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Give Up the Ghost

Year One
2004
Bridge 9

Give Up the Ghost - Year One (Cover Artwork)

Review by: BJR
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Published on December 25th 2005

I see that there are many reviews of the now out of print The Sun Isn't Getting Any Brighter EP. That EP makes up little more than half of Year One, which also includes their self-titled EP and various exclusives that won’t be found anywhere else except on this album. When I first picked it up and read that it was a mix of certain hard-to-find material, a thought flashed through my mind: Alkaline Trio’s self-titled release of the same rarities, and also the latest Lawrence Arms release, Cocktails and Dreams. This is the same deal, except instead of drunken punk-pop ballads, you get 16 songs of straight-up hardcore that lasts approximately 30 minutes.

Many of Give Up the Ghost’s most devoted fans will remember the band as American Nightmare, who had to change their name for legal reasons. This band broke up in 2004 but left behind bands like Some Girls, Renee Heartfelt, and Cloakdagger. They got Jacob Bannon from Converge to do the artwork on this album before scene band Underoath got him to do their latest reissue.

Songs like “The Ice Age Is Coming” will bring back memories of a rabid circle pit and the sweat and tears that were spilled at Give Up the Ghost's insanely heartfelt and energetic live shows. Singer Wes Eisold growls/screams out every word as if his whole body was engulfed in flames and that he was really in your face. This album contains 3 tracks recorded live at the BBC, another bonus including Give Up the Ghost’s version of the classic MC5 song “Kick Out the Jams.” At first, one would think that from the intro which has Rob Tyner saying, “Kick out the jams motherfuckers!!!” that it was actually the MC5 version, but Give up the Ghost makes it their own and kicks out the fucking jams on the album's longest track (2 minutes, 47 seconds).

The drumming and bass playing definitely sound better than on Give Up the Ghost’s other releases. The members sound more into playing the music than ever before. The label that released this (Bridge Nine) considers this the parting gift from Give Up the Ghost, to the music scene that nurtured it. I believe that this in the top three hardcore albums I own, which includes both of Comeback Kid’s releases (Turn It Around and Wake the Dead). The standout tracks are “Dead and Gone,” which starts out slow but winds up being one of Give up the Ghost’s best sing-along hardcore songs, and all the BBC tracks.

A hardcore classic is in my CD player at this very moment. This album is a must-have for anyone who considers themselves a fan of the genre at all. Period.

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at 9:29 PM (EST)

its funny cause its true, nigga only got one hand!!!!

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at 9:25 PM (EST)

"One armed Bandit!"

that was so fucked up. i laughed so hard i choked.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 2, 2006 at 7:29 PM (EST)

One armed Bandit!

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 2, 2006 at 12:58 PM (EST)

"dead and gone is by far their best song"

thats a cover song originally done by The Trouble.

Posted by bjr on 2005-12-31 10:30:53

i don't see the big deal in calling underoath a scene band...i didn't mean to offend...or seem like i was insulting anyone

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 31, 2005 at 5:05 AM (EST)

"are you seriously comparing them as if they were 2 different bands? give up the ghost and AN are the same band with a different name. hence after the lawsuit was settled background music and the sun isnt getting any brighter were reissued with the name give up the ghost on them. sure, we're down till we're underground sounded somewhat different than the previous releases, but its the same band."

no shit you douchebag, its not like i didnt know that. Often times people compare the band's releases under their different names, personally i think gutg releases were more original and interesting. just a personal opinion, no reason to get your panties in a bunch

dbag

Posted by soulbleed on 2005-12-30 23:25:59

this is good but not a 10, for sure. american nightmare is/was one of my favorite hardcore bands but i think background music and we're down til we're underground are both better than this collection.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 30, 2005 at 10:46 AM (EST)
My Score:

Posi #'s right after the 2nd 7" came out was without a doubt the best set I have ever seen. A great band and this was their peak.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 5:12 PM (EST)

you forgot to mention that jarvis went on to be in head automatica... so much for that underBROth comment huh?!

Posted by k-dubs on 2005-12-28 00:44:30

heres a new one.

i like american nightmare as american nightmare
i like american nightmare as american nothing
i like american nightmare as give up the ghost.

its one damn band, like em.

Posted by benz on 2005-12-27 19:38:44

"They got Jacob Bannon from Converge to do the artwork on this album before scene band Underoath got him to do their latest reissue."

Not that I support Underoath, but c'mon, that was a cheap shot.

American Nightmare/Give Up the Ghost, two good bands. They sound so much alike though.

-benz

Posted by Gigantor on 2005-12-27 01:08:52

Great fucking album

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 26, 2005 at 11:15 PM (EST)

Give Up the Ghost were the more homogenized, candy-coated era of this band.

American Nightmare years were the best for any fan of hardcore.

-Will

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 26, 2005 at 11:11 PM (EST)

the GUTG stuff was good too, stop being lame.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 26, 2005 at 10:59 PM (EST)

if you think give up the ghost is a better band than american nightmare, you're a fucking idiot.

american nightmare is one of the best hardcore bands of all time.

give up the ghost didn't come close.

Posted by hobojew on 2005-12-26 17:54:03

You guys make such a big deal over one line. It would be humerous if I didn't think this is how you guys attack every aspect of life...

Posted by k-dubs on 2005-12-26 17:27:49
My Score:

score is for the reviewer giving me an amazing rim job by throwing in the underoath line, we get it, we dont liek the scene, review the record, dont try to appease us by beating a rotting corpse.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 26, 2005 at 4:25 PM (EST)
My Score:

score is for the trouble

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 26, 2005 at 4:22 PM (EST)

"give up the ghost is better than american nightmare...PERIOD"

are you seriously comparing them as if they were 2 different bands? give up the ghost and AN are the same band with a different name. hence after the lawsuit was settled background music and the sun isnt getting any brighter were reissued with the name give up the ghost on them. sure, we're down till we're underground sounded somewhat different than the previous releases, but its the same band.

Posted by danielsan on 2005-12-26 12:07:10

speaking of bridge 9, what happened to breathe in?

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 26, 2005 at 11:02 AM (EST)

hm..not bad but not that good..mediocre at least

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 26, 2005 at 3:42 AM (EST)

i prefered this band as American Nothing!!1 hardxcore

Posted by hobojew on 2005-12-26 01:08:46
My Score:

Definitely one of my favorite hardcore albums. These guys just got it right as American Nightmare.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 25, 2005 at 11:23 PM (EST)

This was a band thatr had it all chaoic live set good cds to bad they broke up this is definetly a great record

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 25, 2005 at 10:50 PM (EST)

give up the ghost is better than american nightmare...PERIOD

Posted by moneenerd on 2005-12-25 19:04:12

My top 3 modern hardcore releases:

Scraps And Heart Attacks - "Still Sick"
Dead Hearts - st EP
Bane - "Give Blood"

Posted by skaboom on 2005-12-25 12:32:26

I don't know, I thought these guys hadn't quite hit their groove yet in these songs. It's pretty good, but not close to "Underground".

Posted by fallingupwards84 on 2005-12-25 11:16:41

this IS a ten... but yea, i hated the obvious attempt to please readers as well (the scene band Underoath)...

i really regret never seeing these guys live

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 25, 2005 at 10:45 AM (EST)
My Score:

good, but i still think people blew this band the fuck out of proportion. when these guys first came out i got put off by all the people yelling "best hardcore band in the world!" cause they sure as fuck are not. after all the hype has died down, i must admit they are pretty good though.

Posted by johnnydanger on 2005-12-25 10:11:05

wow man

i like the review, but if your 3 favorite hardcore albums are both comeback kid records and the an 7 inches, you've got a hell of a lot to learn

i suggest you pick up blood sweat and no tears, the age of quarrel as well as the bad brains' self titled and the minor threat disco

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 25, 2005 at 9:26 AM (EST)

"scene band Underoath"

this kind of comment just makes me sad. a terrible attempt at crowd-pleasing, when you don't even know what you're talking about. not that i like underoath, but come on....give up the ghost was just as much a "scene" band as underoath was, if that term even means anything.

Posted by Benjasauruss on 2005-12-25 09:11:49

"Every day I'm reminded of my mistakes
Every day I'm reminded of what it takes!"

Give Up the Ghost/AN are my all-time favorite band. In my opinion, one of the best hardcore bands ever to exist.

Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-12-25 04:25:01

I was so pissed. I got the European version of this and then maybe three months after I bought it the new American version with bonus tracks was announced. Oh well, I got the extra tracks from Soulseek. The MC5 cover is soooooooo fucking good that it hurts. It's one of my favorite covers ever.

You forgot about The Bars. Their debut album was pretty good.

I like the original "Dead and Gone" better, and I heard it way after I had grown used to this version. The Trouble were really cool.

I'm pissed off. I put off seeing this band twice (once i don't even know why, once I was working and had just gotten promoted so I couldn't skip) thinking they'd come around again, but then they had to go and break up. I don't think they're the best hardcore band ever, but they were still pretty fucking great.

Posted by Allular on 2005-12-25 04:22:16

Scene band Underoath eh?

Did you know that Jake Bannon did the second (and the more recent third) As I Lay Dying, BEFORE this release? Like it even matters. Psh.

Anyways. "Please Die" was one of my first AN songs I've heard. Since then, I've fallen in love with this band.

Posted by lookmommyididit on 2005-12-25 03:18:08

Amazing album, dead and gone is by far their best song

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 25, 2005 at 3:12 AM (EST)

good stuff

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 25, 2005 at 1:56 AM (EST)

this band is pretty awesome, but a 10? c'mon

Posted by SalsaShark on 2005-12-25 01:41:02

I remembering first hearing of American Nightmare when I saw this video of them playing in a little basement or hall. It was fucking chaos. Looked like a good time for all the angry 15 - 20 year-old white guys.