CIV - Solid Bond: The Complete Discography (Cover Artwork)

CIV

CIV: Solid Bond: The Complete DiscographySolid Bond: The Complete Discography (2009)
Equal Vision Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

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Contributed by: JeloneJelone
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Published on June 30th 2009Oh, so that's where Set Your Goals got their name from. `90s punk/hardcore act CIV (ex-Gorilla Biscuits / Youth of Today / Judge) finally saw their complete discography come back into print courtesy of Equal Vision. The appropriately titled two-disc set Solid Bond: The Complete Discography collects .

Oh, so that's where Set Your Goals got their name from. `90s punk/hardcore act CIV (ex-Gorilla Biscuits / Youth of Today / Judge) finally saw their complete discography come back into print courtesy of Equal Vision. The appropriately titled two-disc set Solid Bond: The Complete Discography collects the band's two albums and assorted EPs, plus live tracks, demos and an unreleased song or two. At 43 tracks long, the collection is surprisingly bouncy and fun throughout. The duds are few, the energy is high, and it's about got-damn time these songs got back on the open market.

Solid Bond doesn't dwell much on nostalgia. Outside of a photo of the actual collected discography and some perfunctory liner notes, the packaging is minimalist. Basic cardboard layout. No self-aggrandizing anecdotes. Heck, there isn't even a group shot. This collection was meant to let the music speak for itself.

And for at least one disc, the collection unquestionably proves its merit. CD 1 starts with the band's full-length debut, Set Your Goals, and tacks on the Social Climber EP, a track from the Anti-Matter Compilation and some live recordings. Two unreleased songs, "Blessed" and "Glue," are also featured, and they fit in perfectly with Set Your Goals' fine blend of pop and punk sensibilities. Like a more streamlined Gorilla Biscuits or H2O, CIV tears through romper-stompers like "Can't Wait One Minute More" and "Choices Made." In spite of the aggression, the band also showcases brains over brawn ("Soundtrack for Violence" advocates being anything but) and humor ("Marching Goals" takes the title track's already pep band-worthy drumbeat to its logical conclusion). The record oscillates between punk ("Set Your Goals") and hardcore ("Et Tu Brute?") with equal quality. The live tracks, though a little grainy, further showcase these great posi-jams. The lone clunker is the final song, a demo of "Can't Wait One Minute More." After hearing a studio and a live rendition on the very same disc, this hissy, muddled recording is out of place and redundant. Otherwise, it's all amicable punk rock tunes here. jill After hearing disc two, which collects second LP Thirteen Day Getaway, the Secondhand Superstar EP, some demos, and unreleased track "Hard Times Are the Best Times," it becomes clear why CIV opted for a full-on complete discography instead of two separate releases. Set Your Goals warrants a lavish reintroduction; Thirteen Day Getaway is just the second-rate bonus disc. Originally released on major label Atlantic Records, Getaway is a clear attempt at radio-friendly late `90s pop-rock. It's got more in common with Matchbox 20 and Smash Mouth than any NYC hardcore band. The first half is pretty jarring, no thanks to overly slick production and vapid songwriting. Granted, the band's hXc roots start to poke through later on with tracks like "Shout It" and the 34-second "Owner's Manual." But the stylistic retreads don't elevate Getaway from its merely OK status. While the three demos peel some of the gloss, they can't save bland pop-rock like "Secondhand Superstar."

At the same time, though, Getaway isn't a bad record. It's just disappointing coming after Set Your Goals. Getting back to the Matchbox 20 comparison, it's a hell of a lot better than Mad Season (but arguably worse than Third Eye Blind's Blue. Discuss). Like Token Entry's The Re-Issues, Solid Bond features one essential album and its kind-of-good-I-guess followup. Average out a five-star and a three-star record, and you still get a pretty great four-star release.

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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.

hayman (July 31, 2009)

Loved the record Set your Goals. Was on constant rotation for me for a long time, great to dig out again. Can't wait one minute more was a sweet song.

naymtaken (July 4, 2009)

set your goals is a pretty solid melodic hardcore album, yet i always see that cd for sale at pawn shops & cd exchange.
the other album ive only heard parts of songs at the aforementioned used cd store, and those songs were horrid.

p.s i got a civ guitar pick in a bag of doritos once a while back.

Deadpan (July 3, 2009)

Got-damn?

slowstupidhungry (July 2, 2009)

PS - Civ still sucks.

slowstupidhungry (July 2, 2009)

"I think one of the problems that makes bands now who combine hardcore and pop punk is that they are combining a different type of hardcore- the breakdown heavy moshcore type."

Seriously. This is why all those bands suck. Not to mention, the pop punk style they play is the terrible overdone NFG radio shit all my friends listened to in 8th grade. Truly the worst of two worlds combined on one shit sandwich.

mikexdude (July 2, 2009)

That's waht I meant, the 5 and the 6 are next to eachother in the keyboard :0

quicksandfan (July 2, 2009)

Score is for the "Set your Goals" album. One of the best melodic hardcore albums EVER in my opinion. Sounds just as relevant today as it did in 1995. It's a more polished Gorilla Biscuits. "Solid Bond" ranks as one of my all time favorite songs.

lookbackandlaugh (July 2, 2009)

Mike: That chorus is in 6/8 time.

I think one of the problems that makes bands now who combine hardcore and pop punk is that they are combining a different type of hardcore- the breakdown heavy moshcore type.

kevgren (July 2, 2009)

I remember "Can't Wait One Minute More" being played in either some commercial or sports highlight video all the time, and that's the only song I've ever heard from these guys. Granted, it's a great song. Set Your Goals is the one to get then?

evildeadalive (July 1, 2009)

Woah, listened to Thirteen Day Getaway. Erg...

givemeamuseumandillfillit (June 30, 2009)

"Trust Slips Through Your Hands" is the greatest hardcore song ever written. A friend pointed it out to me; the double time part is in 5. Crazy awesome."

Totally blinding track, but Soundtrack For Violence is my favourite track on the record. Can't avoid mentioning "Do Something" either..

Set Your Goals is a flawless record. Now, I admit to liking a fair share of h2o stuff, but they'll never come close to topping SYG. It's the epitome of a sing-along record. I think more bands needs to do what GB did. If you're breaking up because the main songwriter wants to sing in his own band, realize that you've got a good thing going, man up and work on a new record together first.

PS. Something about Limp Bizkit DS.

atomicgarden89 (June 30, 2009)

Set Your Goals (Album) 1 million X > Set Your Goals (band)

spec (June 30, 2009)

Everything oldpunker said, times ten.

blip (June 30, 2009)

solid band.

telegraphrocks (June 30, 2009)

Set Your Goals is a 9, Thirteen Day Getaway is a 7... the others are good also.

CIV > Gorilla Biscuits.

twstdbydsn (June 30, 2009)

13 Day Getaway has kinda grown on me after getting this. I remember hearing it when it came out and hated it. 12 years later, it's not nearly as bad as I once thought it was. It's no Set Your Goals, but it ain't all bad.

ddb43 (June 30, 2009)

Set Your Goals, the album, is all you need. I played the shit outta that album back in the day. Score is for that album.

SloaneDaley (June 30, 2009)

It is a real shame that most of the bands around today that mesh hardcore a pop punk do it wrong.

Set YOur Goals the album is one of my favourites.

Hey_Asshole (June 30, 2009)

ah. word.
i will retract my statement

Cos (June 30, 2009)

Set Your Goals (the album) is great. A Gorilla Biscuits reunion without having a reunion. Wonderful idea.

I'm assuming the point of this release is to get these discs back in print?

quicksandfan (June 30, 2009)

"Set Your Goals" is 100 times better than "13 Day Getaway" because Walter Schreifels wrote and produced it. I forget where I read it, but I remember reading that Walter couldn't play on the album due to label contractual issues with him being in Quicksand on Island Records. "Set you goals" is pretty much the second Gorilla Biscuits LP. I think Walter only wrote one song for the second Civ album. That is why they sound so different.

mikexdude (June 30, 2009)

"Trust Slips Through Your Hands" is the greatest hardcore song ever written. A friend pointed it out to me; the double time part is in 5. Crazy awesome.

wallrock (June 30, 2009)

I remember seeing CIV at a Warped Tour back in the late 90's in Milwaukee and being very impressed with their set. I picked up Thirteen Day Getaway at the merch table afterward but never really liked it, and I always wondered why there was such a difference between what I had seen and what was on that Atlantic release. The difference was Set Your Goals, but I never bothered with that album over the years, and that was too bad. I finally picked up a used copy of Set Your Goals last year.

Jelone (June 30, 2009)

Hey, Hey_Asshole, I was thinking more in terms of production quality than songwriting.

Brian, if the 2nd LP were a little better, I'd argue it warrants a 2nd listen from you. As is, phmeh.

oldpunkerforever (June 30, 2009)

First cd, hardcore brilliance, second one..really terrible. Score is for Set your goals-oldpunker-

eazyd2 (June 30, 2009)

gotta go get this shit. heaps good.

Hey_Asshole (June 30, 2009)

"It’s got more in common with Matchbox 20 and Smash Mouth than any NYC hardcore band."

so, does it sound like Matchbox 20, or Smash Mouth? because, other than both band being popular on the radio, they do not sound anything alike. not all bands that get radio play sound the same

DrGunn (June 30, 2009)

set your goals was a really fun album. i remember being so excited when i bought it because i was deep in my GB phase and i was desperate for more. civ nicely fit the bill. i also remember getting all the 7"s for like a dollar a piece in various record store bins. those were good times and i almost want to get this to relive those, but i still have my copy of set your goals and that'll do. i've always avoided hearing 13 day getaway.

mattramone (June 30, 2009)

This is way more CIV than anyone needs.

As defined by "any CIV" at all.

inagreendase (June 30, 2009)

Pretty generous thoughts on 13 Day Getaway. Album just sucks.

You can find Set Your Goals in pretty much any used bin. I'd have probably just taken a digital collection of the rare/live/unreleased stuff.