALLY grew on me after a few listens. Along with D4, these guys are showing the way that pop-punk should be played... with some fucking guts!

Anonymous (August 18, 2002)

yeah i was there when they played with d4 at the gothic on the 3rd. why? . d4 was better. brendan doesnt have a lot of heart on stage. he gets really excited about drinking. Anywho this CD was in my car stereo for the entire month of april. it is excellent. quincentuple your money is their best song. rock music, killer tofu.

waste_elite (August 16, 2002)

i'm psyched, that's gonna be a hell of a show.

AdamVMS (August 16, 2002)

someone commented about d4 at the ottobar... not only are they playing it but both of the new vms bands are opening the show (the springfields and the shakedowns) so get there early

Dollface (August 15, 2002)

I do have to say that I too wanted to die after hearing D4 play! If any of you have yet to see D4....Make an effort they are the best punk band out there today.

Anonymous (August 15, 2002)

These guys seem to put out a cd like every year. Does anyone know if they are going to release another cd like next year? Or maybe it'll be another split. I just hope they have something to dish out soon.

Also, they are great live. Though i've never seen D4 live, I hear they are even better.

waste_elite (August 15, 2002)

speaking of D4, i just found out they're playing the ottobar in baltimore sept 12. fuckin A!

Anonymous (August 14, 2002)

Anyone notice when they play live the insane facial expressions Brendan makes. I think thats the best part bout their live show. Anyway this cd is very rad. Oh yea was anyone at the show on the 3rd at the Gothic theatre? Larry Arms was really good but D4 simply made me wonder if I should die after the show because that would be a fucking awesome end to my life!!!! -Rock

Anonymous (August 14, 2002)

The Lawrence Arms deserve some respect. This album is great they perform great. I think both Chris and Brenden's voices are outstanding and work so well together. Keep it up! I can't wait for the next album!

Anonymous (August 14, 2002)

Yeah - I have to agree. I have seen them play a couple of times and they have consistently put on absolutely great shows. I am totally stoked to see them on Plea for Peace.

Anonymous (August 14, 2002)

I just have to say that I can't take this CD out of my Stereo! It just makes your day better and they don't suck live! They are so much fun and I could see them live over and over again!

Anonymous (August 14, 2002)

not a bad cd, but unfortunatly they suck live, i was surprised , them being on fat and all..

Anonymous (August 14, 2002)

anyone who thinks this album is just mediocre hasn't really listened to it. i thought it was just simply "ok" the first 2 times i listened to it. after a few more spins i was hooked. great, great disc.

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

whatever.

Anyway, this cd rocks. You can make fun of my review if you must, but don't knock the Lawrence Arms.

So you say that "Overheated" is a b-side. Can it be found on any other comp.?

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

it's true abracadaver is about 9/11
i heard it from brendon himself bitches

SOYBOMB (August 13, 2002)

Wyzo's review was better because he gave it a perfect score.

Peace,
-SOYBOMB-

wyzo (August 13, 2002)

Oh, one of the bsides "Overheated" that was on the fat club 7 inch is really good and you should try and find it if you want more of this album.

wyzo

wyzo (August 13, 2002)

I like my review of it better, just because for all my endless rambling, Im never as bad as 'this song is really like deep and deals with like a girl whose tushy is cute but cant accept her for her, it has like cool and rad metaphors, and uses the word like often'.

I dont see 'abracadaver' being about 9/11, Im pretty sure that was a joke.

But one thing, The lawrence arms will always be better than Modest mouse. Always. Even in their sleep.

wyzo

seek (August 13, 2002)

"Shady View Terrance?

You should be shot."

Yeah, typos are worthy of capitOl punishment.

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

1. Porno and Snuff Films - If this cd were to have a single this would be it. It has a fast tempo, and great lyrics. Good song, but nothing to memorable.

(can you say self-contradictary?)

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

Shady View Terrance?

You should be shot.

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

What does Abracadver have to do with 9/11?

maverick (August 13, 2002)

Chris-
If you emailed reviews to me, I do not have them. My email has been very sketchy of late. Try emailing them again [my school's server seems to be back up now] or post them on here.

I promise I'm not trying to screw you over. =)

-Scott

punky (August 13, 2002)

10/10 is way too much for this album.

seek (August 13, 2002)

Sickboi, I'm not sure of the policy, but I don't think new albums SHOULD get priority. I mean, they should be taken as they are posted, that is the fairest way of doing things. Anyhow, really good disc.

waste_elite (August 13, 2002)

"slit my throat, it's more than a tad overdue"

yes, positive lyrics.

lawrence arms are fucking awesome

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

spellcheck. please?

TenderBransonX (August 13, 2002)

I love this album. If someone takes it out of the player I'm going to piss on their leg.

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

Abracadaver is about the events of 9/11.

PS a medioce split with svt? what the fuck?

I still think nebraska is their best song, and the part where brendan sings in another boring story is golden.

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

wasn't this review posted when this cd first came out? if so, why is it here again? anyway, great cd.

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

OK Scott, not to be a redundant ass, but what gives? I thought new reviews get priority? I've submitted 2 new reviews of brand new albums, and nothing. Have my anti-emo opinions gotten to you? Oh well. I'll guess I'll just give up...

-sickboi