Customer Reviews

Background Music

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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?

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.

Must have for any collections.
Backround music is a non-stop roller coaster of legendary hardcore.

Believe the hype!

This cd is american nightmare's best work. Even tho I think wes's voice was in better shape on the sun isnt getting any brighter cd this cd has better songs. Real tight guitar work. fast drums, awesome lyrics.. and i actually have to counter what everyone said before by saying that this cd has the best version of 'farewell', the one on the s/t one is still awesome tho.

'Background Music' was hands down one of my favorite records of 2001. People hate on these guys, saying how they are generic and are all "hype". I beg to differ. Give Up the Ghost (formerly American Nightmare) have had 3 ground breaking releases. Their self titled EP was astonishing, their second EP was above average and 'Background Music' just blew me away. Wes Eisold is a lyrical marvel. His lyrics are filled with heartbreak, loss, and bitterness. Yet it never sounds cliche and it gets better with every listen. Give Up the Ghost have taken elements from 'Old School Hardcore' and took it the next level. Creating their own breed of emotional hardcore with a feel of nostalgia in the same vein as The Trouble (one of many examples). This is a solid record and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of music in general. The lyrics in the liner are reason alone to purchase this ablum. Buy it now.

This is what I'm talking about people, a band that tried something new and it worked! It's got like punk sounding riffs in it but its one of the best hardcore bands out there. The only bad thing about this is that most of the songs sound exactly the same, but its a good sound, and they seem to have mastered it. I can't wait until their sophmore release comes out later this year. This is one hardcore band worth seeing. I've seen them live, and they kick arse (in their hometown of Boston, Mass.)

Dont believe what people say, this IS the best Hardcore LP o the year, American Nightmare is one of the greatest, mixing harcore and the classic screaming with hearfelt poetic lyrics. And wes' lyrics shine on ANs first (and hopefully not last) LP.

(we are) - great opener, definetely a stand out on the cd.

there's a black hole... - one of my favorites, i love the lyrics to this song. emotionally and musically charged. great song.

am/pm - great song, not the best off the cd, but it doesnt fail to keep you going.

shoplifting in a ghost town - my favorite song off the cd. and possibly the best off the cd too. its very emotional and it sent chills down my back when i first heard it. excellent song and definetely a standout.

i saved latin - another short and sweet song from AN, its not even 30 seconds long, but its loaded with screaming and emotion.

postmark my compass - it took me a bit to get into this song, the lyrics are excellent, but the song itself didnt catch my attention at first, great song though.

i.c. you are feeling drake - good song, fast paced and catchy, it will keep you interested, not the best though.

hearts - my god this song is insane. its quick, emotional, everything is in this song. great song, wish it wasnt so short though, this song really shows what AN is all about. definetely a stand out on the LP.

god save the queen - another song that took me a bit to get into, good though.

your arsonist - great song, thats really all i can say.

farewell - a remake off the American Nightmare EP, not as good as the EP version, but it is still a great song, and the ending to a great cd.

this cd DOES live up to all the hype, hopefully this isnt the last of american nightmare, every song on this cd is excellent, but some stand out more than others. get this cd and dont hesitate.

American Nightmare is an amazing band that represents all that hardcore should be, but this isn't that great of a CD. A great CD has every song sounding fresh, yet somewhat similar. Just about every other song on the CD is amazing, but the other half sound exactly alike. Still, American Nightmare has an immense deal of promise.

One of the best hardcore records to come out in years, Background Music is certainly a breath of fresh air like all the critics say. Combining elements of metal and straight-forward punk without compromising the roots of hardcore, this record balances aggression with sincerity, strength with hope. Perhaps they realize that songs are just songs, incapable of causing mass worldwide socio-political change (sadly) which is why the lyrics don't stray far from the same basic themes of love and relationships. It's definately a personal record, one that you listen to alone. And yes 23 minutes is rather short, but hey, it's hardcore...it's similar to butchering the English language in hip-hop...that sort of thing is allowed.