As I scoured the Punktastic reviews archive, I realised that one fantastic band is missing from these hallowed web pages. That band is Good Riddance, and with a new record on the way, that includes every cover song that GR have recorded during their illustrious career, what better time to review their 2001 released opus, ‘Symptoms Of A Levelling Spirit’.
I first encountered Good Riddance on one of the Fat Wreck Chords compilation CD’s and immediately liked what I heard. Unfortunately, I never gave them a second thought until I picked up this record on impulse last year. I then proceeded to let it rot on my shelf for a few months before deciding that it deserved a proper listen. Thank god for impulses, people. This record is a spectacularly eclectic mix of first class skate punk, melodic hardcore and some awesome rasping vocal work from Russ Rankin and has been in and out of my CD player since I decided to give it that fateful first listen.
A bizarre but slightly amusing audio clip starts off proceedings and then ‘Fire Engine Red’ explodes from the speakers. There are a number of things that first hit you when you listen to a Good Riddance song. The furious drumming and crunching guitar sound are prominent, however, it’s Russ’s vocals and intelligent, unpretentious lyrics that are what make Good Riddance what they are. The aggression, emotion and sense of urgency sealed in these two-minute gems are without comparison.
‘Enter The Unapproachables’ continues this trend and is then followed by the albums stand out track, and first single release. ‘Yesterday’s Headlines’, while not necessarily being as eye wateringly fast as old school GR fans would like, manages to pack a massive punch without being unnecessarily hardcore, and is all the better for it. It is a hook-laden masterpiece and among strong competition, manages to sneak the ‘song of the album’ award. ‘Trial Of The Century’ and ‘Libertine’ are also stand out tracks on the record, but just can’t quite compete with ‘Yesterdays Headlines’, despite both songs grabbing you by the throat and refusing to let go until the final note is played.
Luckily, there only appears to be one disappointing track on the album, and that is the forty two seconds of hardcore thrown in near the end of the record entitled ‘All The Joy You’ve Ever Known’ and is an unwelcome break in the seemingly flawless melodic hardcore onslaught that is ‘SOALS’.
The brooding ‘Year Of The Rat’ reduces the pace a little and is followed by another slow burning song in the shape of ‘Pisces/Almost Home‘, which seemingly begins to kick into the riff from GR’s very own ‘One For The Braves’ towards the end, which is by no means a bad thing.
The album ends with ‘Spit You Out’, and sounds like classic Good Riddance. Injected with fury and bitterness towards the world, it then bizarrely leads into a secret, untitled track, which is melodic punk at its very best. Step aside No Use For A Name; move over Social Distortion and any other pretenders to the throne. This hidden track shows that, if they wanted to, Good Riddance could step down from the realms of hardcore heavyweights and compete on a much more melody filled level. Which sums this album up nicely, really.
Good Riddance may be famed for hostile, in your face hardcore, but they have shown with this record that they have progressed. They have moulded themselves into a world-conquering band capable of almost anything without alienating their fan base by radically changing their sound. Add to that a blistering live show, and the video for arguably their finest song to date, ‘One For The Braves’, on the enhanced CD and you have one definitive purchase. If you have overlooked Good Riddance in the past, redeem yourselves now. You will not be disappointed.
Ross