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Chin Up Chin Up

We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers
2004
Flameshovel

Chin Up Chin Up - We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Meg
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Published on July 8th 2005

With the ongoing absence of Braid, the indie rock scene continues to suffer. Very few bands nowadays even attempt to mirror the sound that Braid so boldly portrayed. But allow me to point out the keywords in the previous sentence: very few. This is where Chin Up Chin Up eloquently enter the picture.

We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers is a flat-out, feel good album riddled with two vocalists and haunting keyboards. The album’s mellow feel and guitar tones perfectly represent the message Chin Up Chin Up is trying to convey: hope, “persevering through tragedy,” and “the redemption of optimism.” None of the aforementioned subjects have ever been too far from Chin Up Chin Up, as midway through the writing for We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers, the band’s bassist, Chris Saathoff, was killed in a hit-and run-accident.

Chin Up Chin Up took the tragedy and used it to fuel the passion for this release, and it shows. The positive message should be visible to even the most unenlightened listener. The album’s first track, “Why Is My Sleeping Bag A Ghetto Muppet,” presents itself as the album’s most standout track, with its layered vocals and catchy chorus. Imagine if Azure Ray’s breathy vocals came from a man; this man would be Nathan Snydacker and this album, We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers, would carry the same, willowy effect in that of Hold On Love.

They’ve played with Broken Social Scene, the Appleseed Cast, and Pedro The Lion. They’ll remind you of the Cure, the Rapture, Braid, and maybe even a little Mineral. But what they’ll definitely do is satisfy even the most critical of indie rocker’s ears.

MP3s
We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers
Virginia, Don't Drown

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 6, 2005 at 1:46 PM (EDT)

what's up 35 year old cock suckers? not to much over here just enjoying reading your comments. this is why punk news is a bunch of anal loving, cock sucking, titty licking douche bags LoLz IM So0o0o MATURE!!!11one. You guys have nothing constructive to say ... ever. Cut the girl a break, 50 bucks says you would never say this to her face (a recent study shows that e-bully's do exist, and for the most part they are fags that have no friends) Congratulations!

-Pat Marquez
443 858 6055
pat.marquez@ABSOLUTEPUNK.net
www.myspace.com/patmarquez

Stalk me fuckers! I'll be in Chicago soon.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 14, 2005 at 1:41 PM (EDT)

"The starting line and saetia rules."

thats gotta be a joke.. i dont even know why im posting this because im so sure thats a joke... thats gotta be like an oxy moron or something... u may have just cancelled musics whole existence or something.. thast was weird

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 11, 2005 at 8:48 PM (EDT)

i really like c.u.c.u. and am hopefully seeing them on friday. can't wait for that rerelease!

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-07-11 19:01:18

"They sound like Braid would if Braid still existed and were utterly crap."

hmmm...i dont understand..this sentence is a little redundant...

why do you need the "and were utterly crap." thats implied by saying they sound like braid

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 11, 2005 at 1:29 PM (EDT)

I listened to four MP3s of this band. Then I fell asleep. They sound like Braid would if Braid still existed and were utterly crap.

Posted by Crookedsuperhero on 2005-07-11 13:16:43

Girls aren't punk.....

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 9, 2005 at 8:46 PM (EDT)
My Score:

the score is for ME.

how about that fuckos

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 9, 2005 at 1:16 PM (EDT)

The starting line and saetia rules.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 9, 2005 at 3:39 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Score is for Sally. Yeah, what a duder supreme.

Posted by Marlon on 2005-07-09 03:15:56

Except she isn't underage... Way to try to be witty and smart and fail Scott.

Posted by maverick on 2005-07-09 00:21:12
My Score:

Way to be, like, two weeks ago, Jones.

This score's for Sally Field being underage.

-Scott

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-07-08 17:36:29

wait what? is sally field the same person as susan suranden from that abspun.net link?

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by Marlon on 2005-07-08 17:32:14

Gotta love the ole' rumor mill. It's where all the gossip about all the cutest PN couples comes through!

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 3:33 PM (EDT)

Is she really Brian's "hottie"? If so, when/where is the wedding? Give me them details, yo!

Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-07-08 15:30:56

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

well THAT explains why he got all defensive!

whoopsie poopsie

Posted by Jesse on 2005-07-08 14:31:58

Brain?

Jesus.

Oh, and no disrespect to you, "Sally," for referring to you as a hottie. Please, take it as a sleazy copliment, I ask you.

Posted by Jesse on 2005-07-08 14:31:12

Damn Brain, you snagged a hottie.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 2:21 PM (EDT)

omg you work at hot topic too

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 2:20 PM (EDT)

>http://www.absolutepunk.net/member.php?userid=41124

look at that list of all those cool indie scene cred bands.

"there's a great big world beyond the scene..."

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 2:10 PM (EDT)

sally is so fukking scene!

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 2:04 PM (EDT)

22.96 posts on average per day............HOLY CRAP! You are wonder woman!!!!

Posted by Sally_Field on 2005-07-08 12:50:58

>lol sally fields is such a scenester myspace bimbo
>how have your mirror shots been lately?

best post, ever! it's so true! hahahahahahahahahaha

LOL totally I know I'M sooOOoo GaY!1111!11111

No but seriously. Bimbo. Come on. I'm closer to a butch dyke than a bimbo.

Is this worthy of an LOL, undergroundscene?

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 11:55 AM (EDT)

scary, this girl is born in 1987.
i think i was rocking "Slippery When Wet" at that time.

or am i just that old?

Posted by inagreendase on 2005-07-08 11:32:06

What's on her page that qualifies her so highly?

Wait, wait, let me guess -- the D-Generation X wallpaper, right?

Seriously, what are you referring to?

Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-07-08 11:30:03

http://www.absolutepunk.net/member.php?userid=41124

laaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaame

Posted by slippy on 2005-07-08 11:17:37

I tried to like this.

Posted by inagreendase on 2005-07-08 10:49:57

lol sally fields is such a scenester myspace bimbo

how have your mirror shots been lately?

Are you looking at a different profile than I am?

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 10:48 AM (EDT)

>lol sally fields is such a scenester myspace bimbo
>how have your mirror shots been lately?

best post, ever! it's so true! hahahahahahahahahaha

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 9:44 AM (EDT)

I don't know about the rest of you, but I never ever lived like I was a skyscraper.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 8:47 AM (EDT)
My Score:

i like this album, not fantastic, but enjoyable enough. i give it a 7.

Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-07-08 07:39:05

lol sally fields is such a scenester myspace bimbo

how have your mirror shots been lately?

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 7:24 AM (EDT)

Braid was not really that good.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 5:28 AM (EDT)

This Sucks This Sucks.

-BSD

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 3:58 AM (EDT)
My Score:

hey, it seem like sally finally got it right after the "incident"

congrats

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 3:27 AM (EDT)

chin up chin up are f'n sweet.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 2:47 AM (EDT)
My Score:

I love these guys. The production is fantastic too