Out Of The Vaults #9 - Gaunt - Yeah, Me Too

Each week or so I will ask my wife to dive deep into our CD cabinets and pull out one of the thousands of  CDs at random. The chosen album will then be given to me and I will  reflect on the disc for awhile in this blog no matter how good, bad, obscure or embarrassing the chosen disc is. Where did I buy it, how old was I,what was my first reaction to hearing the album, do I still listen to it today and anywhere else my stream of conscious takes me in regards to the "Out Of The Vaults" weekly pick.

Out Of The Vaults #9 - Gaunt - Yeah, Me Too


One of the things Columbus, Ohio's Gaunt is know for is they were the other band on the legendary Dapanaik Records split 7" with the more well known New Bomb Turks. Before lead singer Jerry Wick's life was tragically cut short, Gaunt did record five solid albums. The last album, Bricks and Blackouts, was even released on the major label Warner Brothers. This album, Yeah Me Too, released in 1995 on Amphetamine Reptile Records, fell right in the middle.

Gaunt wasn't a band made for listening to while relaxing around the house. This was a band made to be listened to while driving. Whether it be a long interstate drive or just a trip across town, Yeah Me Too will be your perfect soundtrack.

Turning the key in the ignition, the brief instrumental title track plays as the car warms up. The car goes into drive as "Now" kicks in, the hooks take control and you are off. The urgency and drive of  "Justine", "Insangel", "Hit The Ground" and "Richard Generation" keep you moving as you merge onto the highway. By the time the album reaches the super fast "Just Leave" cruise control has been put on as you continue to speed along. To quote Charlie Ryan's "Hot Rod Lincoln" (also done by my favorite band ALL), "The lines on the road just look like dots".

"Breaking Down" plays as you swerve between freshly placed cones marking a highway construction zone. Seeing your exit sign in sight, "Frank Stein" gives you one last chance to press down on the gas pedal before you make your way off the highway.

The slow album closer "Give Up" plays as you pull into you destination and get ready to  the car. The great thing is pretty soon you will have to make the trip home. It's the perfect chance to try out one of Gaunt's other awesome albums.

The two songs in this video, "Mixed Metals" and "Pop Song" are actually on their Bricks and Blackouts album recorded live on the short live HBO2 show Reverb. I couldn't find a decent recording of any of the Yeah Me Too songs but they are available on iTunes. Go check them out!