So I was skeptical about a new GUK record in 2019. As I previously stated, Four Min Mile and Something to Write Home about (and Woodson of course) are all time favorites of mine. I was young when I first heard them 23 plus years ago, but I still enjoy them to this day. I can confidently say that Problems beyond exceeded my expecations, and after several repeated listens, stands as one of the best in their entire catalog. Somehow they managed to re-capture the magic from their 90s era sound, not too different from the emo-punk anthems found on Something to Write Home About but with more versatility and maturity. This album could have been the natural progression from Something to Write Home About had it come out in 2001. Huge hooks, sing along anthems, full of emotion and energy, it reminds me of everything I loved about this band when I first heard them. I hear a lot of Superchunk influence, some Replacements, and lots of classic Get Up Kids. Both Matt and Jim's songs on this release deserve your full attention. Holy shit, what an unexpected return to form and to their roots. Old school fans are going to love this album, and I wouldn't be surprised if they picked up a bunch of new fans discovering them for the first time. Can't wait to catch them on tour and sing along to all these new and old classic jams! Welcome back guys, and hoping this is not the last we hear from you!
By Jason Gordon
Skeptical but definitely intrigued....
As a big fan of the Get Up Kids in the mid 90s, the band has never truly been able to re-capture the energy, rawness or sing along anthems of their earlier records, specifically Something to Write Home About and Four Minute Mile, which were all time favorites. Although I have come to like some of their mid and later period discography (Guilt Show and On A Wire) which were a huge departure from their emo/punk roots, I wasn't too keen on their last album There Are Rules. The new single, however, has the energy and instant accessibility I recall from some of their earlier material (especially when the chorus hits), so I'm certainly interested to see how this full length plays out. Will definitely check it out when it drops and glad to see these boys are still rockin!
By Jason Gordon
Excited, but not over the top
I'm personally really excited for this record, as they've seemingly done well with their follow-ups. I still think their best was "Something to Write Home About," but "Guilt Show" is really a close second. Either way, pumped on these guys still doing it.
By Andrew Martin
Last year, ’90s golden era emo heroes the Get Up Kids returned with the Kicker EP, their first new music in seven years. And today, they’ve announced a new album called Problems, their first full-length since 2011’s There Are Rules. They recorded the LP with the Grammy Award-winning Kurt Vile/the National producer Peter Katis, and today, they’re sharing a music video for its anthemic lead single “Satellite.”
