The Get Up Kids Album: “Guilt Show [Japan]”

a lot of people are saying that this album is a return for the get up kids to their earlier (pre-on a wire) stuff. i would disagree on some levels. this album doesn't hold a candle to red letter day/woodson ep's, or something to write home about, or even four minute mile. however, it's an improvement on on a wire, to be sure. the songs on guilt show are much faster, catchier and more power-poppy and in that way, it is a throwback to their earlier stuff. however, it lacks the raw emotional quality of the earlier lp's and ep's. if you're new to the get up kids, i recommend something to write home about. however, if you're a tried-and-true guk fan, i wouldn't pass this album up; it's pretty good. i just can't see it as a soundtrack to my life like stwha and the red letter day/woodson ep's once were.

TGUK have been around a long time and to tell you the truth, I never really cared for them...but for some reason I picked up this album one day. I'm glad I did. It seems Matthew Pryor saved some of his good Amsterdams songs and put them on here. Not a bad thing. Songs like: The One You Want, In Your Sea, Martyr Me, and even Man of Conviction are far superior than anything they've put out before-hand. Pick this album up if you wanna hear a little something more than jumbled guitars and incoherent vocals.

FINALLY! GUK is back!!!!! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH (just not as much during their country "on a wore" phase)

1. Man of Conviction - catchy tune, back to the "Four Minute Mile" Days

2. The One you Want - Great begining, but i'm not too crazy about the "woo wooo wooo" at the end

3. Never Be Alone - profound and it makes you think with the line: Never love anyone else/this i promise you/maybe yourself

4. Wouldn't Believe It - this is amazing i love how it deals with lying and deception: trespass fits you like a charm/scarlett letter on your arm

5. Holy Roman - such a great song!! lyrics are amazing and vocals are too...makes you think. buy the CD and check out the first version of this song

6. Martyr Me - If you really think about it, the verse and the chourus dont really mesh, but they sound good together

7. How Long is Too Long - Vocals are amazing. chours a little weak

8. Sick in Her Skin - i didn't like it at first, but during the day, the lyrics replayed in my head and now i love this song

9. In Your Sea - catchy tune, profound lyrics, amazing overall

10. Sympathy - this song is one of the best reasons to buy this cd. lyrics, vocals, and tune are all amazing. listen to this and you'll be scribbling the lyrics all over your stuff

11. Dark Night of a Soul - depressing, but great lyrics. the end is really awesome...something to think about

12. Is There a Way Out - great sound, but drowned out by the legnth of the song

13. Conversation - with the first line of the song, i thought they were going back to the "On A Wire" phase with the all gooey and mushy country feel, but by the chorus they redeemed themselves and made an amazing song

Overall, this is a must have. The special features are awesome too!

Sometimes it takes a while for music to grow on me. That was definitely true for the Get Up Kids. At first i thought they were kind of slow and boring. Now i love them. i still think some of their songs are boring but i absolutely adore several.

So obviously i bought this CD. And i've listened to it ~50 times. And i feel guilty saying this, but it's really rather boring. Tracks 3, 5 and 13 especially annoy me. i kind of like 4 and 12 and maybe 8 but overall, this is a slightly below average CD with some very unlikable tracks.

Everyone has their own taste, of course, and the people who like this CD seem to be the same ones who disliked On A Wire. My favorite Kid tracks are Red Letter Day (from Red Letter Day), Action and Action (Something to Write Home About), Anne Arbor (RLD; this one had to grow on me), Burned Bridges (Eudora), Don't Hate Me (4 Minute Mile) and Fall From Grace (On A Wire), Overdue (On A Wire; a little unusual for them, i probably like it because of the video) and Worst Idea (On A Wire). So i guess i was one of the ones who liked On A Wire and maybe this CD just wasn't meant for me. i'm glad others like it

First: I bought "Something to write home about" then I fell in love with the cd

Second: I bought "On A Wire" and loved the whole cd for it's differences and everything

Third: I bought "Guilt Show" and loved how all the songs seemed upbeat and had good rhythms, this is a good cd!