Good Riddance

A Comprehensive Guide to Moderne Rebellion (Fat Wreck Chords)
by Valerie Lambert

A Comprehensive Guide to Moderne Rebellion totally caught me by surprise. Let me just say that either Good Riddance has suddenly gotten a helluva lot better, or I was just totally blind (well, deaf) last year. All of these songs just plain rock. Good Riddance play melodic hardcore, much like Avail. Their weakest songs are the ones, like “Trophy,” where they slip up and fall into straight-up in-your-face hardcore, a bad move for them because their talent lies in their melodies. And speaking of melodies, one of the best songs on the album is “A Credit to His Gender,” which features Cinder Block (Tilt) on vocals. I hate calling punk songs pretty, but sometimes Good Riddance comes close with their melodies, and that song is a perfect example. It’s their lyrics, though, that make Good Riddance’s songs. There’s nothing worse than hearing a GREAT song, only to open up the CD booklet and be disappointed by insipid lyrics. Good Riddance’s lyrics actually MEAN something. That’s important. Really, you can’t go wrong with this album. I’ll even forgive them for sounding just like NOFX (but then again, what punk band doesn’t every now and then??) on “Favorite Son.” Pick up this album, kids, you won’t be sorry.