The Chronicles of Life and Death (Life Version)

by

Good Charlotte

Edit

I just scanned through the reviews posted for both versions of this CD. Such passionate opinions of love or hate! These boys MUST be doing something right to evoke such response! I posted a review on the Death Version CD 10/04 (Spread your Wings) but I felt the need to expound on Life Version posts. I believe I can clarify a few things with some absolute statements along with opinion, but first, I would like to say, good grief, educate yourself before reviewing an artist.

1. The first track was written to be recorded in Japanese. A Japanese choir recorded it. GOOD CHARLOTTE DID NOT SING OR PLAY ON THIS TRACK.

2. Everyone has a right to opinion. (If you do not like the music, that is ok. If you do not 'get' the music, that is ok. If you DO like an artists' music, that is ok too. No one has to defend his or her personal taste in music.)

3. With some artists, if you do not understand the people behind the music/lyrics, sometimes you can't understand the music/lyrics. GC is such a band. GC founders and lyric writers Benji and Joel Madden are influenced by family traumas, spirituality, and often make social commentary in lyrics.

4. Sometimes lyrics are spiritual reference, tongue in cheek, allegory, metaphors, or plain out sarcasm, folks. Yes, Good Charlotte is quite well aware they wrote a political commentary called "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," and that they ARE now the rich and famous. The irony is not lost on them. Listen to the lyrics of I Just Wanna Live.

5. Questionable taste and judgment by a band member in dating underage girls (Hilary Duff) has nothing to do with the CD.

6. Fashion choices, piercings, and tattoos have nothing to do with the CD.

7. These young men are smart, business oriented, and ambitious. Of course, they are going to market their merchandise. They have an artistic bend and pursue their muses, but their art is their career. This is their JOB. (Do you not work to make money?)

8. These young men sought fame and fortune. It was a GOAL. Of course, they are going to appear 'on the video, or the radio, in the magazines, on the movie screens.' (What does the latest special appearance have to do with the content of the CD one is supposed to be reviewing?)

9. Punk, Rock, or Pop? (Who cares? The music industry labels bands, and the punk label was an up and coming hot commodity when this band hit the scenes.) GC built its fan base not on MTV, but by blood and sweat touring quite a few years ago. Many bands they toured with were labeled punk. Their fan base got them on MTV. GC is influenced heavily by many facets and genres including punk and hip hop. (Today's modern 'punk' genre is pretty much a joke all around to anyone that actually knows the history of punk music. I find it funny that bands that a few years ago fell under the alternative label are now called 'punk.' Eschew labels, folks.)

10. There are better bands than GC. There are worst bands than GC.

11. A CD review should not be written based on the fact that you think a band member is a hottie.

12. A CD review should not be written based on the fact that you can't understand why the girls in your English class think a band member is hot.

13. Comments such as "Good Charlotte is gay" is not a review.

14. To find a hidden track on a CD: After the last labeled/numbered track plays, let the 'dead air' play. The hidden track will eventually play. You cannot skip to hidden tracks as they are not programmed by a number. You must play through the dead air. The only short cut is to memorize the run time of dead air between the last numbered track and when the hidden track begins. Then you can fast forward to right before the hidden track begins. If you own other GC CD's, employ the same method to find the hidden tracks on those CD's also.

You may ask what right do I have to make such definitive statements and opinions?

1. I am not a moron that bases my opinion of a band's MUSIC and LYRICS on anything other than their MUSIC and LYRICS.

2. I respect others right to taste in music. I can respect the right but not agree with their taste.

3. I take the time to educate myself before offering an opinion on something I do not comprehend.

4. I have eclectic taste in music, and an open mind to sample all varieties. If I do not like it, I do not listen to it again. I do not go online and post ignorant and/or hate filled reviews.

5. I, too, have a right to express my opinion.

Darn ran out of room. OK, so there's two versions of the record and the only difference is one different bonus track on each one? What kind of sick corporate money-grubbing chart-hungry ruse is this?! Your gonna make the kids buy this record twice, so they can have two different bonus tracks? How dare you con the public like that?! If you truly cared about your fans you wouldn't dupe such tender young minds like that. I realize that you have tattoos and piercings and that makes you look "punk" but that's about it. You've done the most un-punk thing ever...insulted your fans' intelligence. Now the music. I guess it's OK for young kids who like guitars and melody. It's not too horrible. The kids are alright and are on the right track and I commend them for it. Eventually Good Charlotte, they will find a better way and the suits will lead you astray into bargain bin depression. So to you guys who bought this record (God forbid you forced your hard-working parents into buying both) because these corporate monkey-puppets brainwashed you into doing it, I say you leave them behind. They don't care about you or your feelings. They don't have any insight into your inner psyche or the human condition. These guys are transparent, have no substance and are the musical equivalent to the chocolate chip pop-tart you ate running out to your school bus. Delicious and sweet but two hours later, you hunger for something with some sustanence. When they sign an autograph for you, they see only dollar signs in your happy eyes. Why else would they release the same record twice? How much was the ticket to the show? Was it a bargain? Did they do anything else but play the songs with some fancy lights on them and say "We love you guys!" "We have the best fans ever!"? Probably not. They were trained to say that to you anyway. You see, Jennifer or Josh, there's this thing called the marketing machine and you are the bulls-eye in their sights. You are buying into the Heart of Darkness and Kurt, he's dead. It's a sad band, founded upon nothing, representing nothing and giving nothing back to you except a piece of plastic with some carefully phrased target-researched emotional lyrics to make you think these guys are the real deal. Now I don't know these guys and maybe they are cool but I get the feeling they are tools and have no real interest in making something of some considerable musical power. There are in it to win it and sister you're the grand prize.