BlackpoolLights
07/24/08, 09:33 AM
Gym Class Heroes - Patches from the Quilt
Record Label: Fueled by Ramen
Release Date: July 8, 2008
Normally I wouldn't even consider giving a three-song iTunes EP a whole review, especially with only a little over a month until the release of the full album, but the new Gym Class Heroes is worth my time. And hopefully, yours too.
Despite the occasional memorable hook, As Cruel as School Children disappointed me drastically. I was a huge Gym Class Heroes fan after hearing The Papercut Chronicles for the first time, and it was in constant play on my iPod for months. As Cruel as School Children was nothing like its predecessor; it sacrificed the beautiful and unadulterated electric guitar of songs like "Simple Living," the trademark of The Papercut Chronicles, for synthesizers, childish chants, and horribly annoying interludes. Perhaps the band was trying to imitate their breakout hit, "Cupid's Chokehold," or perhaps As Cruel as School Children was attempting to be a concept album, but whatever the case, only three or four songs were listenable.
With three songs now available from their upcoming release The Quilt, Gym Class Heroes sound like they've managed to separate themselves not only from their last album, but also their debut. Take the best parts of each album, a few new sounds, and compile what could be their best album to date.
The EP begins with "Cookie Jar" (featuring The Dream), a potential smash hit, which mixes The Dream's falsetto chorus with some of Travis McCoy's best lyrics to date. The song uses lines about being unable to resist cookies ("I wanna be faithful, but I can't keep my hands out the cookie jar" and "I'm still a cookie whore") as a metaphor for cheating, which I consider genius. The song is catchy and unique, lacking the immaturity of As Cruel as School Children, but more mainstream than anything found on The Papercut Chronicles. The next song, "Peace Sign/Index Down," featuring Busta Rhymes, is the first single from The Quilt, and it reminds me strongly of "The Queen And I" with its sense of humor and slight amount of anger.
Lastly, "Blinded by the Sun," which utilizes horns extremely well, switches the roles in "Cookie Jar," with McCoy now being the one who is getting cheated on. This song recalls early Gym Class Heroes the most out of the trio, which boosts it in my ratings, but it still can't reach the incessantly-catchy "Cookie Jar." Though the EP unfortunately maxes out at three songs (after all, it is a preview), I am now anticipating the upcoming full-length with much impatience. Gym Class Heroes does hip-hop better than almost any act out there, and they seem to have raised the bar even higher with their new work.
Fueled by Ramen bands, previous Gym Class Heroes material, hip-hop mixed with pop rock
myspace.com/gymclassheroes (http://www.myspace.com/gymclassheroes)
Record Label: Fueled by Ramen
Release Date: July 8, 2008
Normally I wouldn't even consider giving a three-song iTunes EP a whole review, especially with only a little over a month until the release of the full album, but the new Gym Class Heroes is worth my time. And hopefully, yours too.
Despite the occasional memorable hook, As Cruel as School Children disappointed me drastically. I was a huge Gym Class Heroes fan after hearing The Papercut Chronicles for the first time, and it was in constant play on my iPod for months. As Cruel as School Children was nothing like its predecessor; it sacrificed the beautiful and unadulterated electric guitar of songs like "Simple Living," the trademark of The Papercut Chronicles, for synthesizers, childish chants, and horribly annoying interludes. Perhaps the band was trying to imitate their breakout hit, "Cupid's Chokehold," or perhaps As Cruel as School Children was attempting to be a concept album, but whatever the case, only three or four songs were listenable.
With three songs now available from their upcoming release The Quilt, Gym Class Heroes sound like they've managed to separate themselves not only from their last album, but also their debut. Take the best parts of each album, a few new sounds, and compile what could be their best album to date.
The EP begins with "Cookie Jar" (featuring The Dream), a potential smash hit, which mixes The Dream's falsetto chorus with some of Travis McCoy's best lyrics to date. The song uses lines about being unable to resist cookies ("I wanna be faithful, but I can't keep my hands out the cookie jar" and "I'm still a cookie whore") as a metaphor for cheating, which I consider genius. The song is catchy and unique, lacking the immaturity of As Cruel as School Children, but more mainstream than anything found on The Papercut Chronicles. The next song, "Peace Sign/Index Down," featuring Busta Rhymes, is the first single from The Quilt, and it reminds me strongly of "The Queen And I" with its sense of humor and slight amount of anger.
Lastly, "Blinded by the Sun," which utilizes horns extremely well, switches the roles in "Cookie Jar," with McCoy now being the one who is getting cheated on. This song recalls early Gym Class Heroes the most out of the trio, which boosts it in my ratings, but it still can't reach the incessantly-catchy "Cookie Jar." Though the EP unfortunately maxes out at three songs (after all, it is a preview), I am now anticipating the upcoming full-length with much impatience. Gym Class Heroes does hip-hop better than almost any act out there, and they seem to have raised the bar even higher with their new work.
Fueled by Ramen bands, previous Gym Class Heroes material, hip-hop mixed with pop rock
myspace.com/gymclassheroes (http://www.myspace.com/gymclassheroes)