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Tim Kasher's side project returns with six new songs that are a complete left-turn for The Good Life up to this point. These songs are more pop, more concise, and more catchy than most everything Kasher has thrown the band's way in the past two albums.

Novena On A Nocturn was heavy on the melancholy, which made it a fine listen, but when it came to pop songwriting, no way. Black Out was heavy on electronic experimentation, and as such, many of the songs suffered. But with Lovers Need Lawyers, the material has taken a dramatic shift towards the "toe-tapping" genre of indie-pop.

Many of the songs have instantly singalongable choruses, such as the title track with it's refrain of "Oooooh, lovers need lawyers." "Friction" is as punk rock as the band's ever been, with a neat samba-esque beat driving the verses before the song roars open in the chorus, with Kasher yelling "FRICTIOOOOON!" at the top of his lungs. It rocks.

The storytelling aspect that Kasher has developed since Cursive's rebirth in 2000 and the subsequent start of The Good Life continues in the same self-deprecating lyrical style. "Leaving Omaha" is about his life from high school graduation through divorce, leaving no stone unturned. "Entertainer" could have easily been a lyrical outtake from Cursive's The Ugly Organ, with lines like "I'm not an artist I'm an asshole" and the chorus of "Entertain us / entertain us / give the people what they want."

The record ties up with the Built To Spill-meets-early Wilco jamout of "For The Love Of The Song." It's 6 minutes show me that The Good Life has moved out of it's early growing stages into a full-fledged band. Only more good things will come from this outfit.

MP3s
Always A Bridesmaid
Leaving Omaha [clip]
For The Love Of The Song [clip]



People who liked this also liked:
Weezer - PinkertonNOFX - Punk In DrublicThe Weakerthans - Reconstruction SiteThe Faint - Danse MacabreCursive - Burst And BloomBear Vs Shark - Right Now You're In The Best Of Hands. And If Something Isn't Quite Right...Alkaline Trio - Maybe I'll Catch FireAlkaline Trio - Alkaline TrioThe Blood Brothers - Burn Piano Island, BurnCursive - The Ugly Organ



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    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 19, 2006 at 1:10 PM (EST)

    shut the fuck up people that dont like good life, cursive or bright eyes, they all kick ass, and this EP rocks, so shut the fuck up

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 29, 2004 at 2:03 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i bought this and I love it... especially always a bridesmaid song

    Posted by slippy on 2004-07-12 14:45:46
    My Score:

    "I am really getting sick and tired of all these so called "punk" rockers on this site thinking that they know everything and that just because someone is not NOFX they are cast aside as "emo" and therefore are gay well all I have to say these people is get over it or get a life"

    I'm sick of people making comments like this on every review. Nothing is going to change because you made your statement.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 3:39 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Although I'm unwilling to order this online, I suppose I would buy it if I found a copy at a music store. A shame Saddle Creek has such poor distro in Eastern Canada.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 8, 2004 at 6:54 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    people who don't like this band suck.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 8, 2004 at 4:32 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I am really getting sick and tired of all these so called "punk" rockers on this site thinking that they know everything and that just because someone is not NOFX they are cast aside as "emo" and therefore are gay well all I have to say these people is get over it or get a life

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 8, 2004 at 11:59 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this is sooo gay!

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 8, 2004 at 8:58 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    was he? cause it doesn't say that...but thanks for being his spokesperson

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 7, 2004 at 7:59 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i prefer cursive, but this is alright.

    Posted by boldredletters on 2004-07-07 15:29:19
    My Score:

    hey anonymous,

    wez was talking about people who hadn't listened to the band yet, and said they sucked.

    Posted by REALPUNX4LIFE on 2004-07-07 12:02:14
    My Score:

    I checked these guys out since I thought Dave Dondero would be playing with them soon. Turns out Dondero is joining the tour later. Anyways, the songs I heard made me think I'll still go see them. They're pretty neat. My shirts fit quite comfortably, my glasses real and my shoes for running, thank you very much. (Oh, the shoes are New Balances, though. I guess that's second to emo pussy, right? Maybe I'll change my name to emopussyforever, all letters lower case of course.)

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 7, 2004 at 10:05 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    and WEZ...what does being "educated" have to do with liking or disliking how a band sounds? You must be extremely educated to know how to like or dislike the sounds that your ears transmit to your brain and then form an opinion about it all!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 7, 2004 at 2:10 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    hey wez,

    the thing is, this is music. you dont have to have another reason to think music sucks other than, you dont like the way the shit sounds. you dont need to provide a thesis everytime you dont like the music a band makes.

    you can say, "i dont like the sound of this. it sucks" or simply, "this sucks" and it wont be unintelligent or ignorant. but requiring some in depth reason for why a person doesnt like the sound of something, now thats being a jackass.

    Posted by GYBE on 2004-07-06 23:23:03
    My Score:

    Pretty good stuff.

    They have a LP coming out fairly soon as well.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 6, 2004 at 10:50 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I like how people say that a band sucks but provide no reason for why they suck. That's educated....

    But then again, no one ever said you had to be educated to give you (misinformed) opinion..

    WEZ

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 6, 2004 at 10:26 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Sounds like an episode of Law and Order SVU.

    -BSD

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2004-07-06 21:30:31
    My Score:

    "Are the emotions I feel real yet? "

    Maybe, but nowehere near how real the fear is every week when you hear your mom calling your name with the home-enema kit in hand.

    This band sucks.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 6, 2004 at 7:19 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Oh man I bought this, my fake glasses, a shirt two sizes too small for me, and some geeky loafers all in one day!

    Are the emotions I feel real yet?

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 6, 2004 at 3:12 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    black out suffered because it was electronic?

    what the fuck is wrong with you?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 6, 2004 at 2:54 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "is this album supposed to be homosexual?"

    the only way this album can be more gay is if that bright eyes kid was the singer

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 6, 2004 at 2:03 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    is this album supposed to be homosexual?

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