I Hate Myself
I Hate Myself 12” LP
No Idea
This is the second self-titled LP release from Gainesville’s I Hate Myself, the first being a one-sided 12.” This record is an improvement on the previous record, but still stays pretty close to the “emo” formula of whispered to screamed vocals over soft to hard arrangements. It’s a formula they are good at, however. I Hate Myself manage to rise above the sensitive hordes of soundalikes that clutter your seven inch collection. There’s a hilarious stab in the liner notes at bands that overstuff their records with insert after insert after insert for that “personal” feel. The layout of this record is very simple, I suppose in retaliation to the excess of other bands. I am always amazed at the sounds that some people can get out of their throats and the vocalist here possesses quite a howl. I like his perspective vocally as well. He puts a unique twist on the typical emo subject matter: pain, drowning, falling, etc. For some reason that I can’t really justify at all, I hear the Dead Milkmen (in a good way) in this. There’s a somewhat absurd bend to the lyrics that sets this apart from the crowd. So, if you’re into the emo thing, this is not bad. Go see them play sometime too. No Idea Records, P.O. Box 14636, Gainesville, FL 32604