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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

This album is NHOI’s third self-released album, and they have pushed it everywhere from random people at gas stations to Warped Tour, where they were the only unsigned band to play the entire tour (all this according to their press pack). They apparently tour quite a bit and I admire their hard work, but the music isn’t anything new.

Just like Newfound Glory or any other Drive Thru band, NHOI has the clean-cut sound complete with neatly packaged vocal harmonies and shallow lyrics. Check out the words to “She’s Over It”: “She never smiles / she won’t even give me a kiss / she tried to stab me with a knife / good thing she missed / this morning my tea was filled with piss / I don’t know why she acts like this / she doesn’t like me anymore.” My goodness. Another lyrical blunder on this album would be the messed-up version of “Build Me Up Buttercup” by the Foundations. I don’t know if they were trying to avoid copyright laws (they don’t mention in the booklet that they did not write the song), but on the back sleeve they call it “Build Me Up,” but in the lyric booklet they call it “Buttercup.” It is an obvious cover of the song, and they manage to mess up “…but I love you still / I need you (I need you) / more than anyone, darling” by changing it to “but I NEED you still / I LOVE you (I love you).” How? It’s major part of the lyrics! Also, I don’t know if secrets tracks are exempt from stupidest song status, but theirs, about how “Tequila is their best friend,” is pretty damn dumb.

On a positive note, these guys are really catchy. If you can get past the lyrics and unoriginality of it all, you may dig ‘em. “Veronica” and “Alone” are two tracks that are very hook-filled. Also, it’s impressive they could copy the slick-produced sound so close on a self-funded record, they must have spent a bundle. Musically, NHOI is tight and their drummer does have some skills. And like I said before, these guys work their asses off, so props to them for that. Sorry guys, I don’t like your music, but it seems you are finding those people who do, so keep at it. If you really dig that Drive Thru sound, check out Never Heard of It.






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    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 15, 2003 at 10:30 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    If anything, they're friendly. I know lots of people who say they're really cool... my friend hung out with them for a few hours at Warped Tour after they played and she said they're awesome guys.

    I don't listen to Good Charlotte or anything so they don't sound like everything else to me. The only reason I started to listen to them was because their lead singer was in my favorite movie when he was like 10 or something...

    Posted by Vien on 2003-01-30 19:28:44
    My Score:

    Avoid the NHOI.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 26, 2003 at 11:32 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Nothing really original but I still listen to them, because if I listened to just one band like this I would get tired of it fast. Plus there are some interesting anecdotes I have about this band.......which you all don't get to hear.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 26, 2003 at 11:16 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I'd be better off if I'd never heard of this band. They rank up there with Mest and Showoff for worst pop-punk ever.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 26, 2003 at 10:46 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    they're fucking awful. and they lie to little girls at the mall, telling them that they'll be on tour with good charlotte and then get them to buy their cd's. what idiots...who would ever want to tour with good charlotte?

    Posted by Melvyl on 2003-01-26 10:14:57
    My Score:

    these guys must be loosing a shitload of cash.

    Posted by anaheim on 2003-01-26 07:15:02
    My Score:

    havent heard the entire album yet,(namely coz they dont sell where i come from) but musically i reckon theyre great, and ive heard worse shit from bands with more fans than NHOI

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 25, 2003 at 1:19 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    they mailed me some sampler a little over a year ago...yea, you basically summed it up. not original at all, but good for the pop punk style.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 25, 2003 at 8:18 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    You're right-this band is unoriginal. I thought I was listening to Sum 41 or GC.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 24, 2003 at 7:22 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    touring hard doesn't compensate for shitty music.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 24, 2003 at 5:07 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I'm so surprised. I think Wuss does this on purpose.

    Posted by WussEmoRock on 2003-01-24 15:38:10
    My Score:

    I like this band very much, everytime I have played with them it has been a great time. They work really hard, and I swear everywhere they go they take their CD's with them to sell. Disneyland, everywhere! haha. you can actually now find this record in every single record store in the US.

    *****Wuss-Emo-Rock*****

    Posted by StabbingGoldfish on 2003-01-24 15:29:51
    My Score:

    These guys are a great self produced band. It's good to see a band staying DIY and being successful.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 24, 2003 at 3:20 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I give NHOI credit for one thing....they actually came and played our coffeehouse in UW-Whitewater, which is really really small and it was pretty cool. I respect any band that will come and play in Wisconsin for coffee.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 24, 2003 at 3:18 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    they're horrible live...