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Good Riddance

Operation Phoenix (1999)
Fat Wreck Chords

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

Published on June 19th 2001

Sure it has been a little over two years since "Operation Phoenix" first hit the shelves of record stores everywhere (well at least independent record stores) but I figure with the upcoming release of "Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit" now is as good as time as ever to give a review of Good Riddance's most recent full length.

This is simply put, in my opinion a must have for anyone who considers themselves a fan of hardcore punk rock. The album kicks off with a short exerpt from a Martin Luther King Jr. speech and then blasts straight into "Shadows of Defeat". For the next half an hour, give or take, this album proceeds to rock you like only Good Riddance can.

This album has everything from melodic style punk to straight up bruising hardcore. Russ' deeply personal lyrics in songs like "The Hardest Part", "Self-Fulfilling Catastrophe", and "Letters Home" are simply amazing. Topics range from lost love to depression and feelings of alienation, to political views and several of the songs deal with the horrors and atrocities of War.

They even throw in a cover of Batallion of Saints "Second Coming" and the secret track is a cover of "My War" by Black Flag. Is it just me or does Russ' voice sound alot like Henry Rollins on this track? It's sort of scary.

Even though this album is over two years old I still listen to it constantly and I can only hope that their upcoming release gets even better. If you like hardcore or good fast melodic punk rock, then I strongly urge you to go out and grab this cd.

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bandgeekmafia78 (November 22, 2011)

"WHERE'S THE FUCKIN' MONEY KEITH?!"

Awesome album.

bandgeekmafia78 (November 22, 2011)

"WHERE'S THE FUCKIN' MONEY KEITH?!"

Awesome album.

thomas7155 (October 27, 2007)

Great stuff. Probably their most hardcore album.

Anonymous (June 24, 2004)

maybe the best von GR buth the last show in zurich(switzerland) sucked!!

Anonymous (March 16, 2004)

This album is one of my all-time favorites, a good mix of straight-up hardcore, and the more personal, melodic stuff GR do really well but don't get alot of credit for. They do seem to jump around styles in general, but that's kinda the charm of their albums, IMHO. Only bad thing; why is the "My War" cover so far after the last song? It takes a while even fast-forwarding the CD, which I loath to do...

Analog_Boy (August 7, 2003)

God, I like Good Riddance. Nice review by the way. My personal favourite off this cd was Self-fulfilling catastrophe. I also like letters home. The ending track was cool.. I forget what it was called, I can never really remember the names of songs when I have the cd. Oh well. Its a good one. Only Good Riddance I cared to buy.

evildeadalive (June 22, 2003)

Best Good Riddance hands down. One of the few albums I would actually give a 10.

Anonymous (June 23, 2001)

Great album not as good as there previous 3 but its still good, shadows of defeat is a great song. Also i dont know where they sound like nofx but if some think so ok.

Anonymous (June 22, 2001)

This isnt good riddances best work but it is still good.

Anonymous (June 22, 2001)

if the new album is so great and everyone's heard it, where's the review?- fathead

punky (June 21, 2001)

I really like this album, I don't reallt like how songs after 5 track are arranged, like 2 slow songs, and then 6 fast one after another...but anyoway's the music is good, the lyrics are great but still Ballads from the revolution had more variety and is still their best stuff...

Anonymous (June 21, 2001)

Sorry to say it, but nhis is an absolutely horrible album.
Not a single song is good. The sound clips would be annoying if I actually wanted to hear the songs. Every song sounds the same. If you want to hear a good Good Riddance song, listen to "Overcoming Learned Helplessness" off of short music for short people.The only reason it gets four out of ten is because the quality of the recording is good and there are no mistakes.

Anonymous (June 21, 2001)

why do all the bands on Fat sound like NOFX but with different singers and the occasional "hard" sounding nofx music? only 2 or 3 bands on fat dont sound like nofx and they are Anti-Flag and Less Than Jake sorry but they still sound like Nofx and have that "heavier" nofx sound

Anonymous (June 20, 2001)

I don't think this album was "contrived" at all. It is harder than earlier GR recordings but this if for the good...Utterly amazing, one of my very favourite disks...a

Geoff_Boyardee (June 20, 2001)

this album seemed really contrived to me, like GR was trying waaaay too hard to be really hardcore and political. The production is amazing, though, and that almost salvages it :)

Anonymous (June 20, 2001)

Yeah, the new Good Riddance album is fucking great =)

Anarchy_Adam (June 20, 2001)

This was a fucking amazing album. Thats all I can really say about it.

The new album is also an amazing album. Any worries that Good Riddance is going soft will be put to rest... Believe you me.

Anonymous (June 20, 2001)

i used to like comprehensive guide best...but the hardcorer style of phoenix has won.

Anonymous (June 20, 2001)

this album isn't as good as 'for god..' and 'comprehensive', but it still rocks hard. i heard their new song at the fat site and it's pretty damn good too.- fathead

Anonymous (June 20, 2001)

damn good album....its become my fave riddace release in recent months...the new stuff will be poppier.

whats whith every release this year being softer and poppier than it'd predecessor? no motiv, a3, ataris, saves the day....