Posted by telegraphrocks on 2007-12-24 19:36:34
My Score:

I take away my previous one-star comment, and have upped it to an "8".

Initially disappointing, but now I find myself liking this maybe a bit more than "Destroy To Create".

... it's a grower.

Posted by ThoughtriotAF578 on 2007-10-02 13:42:21
My Score:

Does this remind anyone else of Underground Network/Terror State Anti-Flag?

Posted by pricey123 on 2007-09-22 08:01:15
My Score:

i enjoyed this. better than i thought it would be

i agree with both punkengineer and chokingvictim

yeah the ska is mostly gone (but there are some pretty groovy elements in This Respirator that I absolutely love) but the album is still kickass in its own right.
Its true that most of Fat Wreck's bands sound the same. but the sound is so fucking great that it never gets old. I can listen to this blazing fast gritty punk rock forever.

KHDTR is song of the year hands down. It's 7 minutes long and i listen to the entire thing 5 times over without getting bored once

Posted by canucker on 2007-09-14 17:30:01
My Score:

Loving it. "This Respirator" is on repeat.

Posted by baseball on 2007-09-13 09:35:00
My Score:

they weren't half as good as the Suicide Machines so i'm glad they lost the ska

can't get these songs out of my head, improvement in my eyes....good work

Posted by booker_pee on 2007-09-08 04:46:10
My Score:

full points for the bodybreak! reference.

the album is pretty good too.

very perceptive first comment from GPM imo. i'm a massive SM fan and enjoy the whole crackrocksteady movement but there is def. room for more skacore and it's a shame the flatliners have left the roster, at least for the time being.

Posted by nocigar on 2007-09-06 01:42:25
My Score:

miss the ska, but am far from disappointed

couldn't have said it any better.

Posted by DummyNumbaOne on 2007-09-05 23:11:02
My Score:

At first I was dissappointed. Got over it, listened a few more times, then came to the conclusion that this is a solid punk-rock album.

Posted by cherrycolarain on 2007-09-05 22:21:29
My Score:

Hmmm, I enjoyed this release a lot! All the songs are written perfectly, have the right amount of punch and change of tempos at the most opportune moments, and it's far from being boring. Really, so far it's one of the best albums I've heard this year... My problem with the hornless ska was that no one was going to pull it off as good as The Suicide Machines, so I wasn't digging it too much. In any case, This album has an incredible amount of replay value.

I pre-ordered this on fat, but haven't gotten it yet...hmm i hope something didn't get screwed up.

miss the ska, but am far from disappointed

This is a good review. The Great Awake is a really good solid record. Nothing out of this world or incredibly original, but something totally infectious that I'm digging immensely. I'm excited to see them on Sunday.

I'm liking this, quite a bit actually. Keep up the good work guys.

Posted by XCARLUPANDDIEX on 2007-09-05 16:07:51
My Score:

why did fat wreck sign this band instead of better bands (bigwig, a wilhlelm scream, etc ) ?

Posted by chipsahoycookie on 2007-09-05 15:55:01
My Score:

nothing special. their debut was much better.

i dont like i as much as destroy to create but its still a solid album

..

Posted by Satansnuthair on 2007-09-05 09:15:26
My Score:

kick ass shit that is all

did anyone else's record stores not get this in?

i couldn't find it yesterday...but i also wasn't near my normal record stores that i'd usually get this from

Posted by Oldpunkerforever on 2007-09-05 07:51:33
My Score:

for the record, its me, oldpunker, had to change a few things to log back on, thanks punknews. now, this record for me was just a terrible letdown. makes me just appreciate how good the suicide machines were ( rip)-oldpunker-

"too bad they seem to be ditching their ska aspects. there aren't too many good hornless ska bands with Suicide Machines gone and Leftover Crack on the verge of breaking up every show."

haven't they been on the verge of breaking up for every single show they've ever played? im not worried. however, i am dissapointed in the lack of ska riffs on here too. its just not as in-your-face as Destroy To Create, I think.

did anyone else's record stores not get this in?

Posted by telegraphrocks on 2007-09-04 21:28:15
My Score:

Really, really, really disappointing.

I fucking loved "Destroy To Create", and this is nowhere near as fun as that album.

Only good songs: "Mother Teresa Chokeslams The World", and "This Respirator".

Posted by waytansea27 on 2007-09-04 17:21:06
My Score:

I actually love that they took out a lot of their ska elements. The ska was badass in the last record but half way through the album it was annoying, same with the speed the lyrics were sung. This album is put together and is paced better.

Obvioiusly, I prefer their more ska-styled songs, but this is pretty solid. I'd give it an 8, it's a solid addition to the Fat roster.

I think my disappointment/hate for this album comes from the demos. I heard them about a year ago and they were fantastic for demos.

Posted by Piata on 2007-09-04 11:34:19
My Score:

If they took what they did with this album and blended it with destroy to create's ska influence I'd love it. But this album seems like too much of a leap in a different direction rather than a natural progression.

maybe i just like this because i don't like destroy to create.

Posted by punkengineer on 2007-09-04 11:09:03
My Score:

I don't get all the hate for this album. Yes, Destroy to Create was an absolutely amazing album, but no one wants to hear the same crap being churned out over and over again. I thought this album was a pretty good progression for the band and who fucking cares if they sound like other Fat Wreck bands. Fat Mike knows what's good and goes for it. I'd rather listen to any of the new Fat signings over Hellcat and Epitaph anyday.

8/10 Great Awake
10/10 Destroy to Create

I liked how they could write long songs and keep them interesting and well-developed and it seems like ditching the ska removed something for them to add. The songs are less interesting.

Posted by jimbojones on 2007-09-04 05:53:32
My Score:

It's not bad, i miss the ska that destroy to create has, but i don't think i'm the only one that feels that way. It should grow on me. Good review too.

Posted by niveK82 on 2007-09-04 03:12:26
My Score:

Biggest disappointment of the year so far.

Really hoping this album is good, loved Destroy to create, but as said before, it will be different without ska touches

Posted by LetsTalkAboutFeelings on 2007-09-04 01:34:19
My Score:

Have given it a few listens, don't like the movement away from ska. I've already moved back to Destroy to Create. I hope it grows on me.

Posted by MikeStupid on 2007-09-04 01:07:29
My Score:

Good stuff, but Destroy To Create blows it out of the water.

Posted by chickswithdicks on 2007-09-04 00:45:25
My Score:

glad the ska is gone. album of the year so far, and i used to hate this band.

too bad they seem to be ditching their ska aspects. there aren't too many good hornless ska bands with Suicide Machines gone and Leftover Crack on the verge of breaking up every show.