if i keep screaming, you'll cave in.

Sometimes your musical tastes are based on chance. During my mid-high school years I grew into a habit of walking through Best Buy and buying CDs based solely on their artwork and ability to peak my interest. I'd be lying if I told you that it was anything other than superficiality and book-by-its-covering that turned me on to Kid Koala, Gomez, and Her Space Holiday, to name a few. These are albums that I still find incredible. Another just such band begged me to buy their CD by putting cartoon robots on the cover and naming one of their songs after a Pee Wee's Big Adventure quote. The Get Up Kids released several albums before calling it quits in the summer of 2005. Their climax was with Something To Write Home About, the somewhat emo, somewhat punk, mainly pop opus of guitars (both electric and acoustic), keyboards, and Matthew Pryor's lyrics and voice. It's not for everyone, specifically if you're indie-or-bust, but it did a lot for me, and evolved with me with On A Wire, which turned the volume down, and acted as the musical bridge between The Get Up Kids and Matthew Pryor's solo side project The New Amsterdams. Oh, and let's forget that Guilt Show ever happened.
May The Get Up Kids rest in peace.
Matthew Pryor has that much more time now to focus on his solo work, of which I am certainly a fan. As The New Amsterdams, Pryor plays stripped down songs of a pop nature. They are obvious and hide very little, but it's the honesty and straightforwardness that are somewhat refreshing and palette-cleansing. The New Ams released three full lengths during The Get Up Kids' duration, and shelved one during the end of TGUK's reign. This is actually an interesting story. This album would have been Killed or Cured. But it was instead chopped down to a five song EP and released online for free. Pryor has recently released a proper fourth LP, Story Like a Scar, which I quite enjoy.
Maybe you feel like you've grown out of this sound. If you contend that you're too old for it, I respect your decision and advise that you not spend time with Pryor's other solo project, The Terrible Two's. This is an alter ego of The New Ams and consists of songs written for Pryor's children. The first collection of songs is If You Ever See An Owl... and it's been finished and seeking a label and distribution since last fall. Children's music speaks to us, it's true. That See You On The Moon compilation still makes me smile, and The Terrible Two's are good clean fun. Go ahead. Bounce around. And do so while coloring some owls.
I'm presenting to you the entire depression-inspired Killed or Cured EP, and two selections from both Story Like A Scar and If You Ever See An Owl... to progress in both chronological and emotional order. There are more Terrible Two's songs on MySpace, including "Pizza And Chocolate Milk." Mmm.



The New Amsterdams' Killed Or Cured EP:
"Wears So Thin"
"Watch The World Cave In"
"Heaven Sent"
"Drinking In The Afternoon"
"Strangled By The Thought"
BONUS: "Dear Lover"
(artwork)

The New Amsterdams' "Turn Out The Light"
& "Beautiful Mistake"
from Story Like A Scar

The Terrible Twos' "When I Get To Eleven"
& "Caroline"
from If You Ever See An Owl...