Bound By Ties of Blood and Affection

Good Riddance | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fat Wreck Chords
• ASIN: B000094Q2E
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,286 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like wine, they get better with age..., August 2, 2003

By 

Glenn (Athens, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bound By Ties of Blood and Affection (Audio CD)

With their sixth full-length, Bound by Ties of Blood and Affection, Santa Cruz's Good Riddance continue to develop and hone the sound they nearly perfected on its predecessor, Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit. This LP basically picks up where that one left off, and Russ's sharp lyrics continue to cut like a serrated edge. Adding Luke's anthemic guitar work, Chuck's meanly steady basslines, and Dave's unpredictable drumming to the mix makes for an incredibly compelling release.

These lyrics say more in a few paragraphs than some bands cough out in their entire discographies. By and large, the album sounds slightly more confident than Symptoms, but with an obviously greater cynical aftertaste than much of their back catalog. Topics include long distance love, media influence, and the disappointment that comes with age and from experience, among other relevent social issues. The album's conclusion sums up the retrospective feeling that life may have cheated us all: "So what's it all for? / When the lies mean so much more / Much more than reality / And what's the use of keeping score / When I've lost?" In addition, the literary quality of the lyrics is incredible. What other punk bands are going to name-drop James Joyce and adapt lines from Bukowski poems? Not too many.

So...

If you're looking for thoughtful and honest lyrical content which actually strays from the banal ideologies of most of the lyrics in this genre, then Good Riddance will help you out. And the music ain't too bad either.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Evolving one release at a time, July 2, 2003

By 

JRM "JRM" (Corvallis, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bound By Ties of Blood and Affection (Audio CD)

Some say they have never changed. But Good Riddance has definately evolved in my mind. Into the epitome of hardcore pop-punk that is. With direction from the godfathers of punk there is no way this could have been a bad release. Only one song get's to me, the Blink 182-ish one not worth mentioning... Well let's just say that this isn't as Hardcore as Operation Phoenix, Not as poppy as thier first three releases... A coagulation of the past and present, hope for the future, intelligent political assertations, and the sappy love songs that never get old. 33 minutes of pure punk powerhouse. This is undeniably good music, even your mom and pops will love it. Highlights: Remember Me, Bobby Baun, Saccharine...

4.0 out of 5 stars Good work by G.R., June 10, 2003

By 

Brian K (Hayden, Idaho United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bound By Ties of Blood and Affection (Audio CD)

This release grows on you, the more times you listen to it.
It's not as hard as Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit, but it's brilliant work. Once again, any true fan should buy this CD.
I would say it's one of their better albums.