The production is amazing (recorded at the Blasting Room, so of course it sounds good), but the songs aren't really all that good. There are a few total winners, but the rest are weak versions of what their last few albums gave us. I just saw them live in Portland on Nov 8, 2008 and they were great live and pulled the songs together live. I guess the songs just don't feel as full of energy.

I would recommend checking out "Revolutions Per Minute," "Siren Song Of The Counter Culture" or "Sufferer & The Witness" before this record.

i also was able to get the free 7in which is awesome! great bootleg songs!

For the most part, this could have just been a collection of B-Sides from the Sufferer and the Witness. However, that's not true because Rise Against has been notorious for leaving some of their best material to B-Sides. I am looking forward to the slew of unreleased songs that are sure to surface like they did the year following he latter mentioned album.

As far as this album, there is nothing new from the band. Its pretty much everything you've heard in the last two major label releases from them. There are a few solid tracks: 1, 3, 9, 13, a few alright ones: 2, 11, 12, and the rest are forgettable. I think the only thing that makes this album standout from recent efforts is a return to introspective songwriting. The sad thing is that it worked better with Everlasting, and I wasn't much of a fan of that album. I listened to the album at least 20 times or more since I've had it, but i think that was because i was hoping to find something to love about it every time. However, I came up short each time. The fast tempo punk songs are limited and have been done better before. The opening songs are good and towards the middle, you just get bored because there is nothing to keep your attention.

The acoustic song is pretty ridiculous too. In the punk community, it hasn't been uncommon to find a song sympathizing with the unfortunate young soldier and Hero of War is just one more offer in an overcrowded mix of far better songs. My brother and I concluded that the reason they pissed in the guys hands is because he picked up a jellyfish. Its risky for a major label band to delve so strongly into the political frontier, but bands like Anti-Flag and Rise Against are bringing political minded songs back into the main stream. Most punks are well aware that there are more scathing and better political albums to check out, so this album will most likely be passed on by those in the underground.

One of the best things that can be said about the album is the 7" that comes with the pre-order has a cover of Minor Threat on the B-Side. While this song has been covered into the ground already, its an awesome track that is hard to fuck up.

I'm hoping that there will be some level of redemption to this album when it's played live. I'll be seeing them on 11/21 and I am actually very excited. Rise Against has a stellar live show that I can only imagine is made more amazing by playing in their hometown.