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Some Girls

All My Friends Are Going Death (2004)
Deathwish Inc.

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Aubin
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on March 9th 2004

Do you remember when hardcore meant something specific?

Some Girls does.

Do you remember when it didn't mean metal with short hair?

Some Girls does.

Do you remember when the cell phones weighed five pounds and cost a thousand dollars?

Well, maybe not that one. But the point is that while hardcore has become justifiably (and admirably) inclusive over the past two decades, it has blurred to the point of being almost unrecognizable. When it used to mean stripped down, fast, and angry, it now seems to encompass almost any aggressive music.

Which is where Some Girls comes in.

It would be easy to just explain that Some Girls is 'retro-hardcore;' a return to roots of sorts; Some Girls shows it's unflinching loyalty to the founders of hardcore by delivering a record that wouldn't have seemed out of place in 1984 - or 1994 - or 2004. The band delivers a solid, intense record, with no bullshit, and plenty of energy.

This long awaited full length from the “super-group” consisting of bassist Justin Pearson (The Locust/Swing Kids), Rob Moran (Unbroken) and of course, Give Up The Ghost vocalist Wes Eisold is 22 minutes long, but as Dr. Dan Yemin is so fond of saying “Start Today was only 21 minutes long” so there is plenty that can happen in such a short timeframe, and plenty does.

The opening fifty-six second blast of the title track is performed at warp speed, with Wes' vocals as incomprehensible as ever, the only clue to it's content the equally cryptic title and one decipherable witticism in “if you love something, set it free / I love myself and i'm getting rid of me.”. Or “His 'n' Hers” which begins with the trademark roar of feedback before hitting the same breakneck pace as it's predecessor, and for that matter, everything that follows it. On top of all the madness, comes “No Fun,” a reimagined, but still respectful cover of the classic tune. The band doesn't work in complex song structures, but it really doesn't need to, the tracks never outstay their welcome, and there is no shortage of inspiration throughout.

Last year, upon the release of Give Up the Ghost's second and long delayed full length “We're Down till We're Underground,” a number of you, remarked that the band had lost it's intensity, and while I thought it was a strong, and evolutionary follow up for the band, I can't deny that it didn't quite hit as hard as their debut.

Well, after hearing All My Friends are Going Death, I know precisely where that energy ended up, and you'd be crazy to miss it.

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treos (February 19, 2007)

This album fucking RIPS

Anonymous (March 20, 2006)

boo. i love the locust, and most bands in this vein, and AM/GUTG was and still is one of my alltime favorites. im disapointed.

Anonymous (March 20, 2006)

boo. i love the locust, and most bands in this vein, and AM/GUTG was and still is one of my alltime favorites. im disapointed.

Anonymous (March 15, 2004)

thank you hardcore kid. Now i shall go back to the emo.

Modern (March 12, 2004)

To the kid who asked.

PMFS cover "Fall On Proverb" by Unbroken

You could have found this with a 2 minute visit to their website forum and done a search too.

Thanks now leave the scene like you said

TheOneTrueBill (March 11, 2004)

I only know of the swing kids through the locust connection. I need to check them out.

Aubin (March 11, 2004)

I didn't mention that there definitely a bit of a Swing Kids feel, primarily in that some of the tracks have that scream-and-flail quality to them.

TheOneTrueBill (March 10, 2004)

I like this album, along with the new GUTG.

I like it all baby!