The Get Up Kids are back with new record There Are Rules, but for a band that has long been touting ‘kids’ in their name, this is a testament that they’ve grown up. Lyrical themes focus on experiences and the wisdom that comes with age and reflection. Now, this is still the Get Up Kids fans first fell in love with, especially when listening to the frequent driving drum beats over fuzzy guitars and characteristic vocals, but these battered music veterans have a new perspective. 
There Are Rules is the band’s fifth studio album, and the first lp since 2004′s Guilt Show and the much bemoaned hiatus/break-up. With There Are Rules, the band returned to longtime producer Ed Rose and Bob Weston, who produced their 4 Minute Mile debut fifteen years ago. After some label struggles in the past, the band worked to put this record out on their own Quality Hill Records.
As previously mentioned, wisdom from experience is a prevalent theme on this album. And with that theme come some other motifs such as lies and feelings of doubt and betrayal. While others albums might have focused more on relationships and surroundings, this album is more reflective on past interactions and their repercussions on the future. Several of the songs seem to specifically focus on the band’s break-up and the events that brought that about. On “When It Dies,” Matt Pryor sings “Let it go, when it dies,” which is basically like saying don’t drag something out when it isn’t working – part of the reason for the band’s absence for the last five years. Then on “Rememorable,” Pryor sings, “Look how far we’ve come and you’ll send us 10 steps off.” The plural subjects makes it pretty obvious that this isn’t a song about the group of the guys getting discouraged over time. But the reflective narration fights to the end of the song on a wave of fuzzy guitar riffs before entering a prose that could be a self-conversation or a conversation to fans or peers. “Wish this was over,” and then the narrator seems to retort a “no”: “We’re in it for the long haul.” Yet another response, “Why don’t you go away?” The challenging struggle to keep making music even when support isn’t always apparent? That’s just one of many possible interpretations.
Aside from the lyrical theme being a major change for the band, the other thing that stands out is James Dewees has really stepped into his role in this band. The fuzzy guitars and heavy reverb were always common for this band, but the synths are more apparent on this album than Guilt Show. The opening track “Tithe” could have easily worked as a Reggie and the Full Effect tune.
If you listen to any song off the album, it should be “Rally ‘Round the Fool.” This is the one that you won’t be able to get out after your head long after you hit the stop button on whatever device you’re using for listening. This song is so great not just because it is catchy, but because it seems to be a culmination point – a rally point, if you will – for the album’s themes. Remember that the theme about wisdom that comes with age and experience? Yep, that’s here in full force as Pryor’s voice darkly sings, “Rally ’round the fool, we all fall.” There’s lots of ways to envision that line. In a more metaphorical interpretation, I picture the innocent children’s game of Ring-around-the-Rosie. Now picture it if it weren’t so innocent. Like maybe the kid’s are playing it on a volcano’s edge. There’s a danger there that is only present to those watching, while the kids playing are completely blind to it. It’s a lot like life. You can be drawn into something blindly and see no harm, but it could lead to your downfall. This reflection could be carried over into different parts of the band’s career, and now with the wisdom of experience, they recognize the various fools. “It’s all over,” Pryor repeats at the end over a galloping rhythm guitar and a wailing bass drum. Not only is it great to listen to on recording, but it will undoubtably be the ace in the pocket for their live show.
Now, there are bound to be some haters – you know, those people who cling to a band’s first release and consider everything else crap – but give this record a chance. There’s a surprising amount of diversity on it (“Shatter Your Lungs” was a bit of an instrumental surprise” and “Automatic” felt like something off a John Hughes soundtrack), so no matter when you got into the band, you’re bound to find something you like.
Whatever people say though, this reviewer is glad that the Get Up Kids are back.
Track Listing:
1. Tithe
2. Regent’s Court
3. Shatter Your Lungs
4. Automatic
5. Pararelevant
6. Rally ‘Round the Fool
7. Better Lie
8. Keith Case
9. The Widow Paris
10. Birmingham
11. When It Dies
12. Rememorable
