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The Ergs!

That's It... Bye [7 inch]
2009
Don Giovanni

The Ergs! - That's It... Bye [7 inch] (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Torgo
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Published on February 20th 2009

Purchasing this at the last Ergs! show, I was kind of taken aback that after promises of a three-song 7", they were selling a three-song 12" for $8. Mikey Erg assured us that it was because the pressing plant could only produce 12"s in time for the last shows, and I have to believe him, as they were charging $8 for their final shows, something they could have easily price-gouged us for.

So what we have here is the Ergs!'s own Abbey Road: their final recorded songs, but not their last songs to be released. Side A treats us to two Mikey songs, “Anthem for a New Amanda” and “...And the True Believers.” “Anthem” hosts a nice stop-and-start melody and rolling basslines for the intro / verse breaks / outro, not to mention an awesomely corny organ as the song hits its climax. Lyrically, Mikey is in top form, singing of a lost love...but then, isn’t that the M.O. for most Ergs! songs? “...And the True Believers” is a track that could have easily fit in the middle of Jersey’s Best Prancers. The most straight-ahead pop-punk song on the EP, it’s, not surprisingly, the most catchy song of the trio.

Turning over to Side B we have Jeff Erg’s “Piltdown Man.” A song that they’ve been playing live since at least April, it’s easily one of Jeff’s best songs. It’s not a stretch to say Jeff never settled for having standard pop-punk lyrics in his songs. This one uses the paleontological Piltdown Man hoax as a metaphor for finding himself. The oozin' aahs and miniature freak-out at the end is a fitting end to one of the best pop-punk bands of the decade.

Yes, you’re paying $1.25 (or more) per minute, but any Ergs! fan would jump at the chance to own this -- not to mention, it has possibly the best cover ever drawn by Mitch Clem.

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Posted by PinkPenguin on 2009-02-26 14:58:21

best Mitch Clem album cover = BTM! / O Pioneers split. hands down.

Posted by Torgo on 2009-02-24 18:20:55

I'm sure, Mikey Erg, whose favroite band is The Beatles, would be wildly upset by the non-musical comparison I made.

Oh, and I'm also sure no one who was promised a 7" and saw 12" at a show would at least raise their eyebrow.

Posted by jsteinh on 2009-02-24 14:34:12

'Taken aback'? really? you were taken aback when you got there and there was a 12" single? hopefully your mom was there to catch you from fainting at the sight of the 12" record. i'd really like some more insight into this. did you simply take a big step back, or did you put your hand over your forehead and say "well i never!" upon seeing the record?

Posted by fallingupwards84 on 2009-02-23 20:35:54
My Score:

seconded, the Abbey Road reference was a tad ridiculous

half of this review rants about the price like an old Jewish woman

Posted by DreeeamWeaver on 2009-02-23 00:20:44

the ergs!' own abbey road?

pardon me while i choke on my egg sandwich.

Posted by nocigar on 2009-02-22 19:55:00

I wasn't trying to be negative. I like a lot of their stuff, I just love it like almost everyone else seems to.

Posted by blanktapesemptybottles on 2009-02-22 01:43:46

all this negativity towards the Ergs! ? Really? Damn you guys are on the wrong site.

Posted by xIxKilledxJesusx on 2009-02-21 14:54:28
My Score:

good riddance

Posted by 14theroad on 2009-02-21 13:08:26

I agree. Never got this band even after seeing them three times inadvertently. Mikey's a lot better off in The Measure (SA).

Posted by DarthNader on 2009-02-21 12:48:47

i've somehow completely missed the boat on this band, is it worth the effort to get into them now that they're done?

Posted by Big_Guy on 2009-02-21 12:21:36

I'm not gonna try and take away anything from this band, but I never understood why people loved them so much.

just so average

Posted by JerryCola on 2009-02-21 11:45:22

The three songs on here are amazing, if only they could have at least stuck around long enough to write enough songs to put out an actual EP or another full-length.

But yeah, having to dish out the extra money for a 12" album with just three songs was pretty frustrating. If it wasn’t the Ergs! I wouldn’t have bought it.

Posted by theonetruebill on 2009-02-21 01:44:34

DISCLAIMER: I love The Ergs! but I call bullshit on this release, and their VC "under the influence" release.. Oh yeah, we have to charge you $12 after shipping for a 3 song 12". Then yeah, we have to charge you $8 for a two song 7" after shipping.

Love the Ergs!, hate the way they went out, totally taking their fans for suckers for a couple extra bucks.

Posted by ding_dong on 2009-02-21 00:57:46

I love New Jersey.

Posted by nocigar on 2009-02-20 22:26:09

i never got the hype

Posted by mikexdude on 2009-02-20 22:20:27

I don't want to leave here without you...

Posted by weaselofdoom on 2009-02-20 21:49:46
My Score:

…And the True Believers is a Joe song, not a Mikey song.

Posted by scientistrock on 2009-02-20 21:06:25

UN-FUCKING-BREAK UP! Do it! Don't be bitches.

Posted by FaceOnTheBarroomFloor on 2009-02-20 19:01:20

Call me "that guy," but can we get some mp3 versions of the songs? I bought the record, but I must listen to these in the car or wherever. I MUST!

Posted by ffwoodycock on 2009-02-20 18:39:38
My Score:

anyone know if they're gonna repress this on a &' if it sells out. just wondering.
also, i never really liked any of Jeff's songs but, Piltdown man was really good.

Posted by mattramone on 2009-02-20 18:20:42
My Score:

I was super bummed when this came in the mail. The fact that all the songs are great made it that much more difficult to let this band go.

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