FLASHBACK: ‘We’re The Good Guys’ By Saving Aimee

BY MARYANNE SPUCYS

Welcome to this week of reviewing an album no-one cares about because this one comes from the deep crevices of a subset of my music collection that I categorise into: things I spent too much time trying to find.

The kind of local stuff that were in the emo scene circles but were decidedly not emo.

This album is pop-rock made by a bunch of adults that were probably going through a phase, because they all had the quintessential (terrible) haircuts of the emo 2010 times. I mean, fashion didn’t exist in 2010. I remember frosted tips that should have NEVER happened (thankfully not my own). 

Frankly, it’s a miracle that I can even remember this album, because I went through so many hard drive failures growing up. I was finding it hard to unearth some extremely cringe stuff I know existed. But, in hindsight, I’m really thankful for those failures, some things from 2008 to 2010 shouldn’t be unearthed ever again.

Cheers to the person who uploaded this rare album onto YouTube; I wish I was the one who could take credit for that service.

‘Intro’

This song is funny on so many levels. Technically the intro, but it reminds me of primary school sports carnivals cheers and it’s hilarious. And for that I can’t hate it, because I like anything that is remotely funny.

‘Honesty is the Policy’

Great track name, but I am honestly trying to figure out why I liked this band so much.

‘We’re the Good Guys’

This is worthy of being the title track. I was so obsessed with this song and video back in the day. I put electrical tape on my face on a day out with friends because I had no personality of my own and based myself on everything I like (I still don’t have a personality, because I am still an offshoot of everything I consume). Wow, who knew power-pop would make me have an existential crises. Funny, because the whole first verse emulates this feeling. Do yourself a favour and read the lyrics on genius. It ends with the beauty “(Tom Collins shreds bass)”. I think all lyrics should have the bass solos footnoted in. 

Fresh Since ‘88

I always joke about how the 80s is just seediness and coke as if it isn’t my favourite decade that I did not live through. I have no reason to love this stupid decade so much but it’s because the 80s is my brand of cheese (and stupid fashion). I am here for the cheese, and this song is still fantastic – as the lyric goes: “it went straight through the heart”.

There is a comment on this video that says, “Is this Van Halen?” which explains all you need to know about this song, band, and the sub-set of music they sit in.

Level on Up

This is the most pop-punk song on the album, and I remember nothing of it. Makes sense, I was here for the glam-rock nostalgia.

Boredom

I am positive this song was formerly known as ‘Boredom often Leads to Depression’ and I remember loving the title as a young’n. But that’s all I’ve got from this.

This song means nothing to me now.

High 5s

It’s called High 5s, I have to like it, otherwise everything I am and was is a lie. Advice: don’t make a song called High 5s. Disappointed.

VIP

Back to those cheesy synth lines. I was going to dub this as average, but after hearing the chorus for the third time I feel it ear-worming into my brain. I can feel myself singing it for no reason other than it got stuck in my head.

Small Talk

This song I remember. I loved this song. I still love it. I shouldn’t like it but welcome to being a product of this weird fever dream of a time period, where everything was a melting pot and no one knew what was going on (as it is for every teenager, ever). The bridge at 2:10 is the best thing about this song.

Down for the Count

This is just everything I love about cheesy synth-pop/metal.

Hold On

Ok, I didn’t know there was an even cheesier, power-synth song on this album. I’m glad it ended like this because for the most part; forgettable. Solid for a one and only I am sad I never got to see what they could have evolved into.

The real kicker is that the album is produced by Justin Hawkins. If you aren’t familiar, Justin Hawkins is not arguably, the sexiest man alive. The sexiest man alive is part of the band The Darkness. And if you still aren’t familiar, they did quite literally one of the greatest songs and videos ever made ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’. Yes, I went through a retro/hair-metal phase. And the only reason I went through that phase is because hair-metal is so over the top hilarious it feels like a piss-take and if I translate it as a piss-take, I am sold. Plus, the good vibes.

The takeout:

If you ever need to flex to your future children a weird hard to find relic of a band from back in the day, show them Saving Aimee. AND listen to The Darkness. The only cheese-metal you need. Yes, cheese-metal is now a genre.