Gym Class Heroes
As Cruel As School Children


3.5
great

Review

by cjwbball51 USER (7 Reviews)
July 14th, 2007 | 8 replies


Release Date: 2006 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Too rock for hip-hop, too hip-hop for rock.

I'm sure you've heard of this band, or at least heard their so-catchy-it's-annoying breakthrough hit "Cupid's Chokehold". But who really is the Gym Class Heroes? They're not a hip-hop band like Dem Franchise Boyz or any other "crunk" act doing their best to destroy rap. They don't flaunt their "bling", and they're signed to Pete Wentz's label, and tour with The All-American Rejects. Instead, they all play instruments, know how to lay down a funky-ass groove, and their lyrics are more heart-on-sleeve compared to the rest of hip-hop. Just look at their debut, The Papercut Chronicles, in which GCH gained a very nice following.

But this album is much different then their debut. After the very serious tone of their previous album, all they want to do now is have a good time. From "Clothes Off!", a funky, Prince-like track featuring Fall Out Boy's own Patrick Stump, to "Shoot Down The Stars", easily the most inspirational track, Travis's elastic and deep flow, pulls you in and forces you to listen. The guitarists in the band play with a 80's R&B sort of flow, and their playing is so good at times you think they're sampling. The "Sloppy Love Jingles" are sort of annoying, as they're too short and fragmented, and the lyrics are so overly heart-on-sleeve you wonder if they just pulled them out of Pete Wentz's never ending supply of angsty metaphors. "Biters Block" is the darkest track on the album, and it's sort of sour, like dark is something that GCH just shouldn't do. "Viva La Girl" and "7 Weeks" make up for these occasional missteps, with the latter featuring William Beckett from The Academy Is.

So while GCH takes over MTV, the world, and makes themselves a household name (not necessarily in that order), you get to enjoy one of the funkiest and most enjoyable hip-hop albums of the year. Now if GCH could make an entire album of funky and enjoyable tracks, then we can start saying how they made one of the BEST hip-hop albums of the year. Until then, pick this up and enjoy.



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user ratings (167)
3.2
good


Comments:Add a Comment 
Merkaba33
July 14th 2007


703 Comments


this is more like a soundoff. well i hate this band because no one even knows who supertramp is. (which is who they used to get popular.)

CushMG15
July 14th 2007


1810 Comments


I appreciate this band, very much. I love how a bunch of my friends talk about this band like they've discovered something new...but they have no idea.

Two-Headed Boy
July 15th 2007


4527 Comments


Ehh I could take 'em or leave 'em.

The Jungler
July 15th 2007


4826 Comments


[quote=merkaba33]this is more like a soundoff.[/quote]nah, it was a fine review, especially for a first.
I liked GCH's debut, but what I've heard off this hasn't been all that great.

emogangstascotty
July 13th 2008


472 Comments


they are an okay band, at least they have tried to add a new formula upon Hip Hop. but nothing too revolutionary

arsonist88
August 3rd 2008


230 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Theres always a band I'm indifferent towards when I go to Warped Tour who I leave liking a lot... and this year it was GCH, so I'm digging them a lot right now.

beans
September 21st 2008


2328 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

these guys are good, this album was pretty well done



still need to hear the new stuff though

joshuatree
Emeritus
September 21st 2008


3744 Comments


lol review



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