Bomb the Music Industry!

Bomb the Music Industry!: Get WarmerGet Warmer (2007)
Asian Man Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

User Rating:

Contributed by: superskabrosuperskabro
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on September 11th 2007In a year that has seen a fare share of major label debuts from previously indie-only bands (Interpol, and uh, that one band with Warren Oakes), it's nice to know that there are some bands that are as far away from major label-dom and mainstream success as possible, yet are making music just as note.

In a year that has seen a fare share of major label debuts from previously indie-only bands (Interpol, and uh, that one band with Warren Oakes), it's nice to know that there are some bands that are as far away from major label-dom and mainstream success as possible, yet are making music just as noteworthy and important as the biggest Billboard powerhouses.

I am speaking, of course, of Bomb the Music Industry!. This Georgia-by-way-of-Long Island musical collective has been making waves for a few years now, not just because they've made three (now four) awesome albums, but because they've offered all their music for free download from their website.

Their latest offering, Get Warmer is actually their first album to receive a physical release (on legendary Asian Man Records). And it is not just a departure for the band in the sense that one can actually hold the album, but in the musical styling as well. On previous albums, the band played an eclectic style of punk rock with heavy doses of ska and electronic elements, as well as borrowing bits and pieces from various other genres. This time around, all of those ingredients have been whipped together to the point where they run together nearly seamlessly. The opening track, "Jobs Schmobs," starts off with nearly inaudible vocals over a lone guitar (for about a minute) and then explodes into Dillinger Four-esque punk rock...with horns and organ. It is typical BTMI! fare, but at the same time, something strikingly different. That is the theme for the entire album.

The next track "349 Ruth" is the best, catchiest song on the album and could be a hit...if that were something that maestro Jeff Rosenstock cared about. The song abandons a straight-punk approach and becomes more of a rock song. It has plenty of horns though and a "whooooa whoooooa whoa" chorus that will burn its way into your head after one listen.

The track "Unlimited Breadsticks, Soup and Salad Days" is a folky shout-along, vaguely reminiscent of "Syke! Life Is Awesome!" from 2005's To Leave or Die in Long Island. The song is about being broke, which is a theme many people can relate to and many bands have tried to convey. Being broke holds a very special place in BTMI!'s collective heart, so they do a great job singing about it. The next track, the bluesy "No Rest for the Whiney," carries on the theme, but with even better results.

The goofiest, most notable song on the album is the riotous "I Don't Love You Anymore." It's starts off like a silly Motown song, but quickly reveals itself to be another silly BTMI! shout-along (which is a very good thing).

This might not be the best BTMI! album (there are a few sludgy songs, like closer, "The Last Party (Foul)," which is the worst BTMI! album closer to date), but it is a solid album in its own right. It is also a promising album because it demonstrates the ability of Mr. Rosenstock and crew to progress musically and not miss a beat.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

superskabro (February 16, 2011)

BTMI fucking rules. This album is the shit.

EricChokeslam (January 21, 2011)

Just got a Get Warmer tattoo on my leg. I love this band so much! Been listening since 2006

johnnyawesome (February 9, 2010)

god i love this album. first I heard from them and I'm pretty sure its changed my life.

TommyPickles (June 9, 2008)

I fucking love them!

OhMyJesus (February 16, 2008)

Its Bomb the Music Industy!.....its all about doing whatever they feel like and writing about whatever comes to mind. If they wanted to do the same thing over they would've gone and singed to a major label. Anyways why complain they are putting it out free for you guys to listen no matter if you like or dislike it, they just want you to listen to something thats not run by a major label.

VandelayIndustries (November 27, 2007)

i'd have to go with

1 to live or die in long island
2 album minus band
3 goodbye cool world
4 get warmer

its all pretty close but for sure get warmer at the below the other three, it's still an awesome album though but not as crazy as the other albums

Scruffy (September 13, 2007)

"The first two Interpol albums cam out on Matador."

So, Matador sucks is what you're saying.

GlassPipeMurder (September 13, 2007)

cool

superskabro (September 13, 2007)

From Best to Least Best:
1. Goodbye Cruel World
2. Album Minus Band
3. Get Warmer
4. To Live Or Die in Long Island

I love'em all though...

superskabro (September 13, 2007)

The first two Interpol albums cam out on Matador.

INDW (September 13, 2007)

to leave or die blows this and everything else jeff has done out of the water. this is solid from start to finish but for me doesn't have the manic, exhuberent brilliance of earlier BTMI! perhaps that is because, i am led to believe, jeff didn't play all the instruments on this one? which also leads me toa sk why they are refered to as 'collective' when surely this is as close to a solo artist that you can get?

86themike (September 12, 2007)

1. To Leave or Die...
1. Goodbye Cool World
3. Get Warmer
4. Album Minus Band

anybody else?

I AGREE

dustyfloors (September 12, 2007)

This is a great album...
At this point in the year it's in my Top 10

longshot (September 12, 2007)

While this is probably the most musically diverse BTMI! album to date, it is also the hardest one to get into...for me anyway. The quiet part on Jobs Schmobs is too long and the rest of the track doesn't really compensate for such low-fi qualities.

Bike Test 123 is probably one of my favorite songs of the year. It reminds me why I still love punk rock. Yet other tracks like I Don't Love you Anymore, while still solid melodies, do take some time to really get used to. I suppose because the psychotic anxiety and mental turbulence from past BTMI! records isn't as prevalent on Get Warmer as it has been in the past.

Still, Never Trust a Man... is probably one of the best songs he's ever written and contains lyrics eerily parallel to my own sentiments and behaviors. So yeah, I'm a drunk with a beard who still like Green Day.

I'm torn on this record. I enjoy it quite a bit and it still hasn't left rotation in my player, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it as introduction the the band.

-Roy

KurtTGS (September 12, 2007)

After reading all of these comments, I have no idea what to think. Everyone has said something totally different.

brangelina (September 12, 2007)

I don't know how far away from mainstream success and major-label-dom they really are...did you see their full page spread in the newest AP?

(Not that there's anything wrong with that, I'm just sayin')
P.S. No score because I have not heard this yet. I will though. I will.

baseball (September 12, 2007)

i got the picture disk vinyl, haven't gotten many chances to listen to this yet but after about 3 listens it sounds kind of disappointing

hasn't grabbed me like their other stuff yet, seemed like a fair amount of filler

MikeStupid (September 12, 2007)

After living with it for a while, I think this is my favorite BTMI album so far. Pure awesome from start to finish.

anarchynate (September 12, 2007)

i like it a bunch!! it is one of my faves of the year! my ferret can recomend it too!

chirpy_boy (September 12, 2007)

Long live Sorny Records!

ozmanx (September 11, 2007)

I just couldn't get into this album at all. They bombed

skankbook (September 11, 2007)

I fucking love this album. It's grown on me with every listen, and like most of the other BTMI! albums, I can relate with the majority of what Jeff's going through.

tylerdurden8136 (September 11, 2007)

Biggest disappointment of the year for me as well. Sure, I'm giving it a seven, but I expected so much more from this album since everything else Jeff has put out has been absolutely amazing if not nearly perfect.

I think the lyrics have taken the biggest hit, I just don't hear the passion and angry rants that I always love to sing along with.

1. To Leave or Die...
1. Goodbye Cool World
3. Album Minus Band
4. Get Warmer

Scruffy (September 11, 2007)

I may be mistaken, but didn't every single one of Interpol's albums come out on a major?

ohthereslegwork (September 11, 2007)

123 bike test, greatest track of 2007. real solid album start to finish.

feeeding5000 (September 11, 2007)

I thought 349 Ruth was one of the most consistently irritating songs on the album; I much prefer 123 Bike Test and 25 Hour Goddamn Telethon. I think this is my favorite of all of BTMI's recordings, precisely because this sounds the most, "real". I think there was an actual drummer on this album, rather than some mediocre-sounding drum loops, and that really made it more memorable. I also think replacing some of the electronic lines with horns is a really great idea; it lends the music some weight, and makes it sound less like a shitty vanity project (which is I guess what BTMI was at first).

I don't like electronic music, people.

victim (September 11, 2007)

I liked Goodbye Cool World alot better, but then I wasn't into any of the earlier releases either

klonny (September 11, 2007)

Best BTMI! album...Arguably one of the best this year.

Fuck, why has 2007 kicks so much ass?

danperrone (September 11, 2007)

disappointment of the year

concept (September 11, 2007)

1. Goodbye Cool World
2. Album Minus Band
3. Get Warmer
4. To Leave Or Die In Long Island

For me, at least.

skankin_in_the_pit (September 11, 2007)

"it's nice to know that there are some bands that are as far away from major label-dom and mainstream success as possible, yet are making music just as noteworthy and important as the biggest Billboard powerhouses."

I completely agree with that. Too bad these dudes aren't one of those bands making noteworthy music. I've wanted to like every album, but they're all awful.

NoiseOrMusic (September 11, 2007)

1. To Leave or Die...
1. Goodbye Cool World
3. Get Warmer
4. Album Minus Band

anybody else?

dodger (September 11, 2007)

Two ska-punk albums in one week? Did I timewarp to the nineties? If I did, THAT IS AWESOME. Score is for this band doing things their own way, and for the hope that I have for the new VGS album.

Matthew330 (September 11, 2007)

I've liked BTMI less and less with each release.

AM I THE ONLY ONE?

kingofsuck (September 11, 2007)

Get Warmer is actually their first album to receive a physical release

Goodbye Cool World and To Leave or Die in Long Island have both been released on vinyl. Just sayin'.

skamanifesto (September 11, 2007)

Love this album, just like everything else Jeff has released. But i really have to dissagree with the review on the point of Party Foul. I think that it is THE PERFECT closer for this album. its tremendous, and easily over looked becuase its so short. Other than that, my fav is Bike Test 123. Overall great effort.

86themike (September 11, 2007)

"Unlimited Breadsticks, Soup and Salad Days" and "Never Trust a Man Without a Horribly Embarassing Secret" are probably some of the best BTMI! tracks.

Great record...some tracks are duds but every BTMI! has some. Still, easily top 5 of the year.

telegraphrocks (September 11, 2007)

I've tried listening to this several times, and the only thought that ever came to mind was "suicide".

Total fucking crap... I hate this album.

maverick (September 11, 2007)

"349 Ruth" is the best Dinosaur Jr song ever written.

-Scott

star6nine (September 11, 2007)

i like all their records ALOT, and dont wanna be "that guy" but album minus band is still the best, and it always seems to get ignored. i think its like the most "punk" (less poppy and weird with straight up fast songs) one out of them, and "ready set no" is still the best they ever did. i think a lot of the newer stuff has a lot of goofy shit all over the place and is sometimes kind of unlistenable... and whats with the production on that one being the best? A-B sounds even better than this one the real band.

dlangl4 (September 11, 2007)

One of my Top 5 for 2007.

skaboom (September 11, 2007)

Its ok. I Dont Love You Anymore and Unlimited Soup are really good. Most of the other songs are decent, but I miss the risk taking on this album. I mean come on, past albums have had rants about unkempt beards and Tom Waits covers. The title track tried to be anthemic, but that incomprehensible yelling at the end wears out long before the track ends. It's still good, but I like TLODILA and GCW better.

KlashedKi (September 11, 2007)

Score is for Ska in 2007.