Search - Give Up the Ghost :: We're Down Til We're Underground

Better than Backround Music

10/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"honestly ive always loved american nightmare/nothing/give up the ghost whatever you want to call them i had really high hopes for this album and theyve been fulfilled first of all for those who are saying its not hardcore you need to look at yourselves before you try and call these guys not hardcore im gonna rate this album almost as high as i would the first one (year one on reflections records or self titled and the sun isnt getting any brighter here in the states) simply because it sounds like something new again their early stuff still blows me away however backround music just sort of sucked when compared to the early work, sure there were a few stand out tracks such as i saved latin and we are and am/pm but the new versions of old songs just sound like bad covers but this album really really tears up backround music honestly buy it dont read this if you like AN buy it if you like hardcore buy it even if you like emo buy it you need this album"

GIVE UP THE GHOST

09/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After recently purchasing "We're Down Til We're Underground" by Give Up The Ghost, I have to say that I'm very impressed. I've read a lot of negative reviews from fans about how GUTG don't sound the same, so I didn't how this one was going to turn out. Personally, I like it better than "Background Music." Musically, there's a lot more song structure to the songs, they added a good deal of melody to the songs (something that wasn't really there with American Nightmare) and basically the musicians really stepped up on this album. Wes's vocals are a little bit different, but in my opinion, better. He shows a lot more range in his vocals, and overall they put in 110% into the album.
The songs: the first song is an instrumental, kind of a build up towards "love american." It's an acoustic, then drums start slowly tapping, a little guitar riff, then the 1-2-3-4 into "love american." "Love American" (a song probably most of you know, who got the ep) is a cool song with the lyrics being the stand out. "Since Always" I think is the best song on here. As soon as I heard the opening guitar riff, I knew I was gonna love it. This is a great song, and actually the guys could probably release this as a single, and it would probably get played. The most diverse song on here is "Bluem", which actually stretchs into the 3 minute mark, they do a lot of stuff that they probably wouldn't do as American Nightmare. The layout is similar to "Background Music", but better, and plus the cover to this album is one of the best I've seen. All in all this is a great hardcore album. Favorite songs: Love American, Young Heart be Free Tonight, Since Always, Bluem, Crush of the Year, We Killed it. Least Favorite: Calculation Nation."

THAT'S NOT THE NAME OF THE CD!

redcutstroughblackhearts | Long Island | 09/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OK. First off the name of the record is "We're Down Til We're Undergound"...there is no 'Not' in there. Give Up the Ghost (formerly: American Nightmare/American Nothing) is either a band that you love or hate. This is quite possibly one of the most highly anticipated records of the year and for a good reason...it marks Give Up the Ghost's triumphant return after a year of personal problems and lawsuits. But the question is...are they the same band as American Nightmare?Yes. Before the review goes any further...know that "We're Down Til' We're Underground" is not a regurgitated "Background Music". They haven't abandoned the sound that they created and made their own, but they evolved from it. This is probably the most diverse collection of songs I have heard from this band.The intro threw me off a bit; it opened with an acoustic guitar. I was like..."Whoa what are they trying to pull now!?" Thirty seconds later it started to sound more like the band I was used to hearing. "One, two, three, four" and it jumps right to "Love American" (probably the song that everyone is most familiar with)...probably one of the best intros I have heard in a while. You can sense that the band has taken a giant step forward and they are leaving the past behind them. Wes shows an incredible amount of dexterity in his vocals and still writes those heartfelt lyrics that have become his trademark. As for the rest of the band...they have no problem switching it up a bit on this record. You will find that a number of the songs on this record have more of a build up to them. They aren't the types of songs that just blast out of the gate and never slow down. You will notice a number of slower parts in which it allows you to take a step back and realize that this record has substance and is a well put together. Nothing ever seems awkward or out of place; everyone in the band seems to compliment each other perfectly. I feel that this is just as good, if not better than any of their other releases (that is some stiff competition). This is one band that has yet to disappoint me. My hat goes off to these guys...great job."