Implementing live instruments instead of looped samples or beats -- and helmed by the quick tongue of MC Travis McCoy -- there's really no denying the enjoyable affair that is Gym Class Heroes' As Cruel as School Children. Launching with the booty-shaking "The Queen and I," the Heroes prove straightaway that they've got enough confidence, catchy rhythms, and sense of melody amid all their tight grooves and emo hipster instincts to keep things moving right along. Being a hip-hop outfit largely residing in the world of the Warped Tour, it somehow makes sense that Arrested Development's Speech makes an appearance ("Biters Block") alongside guys like William Beckett from the Academy Is... ("7 Weeks") and Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump (on the eccentric "Clothes Off!"). But while this combination of influences largely works to Gym Class Heroes' musical advantage and overall appeal, there's still something that makes their music seem not quite like a novelty and more like a fleeting pleasure. How long can a song based on Myspace relationships ("New Friend Request") really last before lines like "My man Tom introduced us but I was too shy to say hi" or "I never see my face in your Top 8" become more annoying than witty? And even if hitting topics like the life of a touring band and calling out fake, trendy music is relevant, by now it just seems more a cliché. The band's sincerity isn't in question and Gym Class Heroes are a talented crew. But ultimately, it's this standard spring of inspiration that keeps As Cruel as School Children from being much else than a perfect hangout record for summer 2006.
(Published in Rag Magazine's May 2007 issue)Between the die hard hip-hop fans and the teeny boppers surrounding me in the large, dark, and mysterious structure of Orlando’s Club at Firestone, I wasn’t completely sure whether I had somehow ended up at either a 50 Cent or a Christina Aguilera concert. Throw in a cluster of art-alternative rockers (obviously in attendance to see the RX Bandits),
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Stealing a line from GCH's song entitled "New Friend Request" I'd like to say that "On a scale from 1 to awesome [this concert was] the shit."Allow me to qualify this statement. In a word, it was the 'variety' of the music that was played that really made this concert memorable.Observe: K-OS (rap/rock), POS (underground hip-hop- for me anyway), RX Bandits (definitely rock - in more ways than on...
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I was recently asked to choose my top five songs of all time. All I could think of was how that is nearly impossible since there are different forms of music. How can I put Marvin Gaye next to Pantera or John Denver next to NWA? I need catagories. Can anyone else actually just say "These are my five favorite songs" despite what catagory?
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(Published in Rag Magazine's May 2007 issue)Between the die hard hip-hop fans and the teeny boppers surrounding me in the large, dark, and mysterious structure of Orlando’s Club at Firestone, I wasn’t completely sure whether I had somehow ended up at either a 50 Cent or a Christina Aguilera concert. Throw in a cluster of art-alternative rockers (obviously in attendance to see the RX Bandits),
More >
I was recently asked to choose my top five songs of all time. All I could think of was how that is nearly impossible since there are different forms of music. How can I put Marvin Gaye next to Pantera or John Denver next to NWA? I need catagories. Can anyone else actually just say "These are my five favorite songs" despite what catagory?
More >
I mentioned it once before, but I just cant get over how completely UNDERwhelming the new Gym Class Heroes album is... it might easily be the worst record of 06. Still, The Queen and I gets stuck in your head like the best of Outkast radio gems...
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I recently saw Gym Class Heroes in concert at the Fillmore in SF and I have to say that I really enjoyed their performance. They really can't be compared to any other band that I know of and I like how they mix hip hop and rock to create a unique sound. Although I do like their most famous song "Cupid's Chokehold", I think the rest of the songs on their album are just as good. My favorites are "4t
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Stealing a line from GCH's song entitled "New Friend Request" I'd like to say that "On a scale from 1 to awesome [this concert was] the shit."Allow me to qualify this statement. In a word, it was the 'variety' of the music that was played that really made this concert memorable.Observe: K-OS (rap/rock), POS (underground hip-hop- for me anyway), RX Bandits (definitely rock - in more ways than on...
More >
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 "As Cruel as School Children")
