Customer Reviews

Four Minute Mile

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When the get up kids decidedly kicked off this album, never in my sound mind did I give a single thought about them getting any better, but of course I was pointlessly proven wrong with the ever conclusive something to write home about. I listened to most of the songs on the album with the intention of actually getting the album but after a number of years, I finally got around to purchasing it. Now this album simply grows on you, the rough edges pushed in just for fun is simply the best bits on this really excellent album. Independent labels cannot exist without bands like the get up kids and four-minute mile as an album. Give this relentless record a forceful try. You'll experience what I'm experiencing...totality in complete and utter musical master piece..

The Get Up Kids' debut effort, Four Minute Mile, is a CD with all the right elements. It's a great, emotionally energizing CD with good ballads as well. It's not as polished as Something to Write Home About, but it's still borderline great. If you heard StWHA first, you might be a little surprised, but you won't be dissapointed. And if you've never heard the Get Up Kids before, imagine Green Day mixed with the Goo Goo Dolls with touches of Third Eye Blind and of course, Weezer, but with better lyrics. It's awesome.

a masterpiece from beginning to end. four minute mile has it all - weezer-pop rockish anthem "oh amy" all the way to slow ballads like "better half". coming from a fan of punk and emo and hardcore, I would have to say this is probably the best cd I have ever decided to buy. Lyrically challenging - NOT SIMPLY POP as other have said ! the get up kids on 4 minute mile will take you up, down and all around on a roller coaster of quality music. if u don't believe me, go see them live and watch the intensity and sweat and see all the kids smiling. emo-schmemo! forget band wagons, forget fads, forget anything - this is rock and roll!

I was turned on to The Get Up Kids the summer before my senior year of high school, 1998 to be precise. Now, I'm not too crazy about this remastered version but it's all you can find these days. This is a more abrasive GUK sound and not at all like the past two albums. The sound of every high school break up is the basis of this album. At least it's what I imagined a high school break up sounding like. I avoided relationships in high school as they are generally quite silly. But this album is berry berry fine. And I've met some damn cute girls who rock out to this. There you go guys. You have an in.

First off, this album has been accused too many times of being "poppy". Define poppy! If it means songs with thought-provoking lyrics, incredible melodies and surreal sound effects, then i guess we all like pop now don't we? besides, i played this for my bsb/britney loving sister and she couldn't stand to listen even through one chorus of "don't hate me". 4 minute mile is a great collection of songs infused with emo, punk, and maybe there's some pop in there too. Probably as good as something to write home about, but sometimes better, sometimes worse. it depends on the mood (level of depression) you're in.

This is a very solid album and worth the money if you are into pop-punk or emo. However, there are some problems with the album. I won't get into a lengthy discussion about it, but the songs fall shy of their full potential.

For example on "Don't Hate Me" (Probably my favorite song on the album). The opening is missing something. You get the feeling that if they just added a little more time or an extra guitar part they could have made the opening sound much better. Then at the end of the song it would have been awesome for them to rip back into another chorus (and the first time you listen to the song you are so expecting them to), but they just fade out the song with this light surreal guitar fade. They do odd things like that a bunch of times on a variety of songs. Leaves you scratching your head...

Don't get me wrong, it is a good album, a good band, and they have good songs. But they are so close to greatness so many times on this album and they just miss. It just makes me wonder why they decide to write some of the songs the way they did. Were the rushed to get it done? Sometimes it seems so.

Have you ever heard an album that single handedly changed your outlook on music? Have you ever heard an album that gave you hope for the future of all genres? Have you ever had one album do both of these to you? I did, with a little ditty called "Four Minute Mile". The Get Up Kids turned me onto emo, and I couldn't be happier.

I'd like to start by addressing the remarks of one of my fellow reviewers. Note that this isn't a personal attack but something I noticed and would like to comment upon. Salixus in his review (which was favorable) got on TGUKs case for not doing something right. And while he's entitled to his opinion, it sounds to me like he was upset that the album wasn't predictable enough. But, enough of this.

This album struck me in the the first 20 seconds. Once the first song really kicked in, I was hooked. The lyrics kicked in and I was enamored, it only got better. This album grabbed my attention from the very start and holds it to this date. It's hard to describe why it's so good. The guitars are fun, fast, and very well played. The lyrics, though dealing with common themes, are very original and have genuine feeling of honesty and desperation. The drumming keeps the beat, as it should, but is also unpredictable. The only other drummer I can compare it to is Abe Cunningham, it's that good. The songs seldom take predictable turns. The second track "Don't Hate Me" (common listed as reviewer's favorites) has a wonderfully catchy chorus, and is just a wonderfully played song. The ending (which has been called head-scratching ;)) is brilliant. The song throughout is rather up beat, the ending kind of trails off with a continuing slower drums and softer guitar lick. This is obviously done for 2 reasons. First the Kids clearly wanted the song to end on a solemn note. Second the next song "Fall Semester" (a better song in my opinion) starts with a rather slow guitar riff itself, and the slow ending of "Don't Hate Me" makes for an interesting segue. "Stay Gold, Ponyboy" follows in what is a very well written song telling of the strange journey of aging, and becoming an adult. Moving on can be a hard thing, and this song says that very well "I'll cry, til I can't see the whites of your eyes/ Two more years and we'll be old enough to know better, young enough to pretend". Track 5, "Lowercase West Thompson" is my personal favorite track. It works as a centerpiece on the album, or as a stand alone solemn song. I don't want to go into the entire album, because I'll probably start to sound redundant seeing as I love every song. Just know that this is definitely an album worthy of purchase, and one that should be required ownership.

this cd took some time to impress. the first song is a classic example of one of my problems with it... the vocals are sometimes rather soft and tend to fade off into the background. the second song illustrates my second complaint... some of the lyrics are cliched and leave you wondering how to feel. the second track is a self involved psuedo apology of a love song. very confusing. however, song 3 was impressive and by 7 and 8 i was hooked to this cd. don't let the beginning fool you it gets better as it goes on. not a must buy, but a you-should-probably-buy-this-because-its-damn-good.

after hearing bits and pieces of this album in my friend's car, i decided to finally pick it up...it's got an amazing blend of songs that you can totally relate to...includes the amazingly cute/addictive "don't hate me", as well as "stay gold ponyboy", "washington square park", and "no love". definitely a punk rock masterpiece.

The album is really worth the buy. It is great lyricly and musicly, and I think a lot of people (espically rock/emo/punk people) would like it if they gave it a chance.
My personal favortie songs are "Don't Hate Me", "No Love" and "Stay Gold, Ponyboy" (which, by the way, if you're having trouble understanding the meaning of the song I suggest that you read the book "The Outsiders", because that is what the song is based off of)
Anyway, the raw sound of "Four Minute Mile" really fits in with the songs on the album.
If you are into bands like "Saves the Day", "Taking Back Sunday", or "Weezer", I think you would like The Get Up Kids, but if you are more into pop-punk (like Good Charollte or Simple Plan) I suggest that you work your way into The Get Up Kids . . .try listening to "Saves the Day"'s album "Through Being Cool" and move on from there . . .please drop bands like Good Charollte and Simple Plan, you'll be doing yourself a favor.
If you are into bands like "The Pixies", "Pavement", "Modest Mouse", or "Radiohead", it's hard to say if you will enjoy The Get Up Kids or not, buy I suggest you give them a few good listens, but maybe start with "Eroda", because they do a pretty good Pixies cover of "Alec Effiel"
Anyway, overall, this is a great album, and it is worth listening to, enjoy!