Customer Reviews

Love My Life Hate My Friends

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I think this is my favorite Gogogo record -- though the one on GSL (not listed here) is really incredible as well. There are just some songs on here that really make you want to do some rump shakin' and when you combine that with the totally far out punk vocal rants you have a winning record. Vocally it reminds me of Mark E. Smith of the Fall or John Lydon of PiL not because the singer sounds like them but because like those other cats, this guy has a truly unique vocal style. Whiny and off tone yet wildly amusing.

Oh and the bass lines -- catchy as all hell. Like those Gang of Four bass lines.

Anyway, get this now then see them live then die happy.

Music fans making music sometimes ends up sounding trite and hollow. The knowledge base this group has shows in the results, but not too much to sound like a bad imitation of their idols. You might notice a touch of Gang of Four, Wire or The Pop Group, but you won't think they're doing covers either.

San Diego, CA's GoGoGo Airheart began writing in 1996 at the hands of core members Mike Vermillion and Ashish Vyas. After two years of relentless basement rehearsals and a string of homemade cassettes, GGGAH were picked up by local indie label, Vinyl Communication. Augmented by drummer Andy Robillard and violinist Teri Hoefer, the group recorded their self-titled debut LP in 1997.

1998's superb "Love My Life, Hate My Friends" LP emerged to meet the group's increasing word of mouth popularity. "Love My Life" finds GGGAH in darker spirits, a hybrid of late-seventies post-punk (The Pop Group and Public Image Ltd. in particular) and homegrown American art-rock (Pere Ubu, Rocket From The Tombs) are channeled through Vyas' mutated funk bass lines, Hoefer's twisted yet sublime saw-like violin and Vermillion's intensely oblique and personal lyrics.

The blueprint record for all other GGGAH releases, the quintessential early period experimental featuring instant composition balanced with pre-composed songs ranging from Clash-like garage rock to Krautrock-inspired Latin and Dub Psychedelic.

An excellent, excellent album, without a doubt.

GoGoGo Airheart was a post-punk band from San Diego, California, that was active from 1996 to 2006. The band started out by local independent label, Vinyl Communications, and released their self-titled debut in 1997. In 1998 the band released their second album, Love my life...Hate my friends, which increased their popularity in the local music scene. They were, and still are, virtual unknowns, and the sounds- heavy in lead guitars and wild vocals, created a genre of their own that few bands ever allow for creatively. They had no boundaries, as can be seen in their dub-oriented sounds to their three minute guitar solos and whiny yet powerful vocals filled with strange yet serene lyrics, which created an experimental/indie/dance rock -esque sound.

LOVE MY LIFE...HATE MY FRIENDS is a brilliant release from a small-time band that never got its due credit. The album, in comparison to what I believe to be GOGOGO AIRHEART's most popular album entitled EXITHEUXA, is much more dancey and dub-oriented, but continues the unique intelli-rock sound of all their albums with a much more experimental feel to it. Not to be overlooked, I consider it their second best release behind EXITHEUXA, an album I believe to be one of the most underrated musical productions of the last 10 years.

Definitely check out this album and more importantly this band, who took a unique approach to a modern sound waay before its time.

GOGOGO AIRHEART!