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The Gibbons

Hope, Inc.
2005
Salinas

The Gibbons - Hope, Inc. (Cover Artwork)

Review by: hitlerbadzakgood
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Salinas Records (link)

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Published on March 23rd 2007

It's easy to picture a dying economy. Anyone who lives in Michigan is no stranger to unemployment, homelessness, cities filled with angst and despair, broken dreams... For those not from the mitten, or are not familiar with such, I offer a bit of assistance.

No one described the current state of things better than the Gibbons. Widely compared to Jawbreaker, the Lawrence Arms, and North Lincoln (whom they were tourmates with), they encompassed everything it's like to live in Michigan, in full detail through their lyrics and songs. Starting in 2001 and ending in 2006, the Gibbons spent thier high school years recording demos and playing basement shows. When they played their final show May 20th in Detroit, they had released a full-length, one 7", three 7" splits, and one CD split. Hope, Inc. was their only full-length.

The album first hits you with "Faces and Names," a song about the injustices of the city around them known as Detroit. The vocals are aggressive, but not gritty or unintelligible. The lyrics are well-heard, and for a couple kids who wrote this album in high school, they ain't too bad. Thier songs scream of the decaying picture around them, nostalgic looks at the past and their change in tone today, even calling out Detroit club the Magic Stick for thier scenester fanbase. Their songs keep the Midwest feel, crashing guitars and melodic choruses, but paint a gloomy picture. "Wars Don't Fight Themselves" is about the future, and the limited choices there are, living in poverty, extensive labor, or the army. The song runs slowly, with galloping guitar beats that set the melancholy tone for the song. Finishing the album is a brilliant acoustic song which echoes the album's title: hope.

An amazing testament to the Midwest spirit and the life that is Michigan. This is a soundtrack fit for a depressed afternoon of drinking, with a final beckoning call that there is still hope, no matter how bleak things may seem. Though the Gibbons played their final show in may of 2006, thier album, and the Midwest spirit of music and diy ethics will never draw the curtain.

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Posted by mrprecision79 on 2008-02-04 02:36:04

In response to the post above, regarding post-Gibbons musical endeavors, Bobby and Jordy have formed The State Lottery (www.myspace.com/statelottery), Jordy also plays in Traffic & Weather (www.myspace.com/trafficandweather, and their drummer DJ is in Attack of The... (www.myspace.com/attackofthe).

Posted by hitlerbadzakgood on 2007-04-07 03:28:56

gotta agree....

"Anywhere other than Michigan>Michigan
Any punk band>Any hipster band with "Wolf" in their name somewhere"

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 26, 2007 at 6:41 PM (EDT)

Wolfbrigade > Wolf Eyes, better than or equal to Wolfmother

Posted by Scruffy on 2007-03-25 18:20:05

Anywhere other than Michigan>Michigan
Any punk band>Any hipster band with "Wolf" in their name somewhere

Posted by Ianw on 2007-03-24 23:08:00

Ann Arbor > Detroit
Wolf eyes > Gibbons

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 5:11 AM (EDT)
My Score:

I'd pay a lot of money to see this band live. I got into them summer 2005 when i got this cd off a mate's distro. Their 7" really showed that there was some true potential. Are any of the band members doing anything else now?

'my roots are deeper than these fucking treees but part of me still wants to leave' spit those lyrics yo!

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 23, 2007 at 5:08 PM (EDT)
My Score:

I saw this band open for D, O at Trumbull, their second to last show. They were great guys, fucking great record.

Posted by mrprecision79 on 2007-03-23 16:23:38

This is indeed one of the best punk rock records I've ever had the pleasure to listen to. Bobby Colombo is a lyrical genious, a must have for any fan of brutally honest midwest punk rock.

Posted by klonny on 2007-03-23 16:18:23

I saw the image and was like "Guided Tour of Chicago, LOL!" Then I heard some mp3s...And he sounds like Brenden Kelly. Huh.

Posted by icapped2pac on 2007-03-23 16:14:03

It really IS that bad here. I heard on the news last night that there were only 3 counties in all of the US that had more people get the fuck out between 2005 and 2006 than Wayne County (where Detroit, Warren, Plymouth, etc. are located). Those 3 counties were all in southern Louisiana, where Katrina hit. That really says something.

I've never heard (or even heard of) these guys. I guess I don't get into the scene enough. I will now make it a point to hear some of their music, as I'm pretty sure I can identify with the message.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 23, 2007 at 8:05 AM (EDT)

great album. ispirational.

Posted by WainscottRockCity on 2007-03-23 01:07:15
My Score:

Fantastic album. The last four tracks especially paint a vivid portrait of being young in a decaying city you call home: financial strain, war, crime, indecision.

"I've got roots deeper than these fucking trees, but part of me still wants to leave..."

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