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The Good Life

Black Out
2002
Saddle Creek

The Good Life - Black Out (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Dan Ocean
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Saddle Creek Records (Logo)

Published on July 15th 2003

I stumbled onto this band when I was looking at Cursive tour dates on the Saddle Creek website. Through further reading I found out that the singer is actually Tim Kasher of Cursive.

I immediately went and bought both of their records. I have to say this is probably one of the best cd's I have ever heard. From the sheer brilliance of the vocals to the undeniably thought provoking music. I shiver everytime I listen to this band. I guess you could say this is a slower paced Cursive with some electronica and an abundance of hooks. The lyrics range from drinking your thoughts away to the heartbreak that Tim Kasher must have been through.

I think that had this been promoted even slightly this would have been on everyone's best of list from last year.

The production is right on key with pretty much everything else from Saddle Creek. Although, I would say that this is the best thing that Saddle Creek ever put by far and they have some amazing talent on their label. This album also feels more fluid than their first release on Better Looking Records. While that was in no means a bad album, I think that the writing on Black Out is the best from Tim Kasher to date. Every song is well crafted and is unique, yet remains with the same feeling of the entire album.

In closing, if you want possibly one of the best (yet slightly depressing) rock records both lyrically and musically look no further. This album is a real find. It has incredible lyrics sung by one todays best front men and no one can deny that.



People who liked this also liked:
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    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 at 4:14 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "If Tim Kasher hit himself in the face with a milk jug filled with tic tacs while singing the theme song from Green Acres, people would still buy it"

    ...it would probably still be better than 90% of the crap that is coming out at the moment... so yea i'd probably pick it up

    Posted by maverick on 2003-07-21 19:13:34
    My Score:

    "Novena On A Nocturn" is better. Way, way better.

    -Scott

    Posted by Fuzzy on 2003-07-20 22:56:25
    My Score:

    These guys were really good live. As with most saddle creek bands, exposed listening just makes me sad, depressed, and my hair starts drooping all over the place, and I start drinking all the time (And i'm EDGE!). So, I don't listen all that much, but they do their thing really well. NOW IT'S OVERHEAD is so much better though. Very Placebo-ish.

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-07-20 21:25:49
    My Score:

    Oh don't get me wrong, I love Cursive, I'm just saying that some people are ridiculous.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 20, 2003 at 8:58 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Forty, that's not true. Sure there are some dipshit scensters out there that eat it up just because. But, the fact is he only has 2 bands and they're both really good. I don't know what kinda fucking geeks you know.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 20, 2003 at 1:18 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Wait.. when is the green acres thing coming out? Do you know how much it'll cost. Thanks man. I had no idea about this release... sounds awesome.

    Posted by Katie4213 on 2003-07-20 01:58:34
    My Score:

    mmmmmmmm. tim kasher

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-07-19 22:18:47
    My Score:

    If Tim Kasher hit himself in the face with a milk jug filled with tic tacs while singing the theme song from Green Acres, people would still buy it. Damn Saddle Creek kids.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 at 4:30 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    haven't bought the album first of all, and I AM a cursive fan, but your review basically said "I will buy anything that says cursive on it! Tim Kasher is on it, this CD is good".

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 at 4:11 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    OI OI OI@!1

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 at 7:54 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Sun-Aug-10 Omaha, NE w/ Sokol Auditorium Planes Mistaken For Stars and End Game
    Fri-Aug-22 Lincoln, NE University of Nebraska
    Wed-Sep-10 Minneapolis Triple Rock w/ The Blood Brothers
    Thu-Sep-11 Grinnell, IA Grinnell College w/ The Blood Brothers
    Fri-Sep-12 Chicago, IL Metro w/ The Blood Brothers
    Sat-Sep-13 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre w/ The Blood Brothers
    Sun-Sep-14 Columbus, OH Little Brothers w/ The Blood Brothers
    Mon-Sep-15 Pittsburgh, PA Club Laga w/ The Blood Brothers
    Tue-Sep-16 Buffalo, NY Nietzsche's w/ The Blood Brothers
    Thu-Sep-18 Boston, MA Middle East w/ The Blood Brothers
    Fri-Sep-19 Irvington, NJ Cricket Club w/ The Blood Brothers
    Sat-Sep-20 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero w/ The Blood Brothers
    Sun-Sep-21 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom w/ The Blood Brothers
    Mon-Sep-22 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
    Tue-Sep-23 Washington, DC Black Cat
    Wed-Sep-24 Richmond, VA VCU College show @ Alley Katz
    Thu-Sep-25 Carrborro, NC Cats Cradle
    Fri-Sep-26 Charlotte, NC Tremont Music Hall
    Sat-Sep-27 Atlanta, GA Echo Lounge
    Sun-Sep-28 Orlando, FL The Social
    Mon-Sep-29 Orlando, FL The Social
    Wed-Oct-01 Athens, GA TBA w/ The Blood Brothers
    Thu-Oct-02 Nashville, TN Exit In w/ The Blood Brothers
    Fri-Oct-03 St Louis, MO Mississippi Nights w/ The Blood Brothers
    Sat-Oct-04 Lawrence, KS Bottleneck w/ The Blood Brothers

    There are the dates.... Someone that admin's this site should post those at some point..

    WEZ

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 at 7:40 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Man, this site is taking its sweet time posting the Cursive/Blood Brothers tour dates, considering that is the best pairing EVER! I got an email from saddle creek yesterday. And found the dates 2 days before that. Odd.. punknews.org usually jumps all over the Cursive stuff.. must be because scott isn't around

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 at 5:13 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Look, I can tell very few people on this site listen to Oi. Oddly enough, those people know a lot more about music than most of the faceless pop-punk users. So, why not, instead of using "oi" in sarcastic posts, just say something like "nyc hXc!"... Because, seriously, most Americans who listen to Oi aren't morons like you... Casualties aren't "Oi"... Neither are the Unseen. They may shout "oi" in some of their songs, but that means nothing coming out of American mouth, seeing as they can all properly pronounce "hey", and "oi" is just the cockney pronunciation for that word. Juuuust a thought.

    -BSD

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2003-07-17 14:17:06
    My Score:

    Blood Brothers and Cursive? Holy shit. That will be the best thiing i have ever seen. They better play in NJ/NY.

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-07-17 14:17:01
    My Score:

    Shut up.(and yes, I know you weren't being serious)

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 at 3:29 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Thiss is not 4 tru punkz!! oi oi oi!!!this iz indy rok krap! omg lol fuck your mom

    Posted by bing_crosby on 2003-07-17 00:50:41
    My Score:

    The Blood Brothers are touring with Cursive??!! That's a weird pairing. When are they touring and do you know if, (please God), they are coming to Toronto?

    Love both bands a lot and The Good Life is some really incredible stuff. Wasn't too sure about it at first but after listening to some downloads it grew on me. Hoping to pick these albums up soon.

    -Bing Crosby

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 at 9:04 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    hehehe... THAT is sorta related as Blood Brothers are touring with Cursive soon..

    WEZ

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 at 8:29 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    where the hell is the Blood Brothers interview? I mean jesus christ, it has been sooo long since you no talent assclowns said you would post the bitch up. By the way, dont take anything i am saying to you personally. Just get the Blood Brothers interview up!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 at 6:25 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Actually, no i didn't think it was name after "emo" music... still think it's a dumb club name..

    WEZ

    Posted by fallingtopieces on 2003-07-16 03:30:49
    My Score:

    tim kasher is awesome simply for the fact that he plays accordion on "fevers and mirrors"

    Posted by Matt81 on 2003-07-16 02:25:48
    My Score:

    good album. Emo's is a great club, even though the security can be a pain sometimes. Definitely NOT named after "emo" music, but rather a guy named Emo. No shit.

    ~matt (from ATX)

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 at 1:57 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "check out their live show at Emo's (dumb club name)"

    you're a moron if you think it was named after 'emo' music

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2003-07-16 01:37:43
    My Score:

    Cursive is fucking awesome. And I like electronica. Ill give this a shot.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 5:58 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Been listening to this for a long time... i'm a big fan... check out their live show at Emo's (dumb club name), it's a really good quality show..

    WEZ

    Posted by burstandbloom on 2003-07-15 17:56:59
    My Score:

    5-star material.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 5:49 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I meant that the other way around.
    -Jay

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 5:47 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This is a really, really good record. Pretty damn inventive and original IMO. Tim Kasher is really talented. The new one is actually better too.
    -Jay

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 3:53 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I'm also surprised this band isn't more well-known, even if it was only due to Tim Kasher fronting it. I don't have this album (yet).

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 3:17 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "The lyrics range from drinking your thoughts away to the heartbreak that Tim Kasher must have been through."
    NO FUCKING WAY! I NEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 3:08 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I'm with FOUR-T on this on, this label and Polyvinyl just make me shrug my shoulders.

    -sickboi

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-07-15 15:00:32
    My Score:

    The whole Saddle Creek scene baffles me. I do like Cursive though.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 2:58 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i ment for the score to be a 4.

    hate, Jesus

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 2:58 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    No sir, i dont like it.

    hate,Jesus

    Posted by travis on 2003-07-15 14:51:47
    My Score:

    such a wonderful album. i'll give this one 5 stars.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 2:51 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "I shiver everytime I listen to this band."

    I think thats a point against the album. Anyway, if its one of the best albums you've heard, why only 4 and a half stars?

    -BSD