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Good Riddance

Symptons of a Leveling Spirit (2001)
Fat Wreck Chords

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

Published on July 10th 2001

2001... It seems every band in punk is throwing their name in to attempt to make the best album of the year...and their career. Thus far, the Bouncing Souls are ahead with "How I spent My Summer Vacation", Hot Water Music has been right there with their debut Epitaph release "A Flight and a Crash" and Pennywise faltered with the strong, yet somewhat disappointing "Land of the Free?" Enter Good Riddance.

If you are not a big fan, or have never really listened to Good Riddance, now is your chance. Get on the fuckin' wagon, we have room. Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit is right next to the Souls. (SOALS-Souls...creepy) This is, without question, the definitive GR album.

OK, hardcore GR fans. Heads up, this is not the same 1,000 beat a minute GR you've listened to for the last several years. Oh yes, they're still angry, pissed off and loud & fast, but more rhythmic and in time with their sound. Tracks like "Enter the Unapproachables", Yesterday's Headlines" and "Cheyenne" showcase a new and improved GR while songs like "Fire Engine Red", "Great Leap Forward" and "Nobody Likes A Cynic" give you a feel for the old sound. In a brief synopsis, this is 14 tracks of intense, pure punk rock. (Actually 15, 1 hidden song)

I'm not gonna try to completely analyze this album for you. This is the best Good Riddance album, ever. Go find out for yourself, right now.

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Anonymous (January 20, 2003)

Makes me laugh when it's said Hot Water Music or Bouncing Souls is better than GR... I likje 'em both too but GR is one of the top 5 bands today!

Dan

ambiotical_sophisticrat (October 7, 2002)

i actually gotta say, the secret song is my favorite on the album.. im usually not a fan of such light fluffy music... tho this has a great melody and has a slight jawbreakeresque to it one could say...

Anonymous (December 14, 2001)

I usually like the whole "pop-punk" and "emo" better than the "true" style hardcore punk but this my friends is one of the best cds this year for sure. I recommend this cd to anyone who likes music. -Rock

Artman (November 2, 2001)

This Good Riddance is really good. Fast, hardcore, and dark! Darker than their previous releases. When I first bought it I thought it was okay but when I saw them live, that for me, is what sold the deal. This album fucking rules!

Good Riddance is a band that won't stop. They practically release a new album every year. Good ones too. One thing a band should get credit for is their ability to stay active, and for this, Good Riddance scores a lot of points!

Favorite song off of the album is "Nobody Likes A Cynic". Anyone agree or disagree?

Anonymous (September 23, 2001)

I have to disagree. As a long time GR fan, I have to say this is my least favorite album to date. Russ should let Luke write the songs again and stick to vocals. This album is no where close to as good as The Bouncing SOuls or HWM.

Anonymous (August 23, 2001)

This cd is fucking awesome !! fast, agressive and melodic at the same time. One of my top 10 albums. Good Riddance kicks ass !!

oldpunker (August 6, 2001)

I have to say that this is some great work,I had my doubts, when I got this I thought it would have some good songs and some filler, but this album is all killer no filler.To me it sounds a little like Descendents meets Shelter and thats not bad company to keep!!

Anonymous (July 22, 2001)

Its an awsome CD not bad song its hard yet has melody. Thats Scott Niedermayer of the NJ Devils(for those who dont watch hockey) holding the Stanley Cup. Also Russ is wearing his jersey in the Operation Pheonix CD booklet.

Punkass83 (July 20, 2001)

Great CD. Hey do you guys see a picture of a guy holding a stanley cup if u hold he CD up to a light. In between where the CD goes and the back cover????

Anonymous (July 19, 2001)

This cd is great i can only summerize it as this and this is stricktly my opinion. You take For God and Country their cd with the most melody and their hardest cd operation pheonix mix'em together and you get this fine piece of music.

Anonymous (July 18, 2001)

It's an incredible listen...from the beginning to the end. It's their best stuff to date, very political and social. They seem to touch all based here from teenage emotions to us older punks that have to work for a living (that tune about corp america fucking R-O-C-K-S!). Good Riddance is by far my favorite band today, maybe all-time...and I 'm a sick hockey fan too so...

Anonymous (July 13, 2001)

Hmmmm , I thin that the new Pennywise is , with Full Circlke and Unknown Road , their best .
But lets talk about GoodRiddance . I ve only three songs of this album (yesterdays headlines , blue black eye , great leap forward) , but I listen to them all the Time and I m nearly crying because I havent it yet .
But I think they re some of the best GR songs , the Melodies are now a bit more important , but its also like the old ones , and so powerful and ...
hmm lets say this record is simply great . The best (of GR).

Anonymous (July 12, 2001)

pisces/almost home : best track on the album

sickboi (July 12, 2001)

I can't stop listening to "Cheyenne".

Anonymous (July 12, 2001)

**Slips on his shoes and runs to the record store**

Anonymous (July 12, 2001)

After two flawless albums in terms of consistency ('Comprehensive guide to modern rebellion's mix of angriness and melancholy next to sweet poppy numbers, and 'ballads from the revolution's slightly more hardcore songs) they put out 'operation:phoenix' which didnt explain the real meaning of the album(ask someone else, I dont want to blabber on forever) which was good but lacked the consistency of past albums.

With the addition of the old kid dynamite drummer, this album is a good return. I'm still in the air as to the last few songs, but its a great album. 'Pisces/Almost home' has the best sequence of altering types of melody, with the slow and constant opening lines, the crescendo, and the final more melodic speed up.

After 'always' on the last fat comp., most people were expecting a more poppy GR lyrically, (Russ R got married), but their really pissed off.

Not a disappointment.

One of the few melodic punk bands that can put out a record that fits in with their steretypical FAT records sound while outgrowing all of the fat bands by being able to stay within melodic punk without sounding stale. They never sound like their just writing a punk song, but that it genuinely was born to sound off at that tempo.

I know jaded musical collector geeks like myself who write off fat and melodic punk bands while still kicking back and enjoying good riddance. Their just good people who play good music you can get into.