Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 07/10/2001
Renown for their assaultive sonics,
Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit finds
Good Riddance huddling ever closer to the melodic
punk sound they've been moving towards over the few preceding years. While the arrival of new drummer
Dave Wagenschutz, with his varied rhythms and adept tempo changes, helps bolster the band's confidence to pursue new musical directions,
Symptoms is
Good Riddance's most eclectic to date. Of course, it's still a
punk album, but the group now run the full gamut of subgenres, from
speedcore to melodic
punk and everything in between.
"Year of the Rat," for example, starts slow enough to qualify as a
hard rock ballad (bring your own lighter), before metamorphing into a solid punk rocker.
"Libertine" boasts even more tempo changes, skittering in and out of
speedcore, while a
Stiff Little Fingeresque guitar jangles around the edges. There's still enough pummeling
hardcore to keep fans sated, however, or in the case of
"Nobody Likes a Cynic," a perfect hybrid of
hardcore and
hard rock to make all headbangers happy. But, in general,
Symptoms is awash in melodic
punk; from the opening number to the closing
alt-punk hidden track,
Good Riddance reels out a barrage of hummable songs and hooky choruses. In fact,
"Yesterday's Headlines"' melody is a definite nod to
new wave, dragged into the new school, needless to say.
"Cheyenne" is equally
poppy, albeit in a more minor key. However, the increased tunefulness takes none of the bite out of
Good Riddance's lyrics. And whether attacking individual imperfections or greater societal ills, the group's songwriting remains savagely on point. Always threatening greatness, the group have now produced a true classic.
~Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide
Cart 0 items
Listen
