This Is a Stick Up... Don't Make It a Murder cover

Released 20 years ago

This Is a Stick Up... Don't Make It a Murder

Hit the Lights · 2006

47 min · 12 tracks · punk rock

A high-energy mix of catchy hooks and raw punk energy that captures the essence of early 2000s pop-punk.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    These Backs Are Made for Stabbing — This track exemplifies the album's punchy spirit with its infectious chorus and sharp lyrics that critique relationships within a punk framework.
  • →
    Sincerely Yours — With heartfelt lyrics and a melodic hook, this song showcases the band's ability to blend emotional depth with energetic instrumentation.
  • →
    It's All the Rage — This track captures the urgency of youth culture and rebellion, making it an anthem for listeners navigating their own identities.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

46 /100
Foothills
Higher than 10% of albums we've rated

The album captures early pop-punk energy with catchy hooks but lacks standout depth in songwriting.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a high-energy tone, and the tempo remains consistently upbeat through the first half.
  • Several tracks feature dual vocal lines, allowing for call-and-response dynamics that enhance the punk energy.
  • The last three tracks slow down slightly in tempo, creating a contrast that allows for a more reflective moment before concluding.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
5/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

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

  • energetic bursts for road trips
  • catchy sing-alongs with friends
  • short tracks for quick listens
  • youthful rebellion and exuberance

Maybe skip if you

  • slow, contemplative listening preferences
  • long-form pieces without breaks

Where this album fits

Career context
This Is a Stick Up... Don't Make It a Murder is Hit the Lights' debut full-length album, released in 2006 after their earlier EPs. At this point, the band was establishing their sound and carving out a niche within the pop-punk scene, following their 2005 EP, which garnered attention and set the stage for this release.
New to Hit the Lights? Find your way in →

Tracklist

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

  • 1 The Call Out (You Are the Dishes) 2:53
  • 2 These Backs Are Made for Stabbing 3:48
  • 3 Three Oh Nine 2:58
  • 4 Bodybag 3:09
  • 5 Talk Us Down 3:09
  • 6 Save Your Breath 2:38
  • 7 Sincerely Yours 3:15
  • 8 One Hundred Times 3:41
  • 9 It's All the Rage 2:53
  • 10 Speaker's Blown 3:35
  • 11 Until We Get Caught 2:50
  • 12 Make a Run for It / Her Eyes Say Yes, but the Restraining Order Says No 12:25

What to play next

Skip School, Start Fights
Listen next

Skip School, Start Fights

2008
Until We Get Caught
Go back to

Until We Get Caught

2005
Full Hit the Lights discography Where to start with Hit the Lights Artists like Hit the Lights

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata