6. There Are Rules (2011)

There Are Rules is certainly the black sheep of The Get Up Kids’ discography, in part due to being the comeback album after a 9 year absence. Before the album, they first returned with an EP which already sounded different (for them), but most, myself included, didn’t expect the same sound to carry over to the full length. That was a wrong assumption. The album isn’t nearly as bad as it was initially received to be, in fact, I really enjoy a substantial part of it and even appreciate their new approach on it. The real problem of the album comes from the unrelenting sound production of the record as a whole. Due to the mix, there’s a constant ‘noise’ that tends to exhaust the ears before you can finish the record (around halfway through it gets annoying). That, mixed with putting the bass guitar very center in the mix just tends to get strenuous after too long. If you listen to each track individually though, it’s much easier to get an appreciate of the songs — just avoid a front to back listen.

Recommended Tracks: Shatter Your Lungs, Keith Case, & Pararelevant

5. On A Wire (2002)

This is likely the most to be the most subdued of their albums with On A Wire finding the band at their least urgent and most cheerful, although still writing songs full of thoughtful lyrics, the music doesn’t have that necessary push to really get the lyrics to find a home. Although I’m a bit disappointed by the album overall, it still features some excellent takeaways such as “Stay Gone” and “Overdue”, but at the end of the end day, the record still misses its mark as a whole — unless you prefer your music somewhat calmer and more folksy, which in that case, this might actually be the best TGUK record for you.

Recommended Tracks: Stay Gone, Walking on a Wire, & The Worst Idea

4. Problems (2019)

After The Get Up Kids’ longest break so far (8 years), they’re back with a return album that most fans should enjoy. Instead of taking a new direction on this album (like There Are Rules did), Problems embraces the sound that firmly established their fanbase in the first place. While it isn’t quite able to recreate the youthful angst of their first records, it does still do an admiral job of showing that the band can write some terrific songs without them coming across as feeling particularly aged or with malaise sneaking through.

Recommended Tracks: Satellite, The Problem Is Me, & Brakelines

3. Four Minute Mile (1997)

This is a lot of fan’s favourite of The Get Up Kids’ discography and it certainly finds the band at their most immature and vulnerable. That immaturity fuels passionate lyrics that are delivered in a style that helped establish their genre in the first place and thus also influenced several other bands to adopt a similar sound. What lowers the ranking of the record for me, is that while there’s several excellent songs, the weaker songs, partially due to production, really spring out significantly and shine out their flaws more so than on their later albums. It’s still undeniable that for a debut album, in a genre still not fully established, what they were able to pull off on this record is quite impressive.

Recommended Tracks: Don’t Hate Me, Coming Clean, & Michelle With One “L”

2. Guilt Show (2004)

A very complete album that stands tall by having virtually no weak moments throughout. The slick production and overall lyrical themes may leave the listener missing the youthfully appreciative missteps in direction that was found on their first albums, but I think this album does a good job of showing a band’s maturity without foregoing substance or feeling tired, instead embracing a sound that enhances their songwriting rather than mask a possible loss of inspiration. As a more casual fan of the band, I really appreciate this records lack of filler — with nearly every song having the potential to be the “standout” single.

Recommended Tracks: The One You Want, Sick In Her Skin, & How Long Is Too Long

1. Something To Write Home About (1999)

Although I’m not the hugest Get Up Kids fan overall, I gotta say, I do really love this record. In fact, if it wasn’t for this album, I’m fairly certain I never really would have given this band much attention at all. The lyrics are a perfect snapshot of the zeitgeist at the time, but at the same time appear to be ageless, poignant and full of a young romantic’s pain with the words themselves feeling like they’re sung more out of necessity rather than the need to fit a melody. This earnest writing also allows the tracks to be more relatable, giving the listener a chance to apply their own experiences to those clearly expressed via the vocals. I really feel like this record deserves all of the praise it gets.

Recommended Tracks: My Apology, Holiday, & Red Letter Day