From the energetic opening chords to the final ringing note of "Michelle With One 'L,'" The Get Up Kids' Four Minute Mile achieves the true epitome of emo-rock perfection. To classify the lyrics as "heart-felt" or "emotional" would be a ridiculous understatement; you don't hear but feel the words in that place buried somewhere below the breastbone. This is due not only to incredibly deep and perfectly linked lyrics, but also to the incredible, powerful emotive character of Matthew Pryor's voice. Each member of the band delivers potent feeling through his respective instrument, the combination of which leads inevitably to great music. Though not all will admit it, in the three years since its release, this album has influenced a huge number of bands and quite significantly contributed to a large directional change in the developmental course of underground rock music.
A cloud hung over this amazing recording for those three years though, as vocals mixed too low bled into blurred guitars, and strategic leads were swallowed by the rhythm. Due to a top-notch remastering job by Emily Lazar, The Get Up Kids are finally "Coming Clean" (hee hee). The album, as a whole, sounds as though it has been run through the wash; each song independently benefits from the new sound in one way or another. The vocals are now much clearer, at times very notably so, and separated an appropriate amount from the instruments. Crisp lead guitars dance over rhythms, which now sound fuller, reducing the feel of sloppiness that was present on the original recording. The large problem of loudness levels, especially in the overbearing drums, has been completely flattened out, which leads to the slower songs, "Lowercase West Thomas" and "Michelle With One 'L,'" almost taking on a different form because they sound so much better.
I could not recommend this album any more highly. A record that was classic-not at four and a half stars, but already at five-has been made even better. All those that already possess the album may not want to run out and purchase it again as I did (I like to blow money on things I already have. I buy a new shower curtain every day. What's wrong with me?), but know that it now sounds like it should, and those who find that important will be pleased. If you don't have the album yet, make sure you567 get a remastered version tomorrow, because you have no choice but to succumb to my super-hero-like power of suggestion.
On a final, sad note, I don't know if I like the new packaging as much. It's a cardboard sleeve with a beautiful layout and new pictures, but I like booklets, dammit. There's no booklet, just lyrics printed on the inside of one cardboard panel and a Get Up Kid on the other.
