Forget What You Know cover

Forget What You Know

Midtown · 2004

52 min · 15 tracks · punk rock

A frenetic blend of pop-punk melodies and introspective lyrics layered over driving guitar riffs and dynamic rhythms.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Give It Up — This track exemplifies the album's catchy hooks and emotional urgency, encapsulating the struggle of letting go amidst chaotic life circumstances.
  • →
    Until It Kills — With its introspective lyrics and powerful instrumentation, this song highlights the band's ability to blend vulnerability with anthemic energy, making it a standout moment on the album.
  • →
    Hey Baby, Don't You Know That We're All Whores — This provocative title and the track’s biting commentary on modern relationships showcase Midtown's knack for combining humor with poignant social critique.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100
Foothills
Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong songwriting with energetic performances but lacks cohesion in its pacing.

What we noticed

  • The first half of the album features high-energy tracks with fast tempos and aggressive guitar riffs, while the second half shifts to more introspective themes and slower tempos.
  • Several songs employ a call-and-response vocal style, creating a dynamic interplay between band members.
  • The lyrics often explore personal and existential themes, contrasting the upbeat musical arrangements.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
6/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • frantic energy for short bursts
  • cathartic release through intensity
  • sing-along moments with friends
  • reflective lyrics amid driving rhythms
  • late-night introspection with urgency

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer slow, gradual builds
  • seek long, immersive experiences

Where this album fits

Career context
By the time 'Forget What You Know' was released in 2004, Midtown was navigating the transition from their earlier work to a more refined sound. This album followed their 2002 release, 'Living Well Is the Best Revenge', marking a phase of maturation in their songwriting as they sought to capture more complex themes while maintaining their energetic punk roots.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Armageddon. 0:45
  • 2 To Our Savior 2:47
  • 3 Give It Up 3:39
  • 4 Is It Me? Is It True? 3:08
  • 5 God Is Dead 1:04
  • 6 Whole New World 3:38
  • 7 Empty Like the Ocean 4:27
  • 8 Nothing Is Ever What It Seems 3:37
  • 9 The Tragedy of the Human Condition 1:09
  • 10 Waiting for the News 2:59
  • 11 Until It Kills 3:51
  • 12 Hey Baby, Don't You Know That We're All Whores 2:37
  • 13 Help Me Sleep 3:04
  • 14 Manhattan 2:39
  • 15 So Long as We Keep Our Bodies Numb We're Safe 13:13

What to play next

We’re Too Old To Write New Songs, So Here’s Some Old Songs We Didn’t Write
Listen next

We’re Too Old To Write New Songs, So Here’s Some Old Songs We Didn’t Write

2023
Living Well Is the Best Revenge
Go back to

Living Well Is the Best Revenge

2002
Full Midtown discography Artists like Midtown
pop-punk

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata