一组很难让你介定乐种区块的乐团，他们的青春活力感染每位聆听者的心。他们很嘻哈/饶舌，却没有黑帮硬派声韵，以摇滚编制加入大量真实乐器配衬；他们很摇滚，却不如Nu-Metal般狂哮撞击，以轻鬆自在的放克或庞克律动取代。有趣的团名，好听的曲调，Gym Class Heroes企图吸引广泛音乐各界的朋友注意力。 ★2006年发行的专辑《As Cruel As School Children》 ★送上一张绝对欢乐满分作品，都挤入英美两地2007年终榜之中，全部都是金唱片销售认证 ★Gym Class Heroes的纯真可爱以及天马行空的音乐想像，架构出轻鬆无压的音符配置，会让你上瘾般想一听再听 Implementing live instruments instead of looped samples or beats -- and helmed by the quick tongue of MCTravis McCoy-- there's really no denying the enjoyable affair that is Gym Class Heroes' As Cruel as School Children. Launching with the booty-shaking "The Queen and I," the Heroes prove straightaway that they've got enough confidence, catchy rhythms, and sense of melody amid all their tight grooves and emo hipster instincts to keep things moving right along. Being a hip-hop outfit largely residing in the world of the Warped Tour, it somehow makes sense that Arrested Development'sSpeech makes an appearance ("Biters Block") alongside guys like William Beckett from the Academy Is...("7 Weeks") and Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump(on the eccentric "Clothes Off!"). But while this combination of influences largely works to Gym Class Heroes' musical advantage and overall appeal, there's still something that makes their music seem not quite like a novelty and more like a fleeting pleasure. How long can a song based on My space relationships ("New Friend Request") really last before lines like "My man Tom introduced us but I was too shy to say hi" or "I never see my face in your Top 8" become more annoying than witty? And even if hitting topics like the life of a touring band and calling out fake, trendy music is relevant, by now it just seems more a cliché. The band's sincerity isn't in question and Gym Class Heroes are a talented crew. But ultimately, it's this standard spring of inspiration that keeps As Cruel as School Children from being much else than a perfect hangout record for summer 2006.