Gym Class Heroes - As Cruel As School Children

[Drew Beringer]

GYM CLASS HEROES - As Cruel As School Children

“Too rock for hip-hop, too hip-hop for rock,” has been the tagline for the upstate New York quartet, Gym Class Heroes. After name-dropping a who’s who of important scene bands in the catchy “Taxi Driver,” GCH developed a nice following, and after signing to Pete Wentz’s label, Decaydance, and releasing their heart-on-sleeve debut The Papercut Chronicles, people started paying attention, expectations began to build, and the Heroes began to worry: can we top Papercut? Fortunately, it is safe to say that their second album, As Cruel As School Children, not only surpasses their previous effort, but it is also going to serve as their launching pad into the big time. Produced by Sam Hollander and Patrick Stump, School Children’s fourteen track offering is heavy on the hip hop side this time around, yet still possesses that full band sound. Influenced more by frontman Travis McCoy’s obsession with 80’s R&B, GCH have added more depth to their lyrics and music on album two.

“1st Period: The Queen And I” begins the album with a salsa-like guitar strum from Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo backed by the jittery bass of Eric Roberts. McCoy’s lyrics flow nicely and possess your ear immediately. “2nd Period: Shoot Down The Stars” features the thumping from drummer Matt McGinley and the up-down contrast between Disashi and Roberts. The chorus is what stands out here; McCoy carries the melody very well, singing about following your dreams and not let people shit on you and what you want to achieve. The following song is the obnoxiously catchy “New Friend Request.” While it’s almost impossible to not enjoy this song, lyrically I think it’s lame, but Travis’ delivery saves it. “Clothes Off!” is going to be the song that breaks this band through. Featuring Stump shrieking, “We have to take our clothes off/to have a good time,” Travis’ flow resembles Will Smith, but the musicianship on this song is stellar, as it has a club vibe to it. Following this is the first of three “Sloppy Love Jingles,” which is basically skits of Travis rhyming over his battles with love and trying to hook up with a girl at the bar. Personally, I don’t like any of these and they just kill the overall mood to the album. “Viva La White Girl” is a slow jam, showing that the band is very capable of slowing things down. “7 Weeks” features The Academy Is… Will Beckett on chorus, and this is one of the stronger tracks on the album. Roberts’ bass is chunky, Disashi’s guitar sets a chilled vibe, and Beckett sound pretty good on the chorus, executing a nice falsetto. “It’s OK, But Just This Once!” is good musically, but this song really doesn’t stand out. “Biters Block” has a menacing tone to it, as the bass creeps along with McGinley’s tight drumming. The chorus features children singing followed by Speech (of Arrested Development fame) laying down the lyrics. “Scandalous Scholastics” is my least favorite track, as the opening verse reminds me of a boy band harmony. This track is full of cheese, as it is about Travis bumping uglies with his teacher. “On My Own Time (Write On!)” makes up for that misstep, though. The track grooves throughout and this track is Travis’ vindication, showing that he can overcome the pressures and write a good album.

The album displays the theme of a school day, even with all the tracks divided up into a school schedule. The cover displays the school outcast, the underdog, which is exactly the niche of GCH. They are going to surprise many and take the charts by storm with this release. While there are some shortcomings lyrically, the musicianship from Disashi, McGinley, and Roberts is much better than what they showcased on Papercut. Also, Travis’ delivery is still very good, and I’m glad he branched out his lyrics to other topics than the usual “emo” staples we hear in many albums today. As Cruel As School Children is perfect for those who don’t listen to hip-hop at all and may be that gateway to the genre for them. Experienced hip-hop fans will probably scoff at this and not even give it the time of day, but I ask that you give it a shot, as you may find 3-4 tracks you really dig. Gym Class Heroes have released an album that will make them the third band from the Decaydance roster to make it huge. If they release the right singles and market it the right way, it is very possible that you’ll see this band climbing the charts on TRL. While the staying power of this album will come in question, the replayability and enjoyment is rather high. Add As Cruel As School Children to your summer playlist and get ready to watch these guys become Heroes of more than just the gymnasium.
Tracklisting:
1. 1st Period: The Queen And I
2. 2nd Period: Shoot Down The Stars
3. 3rd Period: New Friend Request
4. 4th Period: Clothes Off!
5. Lunch: Sloppy Love Jingle Pt. 1
6. 6th Period: Viva La White Girl
7. 7th Period: 7 Weeks
8. 8th Period: It’s OK, But Just This Once!
9. Study Hall: Sloppy Love Jingle Pt. 2
10. 10th Period: Biters Block
11. Yearbook Club: Boys In Bands Interlude
12. 12th Period: Scandalous Scholastics
13. 13th Period: On My Own (Write On!)
14. Detention: Sloppy Love Jingle Pt. 3
Produced by: Sam Hollander and Patrick Stump

Gym Class Heroes are:
Travis McCoy - vocals
Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo - guitar
Eric Roberts - bass
Matt McGinley - drums

Release Date: July 25, 2006
Record Label: Decaydance (http://www.decaydance.com)/Fueled By Ramen (http://www.fueledbyramen.com)
Official Website (http://www.gymclassheroes.com);Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/gymclassheroes)

[thisisadisaster]

good review. great cd.

[CROMagnon]

the best line on that cd comes from your least favorite song

[Drew Beringer]

the best line on that cd comes from your least favorite song
Is it the sacreligious line? lol

[CROMagnon]

Is it the sacreligious line? lol
yes it is

[Drew Beringer]

yes it is
hahahaha I do get a chuckle out of that.

[Fat Kid Running]

Good review, but id give it a little higher rating. i love the sloppy love series.. even though after you hear it after a few times your already sick of it.

[Scott Weber]

Meh. There's so much rap I'd rather listen to than this. It's not...bad, it's just not that good IMO. Whatevs, it's just an opinion. Whatever makes ya happy.

[Drew Beringer]

Meh. There's so much rap I'd rather listen to than this. It's not...bad, it's just not that good IMO. Whatevs, it's just an opinion. Whatever makes ya happy.
You make me happy. /gaymoment

[GoWaitInTheCar]

I'm not sure what I think of this cd yet.

It's to much a mainstream style hip hop record to consider it indie.
It's to much of an indie hip hop record to consider it mainstream style.

I think it falls between the cracks of both of the genres and won't be accepted in either community.

The only place that will accept this is society and local radio stations $$$$

[GoWaitInTheCar]

Meh. There's so much rap I'd rather listen to than this. It's not...bad, it's just not that good IMO. Whatevs, it's just an opinion. Whatever makes ya happy.

That's what I'm trying to say. If I wanted to listen to rap, I wouldn't listen to this. If I wanted to listen to indie rap, I wouldn't listen to this.

It's not that it's a bad record, infact, I think it's good.. it's just not what I wanted from this band.

[alreadyheardit]

this kinda follows the trend of some reviews here where the text body of the review is more flattering than the numerical breakdown.
i love this record.

[xllirikx]

nice review, but I really think its better than that.

[Steve Henderson]

I will have to greatly disagree with you when you say this surpasses Papercut Chronicles...this is way more disposable to me.

To each his own, though.

[|ant|]

Fortunately, it is safe to say that their second album, As Cruel As School Children, not only surpasses their previous effort, but it is also going to serve as their launching pad into the big time.

I disagree, in the sense that this is better than their previous LP. There is no way you can say that. Their previous cdjust had so much heart and such a raw aspect to the music. They pretty much lost their band feel, which I no doubt miss. Although, I do agree that they will be huge very soon.

[Fat Kid Running]

P.O.S Audition>>GCH As Cruel As School Children

[Drew Beringer]

P.O.S Audition>>GCH As Cruel As School Children

haha, no contest.

[unwritten]

It's a fun listen.

[McSavah]

Nice review, fun album.

[blimpcityhero11]

Good review... I'd rate it about the same. They definately improved from The Papercut Chronicles, and made a fun album that is truly a unique sound for the "scene."

[ACA]

13th period?

How long are these kids in school?

-ACA

[FallOutBoyPunch]

yes it is

Yeah, It passed me by the first three times I heard it, and then the fourth time, I fucking pulled over on the side of the road and laughed for two minutes straight. Fucking amazing.

[CokeorPepsi]

Looking foward to checking out their set at warped tomorrow.

[shane hennessey]

spot on

[Rxbandit22]

So I would've given an overall average to PCC about an 8.
Anyone believe there previous release was better than this one?
I'm concemplating picking this up now.

[romeo08]

An okay cd. definitly not worth paying for compared to all the other better cds released this summer

[zizou1790]

idk i really like it

[LilRyan732]

Yeah, this is more MTV-ish of them, but I don't think many people will embrace it. They should have stuck with what they liked (the Little Brother route) and gave a big fuck you to whoever didn't feel it.

Still, not a BAD record, just a step backward.

[Punkdc]

I really like it, and I dont think its a step back. Yeah, I think a few of the tracks dont live up to what they should but I think its a great release.

[Chico]

Its definitely a fun album. Nice review Drew.

[LilRyan732]

My main problem was the subject matter. I know Travis has more interesting things to talk about than Myspace and white girls. Granted there was some playful tracks on the last CD--Cupid's Chokehold, Make Out Club, etc, but they mixed it up with some thoughtful, hard-hitting songs. If they would have stayed with this formula I would have liked to CD a lot better.

[Steve Henderson]

My main problem was the subject matter. I know Travis has more interesting things to talk about than Myspace and white girls. Granted there was some playful tracks on the last CD--Cupid's Chokehold, Make Out Club, etc, but they mixed it up with some thoughtful, hard-hitting songs. If they would have stayed with this formula I would have liked to CD a lot better.
Well said, sir.

[saving jonathan]

overall, a great album. catchy and influenced by some good stuff. travis is headed in the right direction i think, and so is this band. i just hope they don't get tooo big.

[whatchokesbegin]

My main problem was the subject matter. I know Travis has more interesting things to talk about than Myspace and white girls. Granted there was some playful tracks on the last CD--Cupid's Chokehold, Make Out Club, etc, but they mixed it up with some thoughtful, hard-hitting songs. If they would have stayed with this formula I would have liked to CD a lot better.
I agree. The Papercut Chronicles is much better than this album. This sounds like a combination of Fall Out Boy and MTV hip-hop. Their last album was excellent musically and lyrically, and this one falls short in both categories.

In the same vein, I'm pretty fucking sick of hearing Patrick Stump's voice.

[carxunderwaterx]

at warped they played a really fun acoustic set. and why are there 6 of them that play? not 4...

[ren989]

Excellent review. I also agree that the sloppy love jingles really kill the flow of the album. Still pretty good stuff overall though.

[CorporateFish]

I really liked this release. However, if you were to pick up a hip-hop album, Jurassic 5's new one is much better than GCH.

[xglassjawx]

There is no way in hell that the POS album is better than this hahahaha.

[InochiSagashi]

In the same vein, I'm pretty fucking sick of hearing Patrick Stump's voice.

Agreed! I mean, he's got a pretty good voice, but how many guest vocals has he done lately??
Probably more than the actual amount of decent songs on the next Fall Out Boy record.

[trustmeimokay]

There is no way in hell that the POS album is better than this hahahaha.
P.O.S. is my album of the year.

I don't see how you can say that.

[BlackBear]

There is no way in hell that the POS album is better than this hahahaha.

Except it is. Do not challenge the Bear.

[*crying stars*]

i agree with your review.

sure is a fun album.

[lava890]

My main problem was the subject matter. I know Travis has more interesting things to talk about than Myspace and white girls. Granted there was some playful tracks on the last CD--Cupid's Chokehold, Make Out Club, etc, but they mixed it up with some thoughtful, hard-hitting songs. If they would have stayed with this formula I would have liked to CD a lot better.
If you need hard-hitting lyric's about a stranger's life, you have the last album. What's wrong with tracks that are easy to enjoy?

[End is Forever]

I really like this cd. Clothes Off is a great song, it's really catchy and Patrick sounds good on it but 7 weeks has better lyrics. Just curious Drew, who is the other Decaydance band that has gotten big besides Panic?

[JTrain12]

i bet the people who diss on GCH really like MC Lars =0

[Drew Beringer]

I really like this cd. Clothes Off is a great song, it's really catchy and Patrick sounds good on it but 7 weeks has better lyrics. Just curious Drew, who is the other Decaydance band that has gotten big besides Panic?
Fall Out Boy, technically the first band on Decaydance.

[Alex DiVincenzo]

Good review for a good CD.

[CROMagnon]

the first album is much more "hip hop" than this album
this is hip pop at the core

[Drew Beringer]

the first album is much more "hip hop" than this album
this is hip pop at the core
It has a lot of R&B influence.

[CROMagnon]

It has a lot of R&B influence.
this one? the only song i really hear r&b is clothes off, and that's more funk
on my own time, eh, maybe a little
the rest is poppy as hell, little r&b

[Throwback]

The Papercut Chronicles was an incredible release that came out of nowhere for me. Decrepit Bricks is lyrically incredible and while I really like As Cruel As School Children, this does seem like a step backward. Also, I prefer the guitar on PCC, even though it all sort of sounded the same, it was still sweet. However, On My Own Time is a great song.

[i2ockbotm]

My main problem was the subject matter. I know Travis has more interesting things to talk about than Myspace and white girls.
'Viva La White Girl' has more depth than you may think.

[netcity]

terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible review. this cd rides1

[FourStarters]

"Sloppy Love Jingle" is better when Travis does it live, as he's done as their impromptu freestyle while the band is tuning - it's lame that it's not exactly a freestyle, but it's a pretty cool little vocal exercise that works as a transition between songs.

"New Friend Request" is legit - want band drama? It's about the dude from The Fully Down's girlfriend.

"If I had two horses, and I beat them with authority, I'd gallop all the way to Canada to see your face"

And if not, ain't no love lost between you and me
I'll be here when your man ain't fully down as he used to be "

Disashi's the nicest guy in the world too.

[sometripe]

'Viva La White Girl' has more depth than you may think.

Indeed. That song has a lot more to do with lines of cocaine than actual white girls.

[DonByron]

Best CD of 2006 so far. I don't see how people don't like it. A) Patrick Stump produced it, that's why he sings on it... and that is a dead on update of the song they decided not to "sample" B) It's got an old school R&B feel to it. How is that not "hip hop"? I'm sorry if you wanted to buy a Public Enemy CD.... but this has such an Eminem or Kanye feel to it on some songs, and that's just good hip hop fun C) The lyrics are a step up I think. I especially like all the references to the behind the scenes of being in bands. Lines like "We finish up the peanut butter and jelly that you always get in your rider but never eat" make it worth it especially fun for anyone involved in the music scene D) The Papercut Chronicles was a lot more guitar based, and this is more sample/beat/layer based, but I think it makes it a more complex CD. I guess I can see where TPCC was more indie, but this album is a lot more fun. And don't get me wrong, I LOVE them both. E) I would agree that these guys will probably be on TRL and all that lame stuff sometime soon. I'd bet a major will scoop them if this really takes off like it could. One big tour wil make it possible. F) It was cool to hear shout outs to Boys Night Out and Armor For Sleep and stuff on a CD. It was kind of a new twist to an old tradition.
Bottom line.... I love every track. And William Beckett on "7 Weeks" is amazing. Best song on the CD. I think "Scandolous Scholastics" is a close second also. I can understand the "boy band" feel you mention, because in the beginning it starts off like a Backstreet Boys or Nsync song... I was trying to place what it sounded like and was sad when I figured it out. But after the first 10 seconds it is mind blowing.

[mikedumapias]

i love this record, one of the best releases this year in my opinion. my only gripe is the number of "sloppy love jingles." theyre super clever and all but im just missing the beat in the background. but other than that i think its a rock solid album.

-miked.

oh yea, and like the dude above me said, the shout outs were sweet as hell.
for sure the best way to end the record.
fuck and yea.

[CROMagnon]

B) It's got an old school R&B feel to it. How is that not "hip hop"? I'm sorry if you wanted to buy a Public Enemy CD.... but this has such an Eminem or Kanye feel to it on some songs, and that's just good hip hop fun

there is little to no "old school r&b" on this cd, but there is funk and a small amount of soul
old school r&b consists of jazz, soul and gospel, and artists like fats domino and the neville brothers, and later sam cooke, marvin gaye, otis redding ...there is little to none of that going on here

this has no eminem feel at all, either in the lyrics or the music, so i don't know what the hell you're talking about

this is a hip pop cd, plain and simple...or, if you like, a new evolution of new jack swing

[starcrossdlovex]

7 Weeks is really the only song I can consistently listen to & not be bored with immediately.
& I agree, the Love Jingles do nothing for me.
Oh well, it's still a pretty amusing & fun album.

I know Travis has more interesting things to talk about than Myspace and white girls.
Go read the lyrics of Viva La White Girl & think about it a bit.

[smogs]

I personally liked Papercut Chronicles better, this one seems a bit over produced or something.

but thats not to say its a bad cd, its great. it hasn't come out of my radio since i bought it.

[DonByron]

Perhaps I should have validated my statement by saying this CD has a 1970's R&B feel to it. I had no idea I would be critiqued for the era here. But there is definitely the influence of The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, etc dripping from these songs. And there is a lot more in the way of singing than rapping on most of the songs.

The Eminem feel is in regards to songs like Biters Block and Scandolous Scholastic. The hooks on a lot of the songs are similar in style to those used by Eminem. Plus little things like the little kids in the chorus, side comments by Travis on his own lyrics, the Sloppy Love Jingles compared to Eminem's skits. But there is a clear comparison for me when I first listened to this CD. Lyrically not so much, but definitely musically in the choruses and the hooks.

[Qwest]

viva la white girl uses cocaine as a metaphor on getting high on their music..nothing really about a white girl or doing actual cocaine

and new friend request is about a girl who lives in montreal..i met her when they did a show up here in toronto...

i won't post her myspace username..but it was about her

"brass knuckles on her hip"

[CROMagnon]

Perhaps I should have validated my statement by saying this CD has a 1970's R&B feel to it. I had no idea I would be critiqued for the era here. But there is definitely the influence of The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, etc dripping from these songs. And there is a lot more in the way of singing than rapping on most of the songs.

The Eminem feel is in regards to songs like Biters Block and Scandolous Scholastic. The hooks on a lot of the songs are similar in style to those used by Eminem. Plus little things like the little kids in the chorus, side comments by Travis on his own lyrics, the Sloppy Love Jingles compared to Eminem's skits. But there is a clear comparison for me when I first listened to this CD. Lyrically not so much, but definitely musically in the choruses and the hooks.
i hear very little of what you're talking about
i hear more new jack swing, and maybe a little of run dmc's mix of rock and rap
besides, anything slightly r&b could be influenced by those musicians you mentioned

skits are a common occurrence on rap records and by no means started with eminem, as are having little kids in the chorus
many of those things you're stating were done well before eminem, and eminem only uses them rarely; besides, the only kid on em's choruses was the one or two songs he did with his daughter, so there was a reason for that
what i mean to say is they are not conventional eminem tactics, plus eminem's lyrical intensity isn't mirrored in these songs at all...this is clearly more playful hip pop

i'm not saying this is a bad album, but i really don't see all those influences you're mentioning. all i hear is a few sample based tracks and a few pop rock songs with lyrics rapped over the music (or sung, in the case of a couple of songs...and sung kind of badly)

[TheBaroness]

I'm loving this disc, even more thanTPCC. Travis has awesome flow.

[a speedo model]

not a fan.

[Shatter590]

i am definitely giving this one a chance. i like hip hop more now than ever, so ytfn?

[Koopato]

This CD really grew on me. 7 Weeks is an awesome song.

[bummm]

I enjoy this, but got tired of it really fast.

[MBIIdollaBill]

i would do anything to find a studio version of the queen and I remix featuring keith buckley from ETID

[alantbs]

I thought Papercut Chronicles was and is better than this album