Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
The Scars, Boston Punk Rock
The Scars, Boston Punk Rock
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 




Reviews

Street Dogs - State of Grace
Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile

For those who still don't know, the New Amsterdams are Matt Pryor of the Get Up Kids' side project. This is their third release.

The New Amsterdams' sound is one of laid-back, groove-oriented rock. The songs don't have much in the way of musical surprises, and virtually any track off this album could be played on your local "lite rock" station. Pryor's vocals, hit-or-miss on the last Get Up Kids effort, really are dead on for this CD. His voice seems to be growing into this faux-country sound he's been developing.

If you're a fan of the slower, moodier moments of the last Get Up Kids album, then you'd like this CD a lot, as it really is just more of a continuation of those songs [hell, Rob and Ryan Pope of the Get Up Kids play on virtually all of these songs anyway, so what's really the difference?]. There's no real speedbumps here, but at the same point no outstanding track that just screams "play me again!" My guess is, this record is just 10 songs that Matt Pryor had lying around that just didn't work in the Get Up Kids setting [although "Smoking Gun" sounds like it could've been an On The Wire B-side, and "From California" is a blatant musical counterpart to Something To Write Home About's "Valentine"]. It's a nice Sunday morning album, if that means anything to you.

MP3s
Hover Near Fame
Hanging On For Hope



People who liked this also liked:
Braid - Frame & CanvasThe Broadways - Broken StarBraid - Killing A Camera 2004 DVDAlkaline Trio / One Man Army - BYO Split Series Volume 5Get Up Kids - Guilt ShowAtmosphere - Seven's TravelsDillinger Four - Midwestern Songs of the AmericasHot Water Music - Fuel For The Hate GameSunny Day Real Estate - DiaryHey Mercedes - Loses Control



Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 at 10:28 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Matt Pryor on Rivers Cuomo from song #3 Hover Near Fame:

    "Not that the nightlife isn't great and if I seem to be irate, I don't have tolerance for fakes:what's to say. On your way out, don't bother picking up your tab."

    Posted by dignin on 2003-08-25 20:03:43
    My Score:

    "i clicked on this review having confused the new amsterdams with the new pornographiers. once i read the first sentence i realized my mistake. my score is for the get up kids and all GUK-related projects."

    Congratulations on keepin such an open mind, this scores for you!!!

    Posted by jheisel on 2003-08-25 02:13:48
    My Score:

    i clicked on this review having confused the new amsterdams with the new pornographiers. once i read the first sentence i realized my mistake. my score is for the get up kids and all GUK-related projects.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 11:40 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i think that it's mildly ironic that you said para toda vida was more diverse. i don't want to get all musical-educational about it, but they use the same 4-5 chords on a bunch of songs-going C to E (sometimes E minor) to A then either G or F. don't get me wrong. i love all of their stuff. just that most of para toda vida sounded similar. but ironically it's certainly my favorite of their albums.
    i also saw them in lawrence last sunday. this may be one of the best live acts i will ever see (even if pryor didn't get the "you got any gum" reference to Norm McDonald impersonating letterman). The live version of track 10 from Never You Mind is pretty incredible. i feel strongly that vagrant should try to put together a live album for them.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 6:18 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I don't know anything about thier past work,but I heard them sing some song on T.V. , and it sounded great. Plus I heard their other song on KCRW and that sounded good too.

    Sara (no h)

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 3:08 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This album is really great. The really think the last 2 new amsterdams albums where better than the last TGUK album

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 2:37 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Strange, Campfire Kansas was the only song I really didn't care for. But then again, I was one of the three people that actually like On A Wire. My favorite GUK album.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 8:17 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    the only song i liked on on a wire was campfire kansas. will i like this record.

    disregard the fact that i dont know who actually wrote said song

    -patemo

    Posted by themuffingirl on 2003-08-22 20:10:28
    My Score:

    yeah, i agree, i like this album too

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 7:04 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I really like hover near fame a lot. I'm really looking forward to the new GUK record.

    Posted by travisangst on 2003-08-22 16:49:47
    My Score:

    i love this album....my only complaint is that it's too short...

    it's definately an empathising album...it makes you feel good....

    i think this si the best new ams stuff tho...seriously

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 4:06 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This album isn't bad, I enjoy it for when I'm going to sleep. Which is exactly when I listen to 'On a Wire.'

    As a side note, they're playing Chumbawumba over Musak at work. HELP!

    Oh, oh, can I vent too?

    I hate the Berlin Project.

    - Scott
    http://www.local-felons.com/
    (Absolute Punk is on Friendster now too, isn't that cute)

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 4:01 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    In my humble opinion The Lost Patrol (Dennis Lyxzen) is the best solo singer/songwriter releasing albums. I do enjoy me some New Ams though.

    -ZDP

    Posted by maverick on 2003-08-22 15:38:38
    My Score:

    Oops, the MP3 link is fixed. Sorry.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 3:32 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i just saw them in lawrence ks,... and they ROCKED!

    Posted by InaGreendase on 2003-08-22 14:21:12
    My Score:

    Weird...I keep clicking on the Hanging on for Hope MP3 but it just keeps highlighting the middle part of the word...I don't understand it...

    Posted by maverick on 2003-08-22 14:01:20
    My Score:

    Benz-

    I concur. That album is much more diverse than this one.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 at 1:49 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this is a good chill album. if you want the best of New Amsterdams get "Para Toda Vida"
    -benz

    © 1999-2006 Punknews.org • Terms of Use • Privacy • FAQ • About • ISSN 1710-5366 • RSS RSS Icon