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I Hate Myself

Ten Songs
1997
No Idea

I Hate Myself - Ten Songs (Cover Artwork)

Review by: BT
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Published on July 15th 2003

Hey you. Remember when when emo didn't suck? No? Well I Hate Myself do/did, and they show it here with "Ten Songs". The CD actually has eleven songs, but who's counting? I notice that I Hate Myself goes highly unsung, even though they were as talented as other Gainseville bands to go on to bigger things. They are at least as important as Hot Water Music or Less Than Jake.

1. This Isn't The Tenka-ichi-Budokai
A signature IHM song, and a great introduction to the group. Haunting guitar riffs cut through the silence for the first 40 seconds before all the instruments come in, singer a-screamin' lyrics of loss.

2. Urban Barbie
A joke soothing song with lines like "you've got your roots in the streets/stretch almost four weeks deep", "rock the spot with your g's" and "your blowing up the spot/you've shot up my heart". A good listen, but I'll skip it if I'm pressed for time.

3. Polar Bear Summer
Probably the least memorable song on the album, it doesn't really tickle my fancy. Starts off with a bang and sort of loses said bang.

4. ...And Keep Reaching For Those Stars
This is an awesome song. The character written in the lyrics has dreams of a better life ("I want to see things I'll never get to see"), but is grounded by reality ("dead end job, a slob and fucked up all the time") and commits suicide. Musically, its beautifully crafted with light, bouncy riffs before it launches into the full out screaming finale.

5. Caught In A Flood With The Captain of the Cheerleading Squad
Tortured, weary vocal performance kick off the song, and some of the best lyrical imagery thus far show up here, and the haunting guitar parts continue. Even the instruments, come the song's end, seem to be letting off an air of the aforementioned torture-ed-ness.

6. Kind of A Long Way Down
Guitar and vocals only. The subtle conviction makes this a keeper. The vocals and guitar are filled with a kind of hopefullness and longing.

7. Not Waving But Drowning
An almost anthemic quality about this track, a tempo change thrown in.

8. Destroy All Monsters
There are only four lines in the whole song, but boy are they memorable. The lyrics are very surreal-feeling, even for IHM. This is probably the most "punk" song on "Ten Songs".

9. To A Father At War
This seems to be everyone's favorite song, which is understandable. It opens with a bass riff that starts to get you in the crying mood for this song. Beautiful, sparse guitar parts litter the verse before breaking into a more structured bridge. After two verses, the band goes all out, pulling some depressing, wild riffs out, finishing off yelling "Retreat and come back home." This song is only on the CD, which is why I recommend the CD.

10. Conversation With Dr. Suessicide
This is IMH's longest song, written as a conversation between two people. Some of their best screams can be found on this track, especially towards the end.

11. Secret Lover's At Heaven's Gate Ranch
A track that creeps up on you, that promptly ends before you realize it.

I think that, in comparisin to their other material, Ten Songs is somewhat sub-par but it is quite great compared to anything else out in the last 10 years calling itself "emo". If you were going to buy your first IHM release, I'd go with "Four Songs". Or you could wait a while and then buy their "complete discography" CD. Also, IHM went on to become Burnman, another superb band.

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Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2006-11-06 19:51:59
My Score:

brilliant.

Posted by Greeny341 on 2006-08-08 18:46:43
My Score:

An essential album for real emo/screamo fans, but you should really check out their other releases they have alot to offer. Also Burnman are pretty good too who are basically an angrier version of IHM with a new bassist. And if your lucky try to get Die Hoffnung some of the most intricate guitaring i've heard from Jim.

Posted by flocktothebeat on 2003-07-22 13:24:47
My Score:

i would say they were pretty tongue in cheek but not exactly a joke, i think there songs all had a point but they didnt do what most bands with a message do and take themselves to serious and have the whole "im holyer than you" atitude.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 21, 2003 at 5:16 PM (EDT)
My Score:

i love everything this band did, though i'm a little bit more into burnman. did i read that comment about a discography CD correctly? ive tried to make one before and everything wouldnt fit on one CD...who knows. maybe itd be 2 CDs with extras...thatd be nice. anyways, one thing i always feel like some people dont comment on is IHM's sense of humor. i could never tell if they were kidding with just how over-the-top "heart on the sleeve" they were. like andy kaufman. they never let anyone in on it if it was a joke.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 20, 2003 at 4:47 AM (EDT)
My Score:

I love this album so much. Somebody should review a Twelve Hour Turn release.

-sXa

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 at 4:43 PM (EDT)
My Score:

im not sure emo ever didn't, but it certainly does now

Posted by REALPUNX4LIFE on 2003-07-17 18:14:44
My Score:

I no u r bt wut m i???

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 at 10:26 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Look whos talking.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 at 6:47 PM (EDT)
My Score:

your reviewing style eats shit

Posted by flocktothebeat on 2003-07-16 13:59:10
My Score:

This has been a love in my life for many years. my fav track is 4. ...And Keep Reaching For Those Stars becuase i to wish to be in a motorcycle gang and im going nowhere. It bothers me that on one thing you could rightfully call SCREAMO you dont. Take noted kiddos this is what screamo was and is. Can you not a see a difference between this and thursday and poison the well? maybe im crazy

Posted by fallingtopieces on 2003-07-16 03:00:54
My Score:

are they really releasing a complete discography?????? that would be so awesome

Posted by i-type-poorly on 2003-07-15 22:28:41
My Score:

i never heard of this band, but those are some of the funniest song titles i have ever read. This score is for that, and the name

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 6:03 PM (EDT)
My Score:

BSD licks penis.

Posted by inagreendase on 2003-07-15 17:37:26
My Score:

whats with the song-by-song reviews today?

oh the score is for the review, i guess

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 5:35 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Wait, scratch number 2, I said that it is only on the CD. D'oh.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 5:34 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Hey, I wrote this review like 3 months ago! Wow! To correct myself;
1. Yes the ninth song is titled "To A Husband At War", not "To A Father..."
2. I notice that I said "To A Husband" is "the only song on the CD." What I mean is it is the only song on the CD that is not on the LP.

Less Then Nothing is their best song in my opinion.

Posted by REALPUNX4LIFE on 2003-07-15 17:24:26
My Score:

Just for the record, here's another "though."

Posted by REALPUNX4LIFE on 2003-07-15 17:24:06
My Score:

I officially hate everyone who saw the last (or any) i hate myself show. And that song is called "To A Husband At War," isn't it? I only have that on the split with Strikeforce Diablo, which I haven't seen for a while, so I might have it wrong. I think the record is better without that song just because I've listened to the LP so many times that it sounds weird to have To A Husband tacked on. It is an amazing song, though. Caught In A Flood... is their best song, though.

Posted by funkisdead on 2003-07-15 17:03:01
My Score:

no idea records is the fucking shit.

Posted by Lincoln on 2003-07-15 16:06:05
My Score:

so i'm sure all of you know that the drummer for i hate myself AND burnman can now be found pounding the skins for gunmoll.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 3:35 PM (EDT)
My Score:

It's funny because I saw their last show, and i didn't know who they were (opening for Radon) and now everyone says to me "YOU SAW I HATE MYSELF!"...I took it for granted...but they were very good.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 3:01 PM (EDT)
My Score:

this is one of the most amazing albums ever. if "less than nothing" was on this it would put it over the top.

-greyicewater

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 2:59 PM (EDT)
My Score:

this is good stuff right here.

Hate, Jesus

Posted by ramo on 2003-07-15 14:41:32
My Score:

burnman is awesome. i got hooked to them after listening "Excerpts From an Interview with a Suicide Artist" for the first time.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 2:35 PM (EDT)
My Score:

I remember when I could stand Fugazi. Then I got into real kraut rock.

-BSD