Background Music

Give Up the Ghost | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 12, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Equal Vision Records
• ASIN: B00005JD7B
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,831 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. (We Are)

2. Theres A Black Hole In The Shadow Of The Pru

3. Am/Pm

4. Shoplifting In A Ghost Town

5. I Saved Latin

6. Postmark My Compass

7. I.C. You Are Feeling Drake

8. Hearts

9. God Save The Queen

10. Your Arsonist

11. Farewell

Editorial Reviews

This is the re-release of the album Background Music. The band changed it's name to Give Up The Ghost after the original American Nightmare, a band based outside of Philadelphia, objected to the use of their name and trademark. Give Up The Ghost has shaped a sound and aesthetic that's identifiable and contextual. The immediate emulation of their sound and image by their peers clearly illustrates the point. The bands founding members, Tim Cossar and Wes Eisold , weren't just fans of hardcore music, they were steeped in its history. Cossar was a member of Ten Yard Fight whom Eisold had roadied for on many of their national tours. Hardcore would be the framework for their band, the thin lined sketch that they would fill in with colorful lyrics, genre bending song structures and an image new to the genre. Instead of adhering to the tight confines of punk and hardcore Give Up The Ghost let their diverse musical tastes permeate their songs. Initially you might not see the link to Archers Of Loaf, Joy Division, Pulp, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Morrissey, Fugazi, Lifetime or My Bloody Valentine in GUTG's sound, but its there. Give Up The Ghost will continue to redefine and challenge who and what they are visually, musically, and spiritually and they are taking an entire scene along for the ride. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hardcore LP of the year., June 13, 2001

By 

Greg Polard (PHILLY PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Background Music (Audio CD)

Just when you think this band can't get any better, they put out "Background Music". When you get this album, be prepared to have it stick on your turntable / in your cd player for days. If the song "Shoplifting In A Ghost Town" doesn't give you chills, I don't know what will. Wes's lyrics are better than ever on this album. You HAVE to read the lyrics as you listen to this the first time. Get this album or pose.

Greg xxx

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You have my heart, February 24, 2006

By 

Johnny Lonesone - See all my reviews

This review is from: Background Music (Audio CD)

Background Music is amazing. American Nightmare (or "Give up the Ghost") just seems to get it. The record is hard fast and edgy, and Lead singer Wes Eisold really makes you beleive him. Lyrically, I don't know if anyone has so accuartly described heartbreak and depression quite like Wes has. From the first songs "We're dropping coins into dead payphones to hear the sound of our voice and just know were alone." to the last four words of the record. "you have my heart." Background music will captivate you, make you angry, and make you cry. What else could you possibly want from an album?

5.0 out of 5 stars Important album, January 31, 2009

By 

THECANNON - See all my reviews

This review is from: Background Music (Audio CD)

As another reviewer said, this may not be "the best" hardcore album ever made. However, it is a truly great and important one, and American Nightmare (GUTG, whatever) will be remembered for their role in changing the face of hardcore. This album seems to really epitomize what was going on in the hardcore scene back around the late 90s and the early years of the new millennium. Frankly I'm sort of glad that - in my opinion - hardcore has moved away from this sort of sound and this sort of message. But still, this is a record that all fans of hardcore should check out. I felt that this album was of just as good quality as their prior efforts, and of course far better than anything they did after. If they had ended it with this, it would have been beautiful. But they didn't, and it still was.