Editing Something to Write Home About

{{For|the Craig Morgan song|Something to Write Home About (song)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Something to Write Home About
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[the Get Up Kids]]
| cover      = TheGet-UpKidsSomethingtoWriteHomeAbout.jpg
| alt        = A painting of two robots sat down, one of which is leaning into the other
| released   = September 28, 1999
| recorded   = June–July 1999
| studio     = Mad Hatter, [[Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California|Silverlake, California]]
| genre      = {{hlist|[[Emo]]|[[pop-punk]]}}
| length     = 45:26
| label      = [[Vagrant Records|Vagrant]], Heroes & Villains
| producer   = {{hlist|The Get Up Kids|[[Chad Blinman]]|Alex Brahl}}
| prev_title = [[Red Letter Day (EP)|Red Letter Day]]
| prev_year  = 1999
| next_title = [[The Get Up Kids / The Anniversary|Central Standard Time/Vasil + Bluey]]
| next_year  = 1999
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Something to Write Home About
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Action & Action]]
 | single1date = March 24, 2000
}}
}}

'''''Something to Write Home About''''' is the second studio album by American [[emo music|emo]] band [[the Get Up Kids]], released on September 28, 1999, through [[Vagrant Records]] and the band's own label Heroes & Villains Records. Following the promotional tours for their debut album ''[[Four Minute Mile]]'' (1997), the band were in discussion with [[Mojo Records]]. During this period, [[James Dewees]] joined as the band's keyboardist. As negotiations with the label eventually stalled, they eventually went with Vagrant Records. They recorded their next album at Mad Hatter Studios in [[Silver Lake, Los Angeles]], California, co-producing it with [[Chad Blinman]] and Alex Brahl. Described as an [[emo]] album, ''Something to Write Home About'' expands on the harder edge of its predecessor, with frontman [[Matt Pryor (musician)|Matt Pryor]] citing the works of the [[Foo Fighters]], [[Jimmy Eat World]] and [[Wilco]] as influences.

''Something to Write Home About'' received generally favourable reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]], with many praising the songwriting. The album was a commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies, and peaking at number 31 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Top Heatseekers|Heatseekers Albums]] chart in the United States. The band promoted it with a European tour and a US tour with [[At the Drive-In]] until the end of 1999. "[[Action & Action]]" was released as the [[lead single]] from the album. Later that year, the band toured across Australia, Japan, Europe, ending with a headlining US tour; in early 2001 they supported [[Green Day]] and [[Weezer]].

The success of ''Something to Write Home About'' made Vagrant Records one of the major players in the fledgling [[emo]] scene, attracting bands like [[Dashboard Confessional]], [[Saves the Day]], and [[Alkaline Trio]] to sign with the label. It is often cited as one of the best albums of the second-wave movement of emo, and is cited as an influence on third wave acts like [[Coheed & Cambria]]. Publications such as ''[[Kerrang!]]'', ''[[LA Weekly]]'' and ''[[NME]]'', among others, have included the album on best-of lists for the emo and pop-punk genres. It was re-released as a CD and DVD set in 2008, and has been re-pressed on vinyl in 2015 and 2016; the 2015 version charted at number 16 on the ''Billboard'' [[Vinyl Albums]] chart.

==Background and writing==
With the release of the ''[[Woodson (EP)|Woodson]]'' EP in 1997, the Get Up Kids signed a two-album [[recording contract]] with independent label [[Doghouse Records]].<ref>Shea 2009, event occurs at 2:48–55</ref> In June 1997, the group went on a tour of the United States, on which they became friends with [[Coalesce (band)|Coalesce]].<ref name="TGUKhistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.thegetupkids.net/history.html|title=History|publisher=[[The Get Up Kids]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991128014925/http://www.thegetupkids.net/history.html|archive-date=November 28, 1999|access-date=February 13, 2019}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, their drummer, [[James Dewees]], moved in with the bassist [[Rob Pope]] and his brother, drummer [[Ryan Pope]]. When the Get Up Kids went on tour, Dewees would look after the apartment.<ref>Shea 2009, event occurs at 1:19:03–4, 1:19:31–5</ref> The group released their debut album, ''[[Four Minute Mile]],'' in September 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/four-minute-mile-mw0000261996|title=Four Minute Mile - The Get Up Kids {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|author=Butler, Blake|access-date=February 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215215907/https://www.allmusic.com/album/four-minute-mile-mw0000261996|archive-date=February 15, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> It was supported by American and European tours between September 1997 and May 1998. The group then went on a break and spent the next few months writing material for their next record.<ref name=TGUKhistory/> Their next album, ''Four Minute Mile,'' sold over 40,000 copies, which attracted attention from various labels.<ref name="LawrenceWrite">{{cite web|url=http://www.lawrence.com/news/2000/dec/28/something_to/|title=Something to write home about|author=Harkness, Geoff|date=December 28, 2000|work=Lawrence|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810191720/http://www.lawrence.com/news/2000/dec/28/something_to/|archive-date=August 10, 2016|access-date=February 24, 2019|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The band, who wanted to leave Doghouse, began discussions with other labels, such as [[Geffen Records|Geffen]], [[Vagrant Records|Vagrant]] and [[Mojo Records]].<ref>Shea 2009, event occurs at 1:26:40–47, 1:28:10–2, 1:28:14–5</ref> Starting from December 1998, the group wrote a batch of new material as they were waiting for their deal with Mojo Records to be finalized.<ref name=TGUKhistory/> The Pope brothers' apartment had a piano that Dewees would often play; while the group were practising a song at the apartment, Dewees showed them a vocal harmony and piano part he had come up with.<ref>Shea 2009, event occurs at 1:19:39–42, 1:21:00–8</ref> The group had wanted a keyboardist for sometime;<ref>Shea 2009, event occurs at 1:21:29–31</ref> with Coalesce having gone on hiatus during this period, Dewees joined as their keyboard player.<ref name=TGUKhistory/>

==New label and recording==
By April 1999, tired that the negotiations with Mojo Records had taken too long and eventually came to a halt, the band felt it wasn't the right time to be signing with a major.<ref name=TGUKhistory/> Vocalist/guitarist [[Matt Pryor (musician)|Matthew Pryor]] later revealed that the label's founder [[Jay Rifkin]] wanted to treat the band as a new act, own the rights to their music publishing, in addition to being unwilling to buy the band out of their contract with Doghouse.<ref>Shea 2009, event occurs at 1:28:16–34, 1:30:01–7</ref> To get out of their Doghouse contract, the band recorded the ''Red Letter Day'' EP and forfeited the vinyl rights to their following album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaquarian.com/2015/12/02/an-interview-with-the-get-up-kids-still-finding-something-to-write-home-about/|title=An Interview with The Get Up Kids: Still Finding Something To Write Home About|work=[[The Aquarian Weekly]]|author=Magid, Morgan|date=December 2, 2015|access-date=February 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225103259/http://www.theaquarian.com/2015/12/02/an-interview-with-the-get-up-kids-still-finding-something-to-write-home-about/|archive-date=February 25, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>Shea 2009, event occurs at 1:31:12–6, 1:31:25–6</ref> That same month, they formed their own record label, Heroes & Villains Records, which signed a deal with Vagrant Records, giving the latter rights to other acts signed to Heroes & Villains, which included the members' solo projects.<ref>Shea 2009, event occurs at 1:32:6–14</ref> At the time, Vagrant was searching for a flagship band on which they could expand their business with.<ref name=LawrenceWrite/><ref name="TGUKhistory" />

In June 1999, the band travelled from [[Kansas City, Missouri]] to [[Los Angeles]], California to record their next album.<ref name=TGUKhistory/> Before the group could start, Vagrant Records' co-owner Jon Cohen had to borrow money from his parents, who mortgaged their house in order to fund the sessions.<ref name=PNTjumping>{{cite web|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/qanda-get-up-kids-matt-pryor-talks-jumping-around-playing-pop-music-and-the-emo-handbook-6597139|title=Q&A: Get Up Kids' Matt Pryor Talks Jumping Around, Playing Pop Music and the Emo Handbook|work=[[Phoenix New Times]]|author=Woodbury, Jason P.|date=September 14, 2009|access-date=February 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225103121/https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/qanda-get-up-kids-matt-pryor-talks-jumping-around-playing-pop-music-and-the-emo-handbook-6597139|archive-date=February 25, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The album was recorded over the course of six weeks<ref name=LawrenceWrite/> in June and July 1999 at Mad Hatter Studios in [[Silver Lake, Los Angeles]].<ref name=STWHAbooklet/> The band would spend the daytime at the studio and spend nights at a friend's house.<ref name=Lawrencepivotal>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawrence.com/news/2009/sep/04/somethingwritehomeabout/|title=Something to write home about: Get Up Kids celebrate 10-year anniversary reissue of pivotal record|work=Lawrence|author=Niccum, Jon|date=September 4, 2009|access-date=February 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225162109/http://www.lawrence.com/news/2009/sep/04/somethingwritehomeabout/|archive-date=February 25, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> They produced the record themselves, with co-producers [[Chad Blinman]] and Alex Brahl, the latter of which did additional engineering. Blinman handled recording, while Dale Lawton served as an assistant. Blinman mixed the recordings, while the album was mastered by Ramon Breton at Oceanview Mastering.<ref name=STWHAbooklet/> Several of the songs included were re-recorded from past releases: "Red Letter Day" from the ''Red Letter Day'' EP, "[[Ten Minutes (The Get Up Kids song)|Ten Minutes]]" on a 7" vinyl for the [[Sub Pop Singles Club]] and "I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel" for a [[The Get Up Kids / Braid|split release with Braid]].<ref>Heisel; Simpson 2016, event occurs at 50:59–51:01, 52:22–30</ref><ref name="TGUKdisco" />

==Composition and lyrics==
''Something to Write Home About'' is an [[emo]]<ref name=PNTjumping/> and [[pop-punk]]<ref name="PNTjumping"/><ref name="NME Invent">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/did-the-get-up-kids-really-invent-emo-46455|title=Did The Get Up Kids Really Invent Emo?|work=[[NME]]|date=July 29, 2009|access-date=February 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822100519/http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/did-the-get-up-kids-really-invent-emo-46455|archive-date=August 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> album that takes influence from 1960s [[Pop music|pop]] and 1980s [[New wave music|new wave]].<ref name=PMoriginalreview>{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/g/getupkids-something.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020615140942/http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/g/getupkids-something.shtml|title=The Get Up Kids: Something to Write Home About|work=[[PopMatters]]|author=Meehan, Dave|date=May 7, 2002|archive-date=June 15, 2002|access-date=June 24, 2022}}</ref> Ian Cohen of ''[[Stereogum]]'' described the album in the context of the band's contemporaries: "Braid and [[the Promise Ring]] were too quirky, [[Saves The Day]] hadn’t quite shed their hardcore origins, and [[Texas Is The Reason]] and [[Mineral (band)|Mineral]] were too artsy and esoteric". He added that ''Something to Write Home About'' "occup[ied] that perfect nexus between punk, emo, indie rock, and pure power-pop".<ref name="Stereogum20">{{cite web | url=https://www.stereogum.com/2059503/get-up-kids-something-to-write-home-about-turns-20/reviews/the-anniversary/ | title=The Get up Kids' 'Something to Write Home About' Turns 20|work=Stereogum|author=Cohen, Ian|date=September 30, 2019 | access-date=June 24, 2022 | archive-date=March 31, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331080517/https://www.stereogum.com/2059503/get-up-kids-something-to-write-home-about-turns-20/reviews/the-anniversary/ | url-status=live }}</ref> When making the album, the band tried to consciously expand their sound from the harder edge of ''Four Minute Mile''. Pryor cites [[Wilco]]'s ''[[Summerteeth]]'' (1999), [[Jimmy Eat World]]'s ''[[Clarity (Jimmy Eat World album)|Clarity]]'' (1999) and the [[Foo Fighters]]' ''[[The Colour and the Shape]]'' as primary influences in writing new material. While the group had toyed with keyboards on ''Four Minute Mile'', they incorporated more of it with the inclusion of Dewees into the band. According to Pryor, they had been listening to [[Weezer]] a lot and wanted more synthesizer parts, with Dewees being "such a talented piano player, he just sort of upped the ante."<ref name=PNTjumping/> Dewees' keyboard parts recalled the work of [[Duran Duran]], which ''PopMatters'' music critic Dave Meehan said "provide a melodic counterpoint to [...] Suptic's thrashing and give the whole album a party-like-its-1983 feel".<ref name=PMoriginalreview/> The album incorporates quiet-loud dynamics and sing-along choruses. The tracks have been described as "energetic bursts of emotional angst."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2021-03-18 |title=The 25 greatest emo albums ever |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-25-greatest-emo-albums-ever?next= |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}</ref>

Pryor also began to branch out lyrically, including on “Red Letter Day,” which was written about the bands’ negative experiences with Dirk Hemsmath and Doghouse Records.<ref name="Stereogum20" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/10_essential_songs_about_hating_the_music_industry/P1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140120063545/http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/10_essential_songs_about_hating_the_music_industry/P1|title=10 Essential songs about hating the music industry|work=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|author=Heisel, Scott|date=January 15, 2014|archive-date=January 20, 2014|access-date=February 24, 2019}}</ref> In writing the album, the band was also more conscious of traditional pop song structure, focusing more on hooks and placing less emphasis on long instrumental sections.<ref name="vwmusic">{{cite web|url=https://vwmusicrocks.com/an-interview-with-matthew-pryor-of-the-get-up-kids/|title=An Interview with Matthew Pryor of The Get Up Kids|publisher=VWMusic|author=Daly, Andrew|date=December 17, 2020|access-date=June 24, 2022|archive-date=February 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205211128/https://vwmusicrocks.com/an-interview-with-matthew-pryor-of-the-get-up-kids/|url-status=live}}</ref> Ryan Pope made a conscious effort to restrain his drum parts on the album, emulating [[Charlie Watts]] and [[Jim Keltner]], stating that it was more "important to maybe make some sacrifices for the tune instead of pounding away and thinking of yourself as an individual player."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2004/05/ryan-pope/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317225437/http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2004/05/ryan-pope/|title=Ryan Pope: Gettin' Down With The Get Up Kids|work=[[Modern Drummer]]|author=DeRogatis, Jim|date=May 12, 2004|archive-date=March 17, 2012|access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref> Pryor would later remark that he wished the songs were [[Guitar tunings|tuned]] a [[Semitone|half-step]] or a [[Major second|whole step]] down as he was yelling at the top of his vocal range throughout the album.<ref name=Lawrencepivotal/> The staff of ''[[Kerrang!]]'' called it "a formidable [[Wound|open wound]] of a record."<ref name=":0" />

The album's title, ''Something to Write Home About'', was suggested by Suptic.<ref name=Lawrencepivotal/> The opening fast-paced track "Holiday" starts with a guitar [[pick slide]]; Meehan said "Action and Action" was "another done-me-wrong, finger-pointing tale".<ref name=Condusting/><ref name=PMoriginalreview/> Niko Stratis of ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' referred to "Valentine" as a "perfect snapshot of the way any distance, emotional or physical, feels oceanic in scope".<ref name=Spinlovesongs>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2022/02/best-emo-love-songs/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214153619/https://www.spin.com/2022/02/best-emo-love-songs/|title=The 40 Best Emo Love Songs|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|author=Stratis, Niko|date=February 14, 2022|archive-date=February 14, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref> The acoustic "Out of Reach" crescendos into a piano-led [[torch song]].<ref name=AMreview/> The [[power pop]] song "Ten Minutes" is a homage to be stuck in traffic on the way to a lover's residence, and features Suptic on lead vocals.<ref name=PMoriginalreview/><ref name=AMreview/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegetupkids.net/faq.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000613042646/http://www.thegetupkids.net:80/faq.html|title=The 40 Best Emo Love Songs|publisher=The Get Up Kids|archive-date=June 13, 2000|access-date=July 3, 2022}}</ref> "The Company Dime" features [[Call and response (music)|call-and-response]] vocals during the chorus sections; "My Apology" is a mid-tempo song.<ref name=PMoriginalreview/> "I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel" discusses the aftermath of a one-night stand, while its title is a quote from ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]'' (1985).<ref name=LawrenceWrite/><ref name=PMoriginalreview/> The [[Country music|country-esque]] "Close to Home" is followed by the album's closing song "I'll Catch You"; the latter opens with a piano part and sees a person talking with someone they admire.<ref name=PMoriginalreview/><ref name=Condusting>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2011/01/dusting-em-off-the-get-up-kids-something-to-write-home-about/|title=Dusting 'Em Off: The Get Up Kids – Something to Write Home About|work=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]|author=Young, Alex|date=January 29, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2022|archive-date=June 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624170336/https://consequence.net/2011/01/dusting-em-off-the-get-up-kids-something-to-write-home-about/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Release and promotion==
In August and September 1999, the group went on a European tour; the tour was planned to last a month, however, the group only got to play six shows over eight days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegetupkids.net/news_past.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000204021304/http://www.thegetupkids.net/news_past.html|title=News|publisher=The Get Up Kids|archive-date=February 4, 2000|access-date=February 26, 2019}}</ref> Following this, the band appeared at the [[CMJ|CMJ MusicFest]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1425845/tricky-biohazard-roni-size-on-tap-for-cmj/|title=Tricky, Biohazard, Roni Size On Tap For CMJ|publisher=[[MTV]]|date=July 29, 1999|access-date=February 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224231451/http://www.mtv.com/news/1425845/tricky-biohazard-roni-size-on-tap-for-cmj/|archive-date=February 24, 2019|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ''Something to Write Home About'' was released on September 28 through Vagrant and Heroes & Villains Records. The vinyl version was released through Doghouse Records. The Japanese version included "Forgive and Forget" and a cover of "[[Regret (New Order song)|Regret]]" by [[New Order (band)|New Order]] as bonus tracks, while the European version featured included a re-recorded version of "Forgive and Forget" and "Central Standard Time" (taken from a [[The Get Up Kids / The Anniversary|split]] with [[the Anniversary]]).<ref name=TGUKdisco>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegetupkids.net/discography.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000511202139/http://thegetupkids.net/discography.html|title=Discography|publisher=The Get Up Kids|archive-date=May 11, 2000|access-date=February 25, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The album's artwork is a painting that depicts two robots cuddling on a sofa.<ref name="Pitchfork"/><ref name=NATNreview/> In October and November, the group went on a US tour with [[At the Drive-In]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/519242/at-the-drive-in-ratdog/|title=At the Drive-In, Ratdog ...|publisher=MTV|date=October 21, 1999|access-date=February 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224231517/http://www.mtv.com/news/519242/at-the-drive-in-ratdog/|archive-date=February 24, 2019|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> A music video was released for "Action & Action" through music retailer [[Insound]] in December 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thegetupkids.net/audio.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000622202631/http://thegetupkids.net/audio.html|title=Audio/Video|publisher=The Get Up Kids|archive-date=June 22, 2000|access-date=February 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/201/get-up-kids-video|title=Get Up Kids Video|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=December 7, 1999|access-date=June 24, 2022|archive-date=February 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213160950/https://www.punknews.org/article/201/get-up-kids-video|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2000, the Get Up Kids played a one-off show in Kansas before embarking on a Japanese tour.<ref name=TGUKtour00-02-26/> The band then went on a tour of Australia with [[Jebediah]] in March and April.<ref name=TGUKtour00-02-26>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegetupkids.net/tourdates.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000226051355/http://www.thegetupkids.net/tourdates.html|title=Tourdates|publisher=The Get Up Kids|archive-date=February 26, 2000|access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref> The album was released through [[Epitaph Europe]] in Europe on March 13.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epitaph.com/artists/album/223/Something_To_Write_Home_About|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325123509/http://www.epitaph.com/artists/album/223/Something_To_Write_Home_About|title=Get Up Kids - Something To Write Home About|publisher=[[Epitaph Records]]|archive-date=March 25, 2008|access-date=February 19, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> "Action & Action" was released as a single on March 24 in Europe<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epitaph.com/bands/index.html?Id=81030|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000511121134/http://www.epitaph.com/bands/index.html?Id=81030|title=Get Up Kids - Action and Action|publisher=Epitaph Records|archive-date=May 11, 2000|access-date=February 19, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> with a demo of "I'm a Loner Dottie, I'm a Rebel" and a cover of [[The Cure]]'s "[[Close to Me (The Cure song)|Close to Me]]" as B-sides.<ref name=TGUKdisco/> The group went on a European tour in May and June<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epitaph.com/tourdates/index.html?Band=The+Get+Up+Kids|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000511152854/http://www.epitaph.com/tourdates/index.html?Band=The+Get+Up+Kids|title=The Get Up Kids Tourdates|publisher=Epitaph Records|archive-date=May 11, 2000|access-date=February 19, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> with the Anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegetupkids.net/tourdates.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000611152953/http://thegetupkids.net/tourdates.html|title=Tourdates|publisher=The Get Up Kids|archive-date=June 11, 2000|access-date=February 25, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In September and October, the band went on a headlining US tour with support from the Anniversary, [[Koufax (band)|Koufax]] and Jebediah.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegetupkids.net/heroes_villains/tourdates.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001004234141/http://www.thegetupkids.net/heroes_villains/tourdates.html|title=Tourdates|publisher=Heroes & Villains Records|archive-date=October 4, 2000|access-date=February 25, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="MTVnapster" /> It was sponsored by the [[peer-to-peer file sharing]] network [[Napster]], who had helped people discover the band and other Vagrant Records' acts.<ref name=MTVnapster>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1123061/napster-sponsoring-face-to-face-get-up-kids-tours/|title=Napster Sponsoring Face To Face, Get Up Kids Tours|publisher=MTV|author=Comerford, Will|date=August 14, 2000|access-date=February 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225124634/http://www.mtv.com/news/1123061/napster-sponsoring-face-to-face-get-up-kids-tours/|archive-date=February 25, 2019|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In January 2001, the group supported [[Green Day]] on their US tour, before supporting Weezer in February and March.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thegetupkids.net/news_past.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011109184552/http://thegetupkids.net/news_past.html|title=News|publisher=The Get Up Kids|archive-date=November 9, 2001|access-date=February 26, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Reissues===

In 2008, Pryor said that the group was in discussions with Vagrant Records to re-release the album as a 10th anniversary package, including a DVD and photo booklet.<ref>
{{cite web|last=|first=|title=Get Up Kids Reunion: Sunday Night|url=http://backtorockville.typepad.com/back_to_rockville/2008/11/they-get-in-10.html|work=[[The Kansas City Star|Back to Rockville]]|date=2008-11-14|access-date=2008-11-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816054644/http://backtorockville.typepad.com/back_to_rockville/2008/11/they-get-in-10.html|archive-date=2011-08-16|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/31242/the-get-up-kids-plan-reunion-show-for-sunday|title=The Get Up Kids plan reunion show for Sunday|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=November 13, 2008|access-date=June 24, 2022|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620093835/https://www.punknews.org/article/31242/the-get-up-kids-plan-reunion-show-for-sunday|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2009, Doghouse Records re-pressed the album on vinyl.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/31954/get-up-kids-something-to-write-home-about-vinyl-reissue-planned|title=Get Up Kids' 'Something to Write Home About' vinyl reissue planned|author=Paul, Aubin|date=January 15, 2009|publisher=Punknews.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225174701/https://www.punknews.org/article/31954/get-up-kids-something-to-write-home-about-vinyl-reissue-planned|archive-date=February 25, 2019|access-date=February 25, 2019|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The 10th anniversary edition was released on September 8, which included a DVD with a recording of their first show in a few years and a documentary on the making of the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://drownedinsound.com/news/4137079|title=The Get Up Kids announce European tour extravaganza!|work=[[Drowned in Sound]]|author=Slater, Luke|date=June 10, 2009|access-date=February 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220063034/http://drownedinsound.com/news/4137079|archive-date=February 20, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In addition, it included 7 downloadable demo recordings from the sessions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/35073/get-up-kids-premiere-new-live-dvd-online|title=Get Up Kids premiere new live DVD online|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=September 4, 2009|access-date=February 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225181715/https://www.punknews.org/article/35073/get-up-kids-premiere-new-live-dvd-online|archive-date=February 25, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2009/08/the-get-up-kids-prep-deluxe-reissue-of-something-to-write-home-about/|title=The Get Up Kids prep deluxe reissue of Something To Write Home About|author=Young, Alex|date=August 19, 2009|work=Consequence of Sound|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220122533/https://consequence.net/2009/08/the-get-up-kids-prep-deluxe-reissue-of-something-to-write-home-about/|archive-date=February 20, 2019|access-date=February 19, 2019|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Doghouse has since re-pressed the album on vinyl twice more, in 2015 and 2016, respectively.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Something to Write Home About|others=The Get Up Kids|year=2015|type=sleeve|publisher=Doghouse Records|id=DOG 066}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Something to Write Home About|others=The Get Up Kids|year=2016|type=sleeve|publisher=Doghouse Records|id=DOG 066}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1      = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=AMreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/something-to-write-home-about-mw0000671285|title=Something to Write Home About – The Get Up Kids|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 30, 2009|last=Johnson|first=Zac|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603042738/http://www.allmusic.com/album/something-to-write-home-about-mw0000671285|archive-date=June 3, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| rev2      = ''[[Drowned in Sound]]''
| rev2Score = 9/10<ref name=DISreview>{{cite web|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14568/reviews/4137567|title=Album Review: The Get Up Kids – Something To Write Home About (Tenth Anniversary Edition)|work=Drowned in Sound|date=September 17, 2009|access-date=September 30, 2009|last=Skinner|first=James|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922235515/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14568/reviews/4137567|archive-date=September 22, 2009|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| rev3      = ''[[Kerrang!]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bird |first=Ashley |date=March 11, 2000 |title=Albums |magazine=[[Kerrang!]] |issue=792 |page=47}}</ref>
| rev4      = ''[[Melody Maker]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>Anon. 2000, p. 48</ref>
| rev5      = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5Score = 7/10<ref name=NMEreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com:80/reviews/reviews/20000226121459.html|title=The Get Up Kids – Something To Write Home About|work=NME|date=February 26, 2000|access-date=October 27, 2017|last=Chick|first=Stevie|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000410113855/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000226121459.html|archive-date=April 10, 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev6      = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev6Score = 2.0/10 {{small|(1999)}}<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3430-something-to-write-home-about/|title=The Get Up Kids: Something to Write Home About|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=September 21, 1999|access-date=September 30, 2009|last=DiCrescenzo|first=Brent|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319033009/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3430-something-to-write-home-about/|archive-date=March 19, 2009|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><br />7.6/10 {{small|(2024)}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-get-up-kids-something-to-write-home-about-25th-anniversary-deluxe-edition/|title=The Get Up Kids: Something to Write Home About (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) Album Review|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=26 August 2024|access-date=26 August 2024|last=Gordon|first=Arielle}}</ref>
| rev7      = ''[[PopMatters]]''
| rev7Score = 8/10<ref name=PMreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/117877-the-get-up-kids-something-to-write-home-about/|title=The Get Up Kids: Something to Write Home About|work=PopMatters|date=January 3, 2010|access-date=October 27, 2017|last=Browning|first=Rob|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027232708/http://www.popmatters.com/review/117877-the-get-up-kids-something-to-write-home-about/|archive-date=October 27, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| rev8      = ''[[Record Collector]]''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=RCreview>Pearlman 2009, p. 95</ref>
| rev9      = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev9Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>Soults 2004, p. 330</ref>
| rev10      = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev10Score = 6/10<ref name=Spinreview>Beaujon 1999, p. 220</ref>
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->
''Something to Write Home About'' was met with generally favourable reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]] upon release. ''[[Drowned in Sound]]'' writer James Skinner complimented the band members for "how brilliantly [they] play off each other," coupled with a "healthy dose of longing and you're halfway there in terms of understanding its appeal".<ref name=DISreview/> Reviewing the album for [[MTV News]], critic [[Kembrew McLeod]] wrote that the band are "certainly not purveyors of bubble-punk in the same mold as [[Green Day]] or [[Blink-182]], but they never forget the sheer pleasure that the right sequence of notes or the perfect harmony brings".<ref name=MTVreview>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/620114/pretty-punk-pop/|title=Pretty Punk-Pop|publisher=MTV|author=McLeod, Kembrew|date=December 29, 1999|access-date=February 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215050619/http://www.mtv.com/news/620114/pretty-punk-pop/|archive-date=February 15, 2019|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ''[[PopMatters]]'' contributor Rob Browning wrote that the album retaining the "edge of their Doghouse past, but sported cleaner production and more hooks than a tackle box". He went on to say that these "12 songs are the strongest body of works they had been able to muster prior or since".<ref name=PMreview/> Meehan said the band offer "each song enough individual care to let them stand on their own while still bowing to the album's coherent feel and rush".<ref name=PMoriginalreview/> The staff at ''[[Impact Press]]'' considered it superior to the band's debut, stating that the "tunes are absolutely absorbing, sucking you into the hooks, the energy, the drive, the music".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.impactpress.com/articles/octnov99/musicr101199.html|title=CD reviews|work=[[Impact Press]]|date=October–November 1999|access-date=June 24, 2022|archive-date=October 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022184726/http://www.impactpress.com/articles/octnov99/musicr101199.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' writer Andrew Beaujon found the band to be "peppy enough to make even a college sophomore feel old," adding that they sound "''exactly like'' Superchunk".<ref name=Spinreview/> Elmar Salmutter of ''[[Ox-Fanzine]]'' said it was a "strong and varied record that's just right for the beginning of autumn".<ref name=Oxreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/get-up-kids-something-to-write-home-about-cd-4697|title=Get Up Kids Something to Write Home About CD|work=[[Ox-Fanzine]]|author=Salmutter, Elmar|date=1999|access-date=June 24, 2022|language=de|archive-date=June 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624170340/https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/get-up-kids-something-to-write-home-about-cd-4697|url-status=live}}</ref> In a review for ''Consumable Online'', writer Kerwin So said in order to hear a "few pretty good songs, you have to wade through a deluge of sappy filler".<ref name=WNreview>{{cite web|url=http://www.westnet.com/consumable/1999/12.09/revgetup.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020617190718/http://www.westnet.com/consumable/1999/12.09/revgetup.html|title=The Get Up Kids: Something to Write Home About|work=Consumable Online|author=So, Kerwin|date=December 9, 1999|archive-date=June 17, 2002|access-date=June 24, 2022}}</ref> ''LAS Magazine'' founder Eric J. Herboth said that like their debut, Something was "complete bunk" aside from the two "great" songs "Red Letter Day" and "I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lostatsea.net/review.phtml?id=651807723418977f9222f4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051212233043/http://lostatsea.net/review.phtml?id=651807723418977f9222f4|title=Get Up Kids Something to Write Home About|work=LAS Magazine|author=Herboth, Eric J.|archive-date=December 12, 2005|access-date=June 24, 2022}}</ref> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''{{'s}} Brent DiCrescenzo noted a lack of originality in the music, writing that "implementation of keyboards and acoustic guitars is predictable and unimpressive", calling the release "an entire album of songs which follow the same formula, yet never reach the quasi- memorable qualities of a radio hit."<ref name="Pitchfork"/>

[[AllMusic]] reviewer Zac Johnson noted that despite the band "struggling with stumbling relationships," they were still capable of "process[ing] the complexities of their daily lives through music".<ref name=AMreview/> Stevie Chick of ''[[NME]]'' said that if the lyrics "sometimes seem a little clumsy or overwrought, that's all part of the package".<ref name=NMEreview/> DiCrescenzo referred to the words as "meaningless lyrics masquerading as poetic insight"; Nude as the News writer Ed Comstock  felt the band had "regressed lyrically -- to such an extent that songs that are otherwise great are nearly ruined by lyrical banality".<ref name="Pitchfork"/><ref name=NATNreview/> DiCrescenzo mentioned that the "clinical production scrubs the rock down to a smooth grain of clear sand".<ref name="Pitchfork"/> So thought it was a mistake to switch producers as the "entire record has a thoroughly bland, almost adult-contemporary texture to it".<ref name=WNreview/> Comstock, on the other hand, noted an improvement of production from their first album. He mentioned that the addition of Dewees made the album come across as "predictable -- while some of the songs seemed more complete and polished, many have simply lost their edge".<ref name=NATNreview>{{cite web|url=http://www.nudeasthenews.com/reviews/588|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030116204624/http://www.nudeasthenews.com/reviews/588|title=The Get Up Kids Something To Write Home About|publisher=Nude as the News|author=Comstock, Ed|date=1999|archive-date=January 16, 2003|access-date=June 24, 2022}}</ref>

In a retrospective review, Mischa Pearlman of ''[[Record Collector]]'' felt that the album "still holds up, its power and impact remaining as profound as ever".<ref name=RCreview/> In a 2017 retrospective of ''[[Four Minute Mile]]'', [[Vice Media]]'s Eduardo Cepeda called ''Something to Write Home About'' "a masterful follow-up to their unfussy debut."<ref name="Vice">{{cite web | url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-get-up-kids-four-minute-mile-was-the-bridge-to-emos-future/ | title=The Get up Kids' 'Four Minute Mile' Was the Bridge to Emo's Future | date=September 29, 2017 }}</ref> When reviewing the band's ''[[Kicker (EP)|Kicker]]'' EP, ''Pitchfork'' writer Ian Cohen wrote much more fondly about the album:
<blockquote>
"Put aside the love songs, and their classic Something to Write Home About can be read as a concept album about the pressure of seeing then-fledgling indie label Vagrant literally bet the farm on their success. But they also wrote concisely and passionately about girls, heartbreak, and trouble with authority, thus setting the norms for 21st-century emo: While the band’s presentation and ethics were overtly punk, their songs harkened back to early rock’n’roll records that functioned as teen pop."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-get-up-kids-kicker-ep/|title=Kicker EP The Get Up Kids|work=Pitchfork|author=Cohen, Ian|date=June 9, 2018|access-date=June 24, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619165304/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-get-up-kids-kicker-ep/|url-status=live}}</ref>
</blockquote>

==Commercial performance and legacy==
===Commercial performance===
''Something to Write Home About'' charted at number 31 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Heatseekers Albums]] chart.<ref name=BillHeat/> By 2002, the album had sold 150,000 copies.<ref name=UTRcrossroads>{{cite web| url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/emo_at_the_crossroads_very_emergency_and_something_to_write_home_about_at_2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005051746/https://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/emo_at_the_crossroads_very_emergency_and_something_to_write_home_about_at_2|title=Emo at the Crossroads: 'Very Emergency' and 'Something to Write Home About' at 20|work=[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]]|author=King, Ian|date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=October 5, 2019|access-date=July 3, 2022}}</ref> In 2015, it charted at number 16 on the ''Billboard'' [[Vinyl Albums]] chart.<ref name=BillVinyl/> The album's success was the first major breakthrough for [[Vagrant Records]], and made the Get Up Kids the label's "flagship band", attracting other artists to sign with the company.<ref name="Kerrang 25">{{cite web |url=https://www.kerrang.com/25-years-of-vagrant-records-the-label-that-accidentally-took-emo-to-the-mainstream |title=25 Years Of Vagrant Records: The label that accidentally took emo to the mainstream |last=Pearlman |first=Mischa |date=November 4, 2021 |website=[[Kerrang!]] |publisher=Wasted Talent |access-date=July 6, 2022}}</ref>

===Legacy and influence===
The album has appeared on many best-of lists for the emo and pop-punk genres, by publications such as ''[[LA Weekly]]'',<ref name="LA Weekly">{{cite news|url=https://www.laweekly.com/music/top-20-emo-albums-in-history-complete-list-4170008|title=Top 20 Emo Albums in History: Complete List|work=[[LA Weekly]]|author=Kohn, Daniel|date=October 10, 2013|access-date=February 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225183641/https://www.laweekly.com/music/top-20-emo-albums-in-history-complete-list-4170008|archive-date=February 25, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Junkee]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://junkee.com/essential-emo-albums/242173|title=From 'Three Cheers' To 'Bleed American': The 10 Most Important Emo Albums|publisher=[[Junkee]]|author=Davino, Bianca|date=February 18, 2020|access-date=June 24, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216125958/https://junkee.com/essential-emo-albums/242173|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[NME]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/20-emo-albums-that-have-resolutely-stood-the-test-of-time/367692#/photo/6|title=20 Emo Albums That Have Resolutely Stood The Test Of Time|work=NME|date=January 14, 2015|access-date=July 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816064805/http://www.nme.com/photos/20-emo-albums-that-have-resolutely-stood-the-test-of-time/367692#/photo/6|archive-date=August 16, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and [[A.Side TV|On the A Side]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ontheaside.com/music/the-13-best-albums-from-the-emopop-punk-boom/|title=The 13 best albums from the emo/pop-punk boom|publisher=[[A.Side TV|On the A Side]]|author=Rousseau, Rob|date=February 23, 2016|access-date=February 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222201340/http://ontheaside.com/music/the-13-best-albums-from-the-emopop-punk-boom/|archive-date=February 22, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> as well as by journalists Leslie Simon and Trevor Kelley in their book ''Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture'' (2007).<ref>Simon; Kelley 2007, p. 170</ref> Similarly, "Action & Action" appeared on a best-of emo songs list by ''[[New York (magazine)#Digital expansion and destination sites|Vulture]]''.<ref name=Vulturesongs>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-emo-songs.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213181251/https://www.vulture.com/article/best-emo-songs.html|title=The 100 Greatest Emo Songs of All Time|work=[[Vulture.com|Vulture]]|author=Cohen, Ian|date=February 13, 2020|archive-date=February 13, 2020|access-date=August 14, 2020}}</ref> ''Spin'' featured both “I’ll Catch You” and “Valentine” on its list of the 40 best Emo love songs of all time.<ref name=Spinlovesongs/> In 2014, as part of 10-year celebrations for [[Riot Fest]], the band performed the album in its entirety.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/News/latest-news/weezer-descendents-the-get-up-kids-and-more-to-perform-their-seminal-albums|title=Weezer, Descendents, The Get Up Kids and more to perform their seminal albums in full at US Riot Fest|work=[[The Line of Best Fit]]|author=Ritacco, Robby|date=May 15, 2014|access-date=February 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225162406/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/News/latest-news/weezer-descendents-the-get-up-kids-and-more-to-perform-their-seminal-albums|archive-date=February 25, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2015, ''[[Rock Sound]]'' included it in their 101 Modern Classics list at number 97.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocksound.tv/features/read/rock-sounds-101-modern-classics-101-75|title=Rock Sound's 101 Modern Classics: 101 - 75|work=[[Rock Sound]]|date=June 27, 2012|access-date=July 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410023031/http://www.rocksound.tv/features/read/rock-sounds-101-modern-classics-101-75|archive-date=April 10, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> They later ranked it at number 102 on the list of best albums in their lifetime.<ref>Napier ed. 2019, p. 52</ref> ''[[Kerrang!]]'' listed ‘’Something to Write Home About’’ as the 19th greatest pop-punk album of all time, and the 42nd best punk album of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-51-greatest-pop-punk-albums-green-day-wonder-years-blink-2017|title=The 51 greatest pop-punk albums of all time|work=[[Kerrang!]]|date=September 23, 2017|access-date=June 24, 2022|archive-date=June 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624170338/https://www.kerrang.com/the-51-greatest-pop-punk-albums-green-day-wonder-years-blink-2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/21079/kerrang-posts-list-of-top-50-punk-albums-of-all-time|title=Kerrang posts list of top 50 punk albums of all time.|publisher=Punknews.org|date=November 29, 2006|access-date=June 24, 2022|archive-date=February 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207095531/https://www.punknews.org/article/21079/kerrang-posts-list-of-top-50-punk-albums-of-all-time|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Something to Write Home About'' is credited with establishing Vagrant Records as an emo music industry powerhouse.<ref name="Vice" /><ref name="adult problems">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2041661/get-up-kids-problems-interview/interviews/|title=The Get Up Kids And Their Adult Problems|work=Stereogum|author=Cohen, Ian|date=April 30, 2019|access-date=June 24, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619164119/https://www.stereogum.com/2041661/get-up-kids-problems-interview/interviews/|url-status=live}}</ref> Acts such as [[Dashboard Confessional]], [[Saves the Day]], and [[Alkaline Trio]] all signed to the label because of the album's success.<ref name="Dashboard">{{cite web | url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/02/dashboard-confessionals-chris-carrabba-on-his-emo-legacy.html | title=Dashboard Confessional Still Belongs|work=Vulture|author=Lockett, Dee | date=February 8, 2018 | access-date=June 24, 2022 | archive-date=June 24, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624030636/https://www.vulture.com/2018/02/dashboard-confessionals-chris-carrabba-on-his-emo-legacy.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Stereogum20" /> The album has been viewed as an important release for the second wave of emo, and an influence on the third wave of acts, such as [[Coheed & Cambria]], while [[Dan Campbell (singer)|Dan Campbell]] of [[The Wonder Years (band)|the Wonder Years]] has expressed admiration for it.<ref name=UTRcrossroads/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/coheed-and-cambria-in-keeping-secrets-of-silent-earth-3_n_5780546|title=Coheed & Cambria Secretly Wrote 'Stairway To Heaven 2' On 'In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3'|work=[[HuffPost]]|author=Kristobak, Ryan|date=July 9, 2014|access-date=June 24, 2022|archive-date=June 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624170338/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/coheed-and-cambria-in-keeping-secrets-of-silent-earth-3_n_5780546|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/blog/read/the-wonder-years-dan-campbell-my-favourite-pop-punk-album-of-all-time-is|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718125746/https://www.rocksound.tv/blog/read/the-wonder-years-dan-campbell-my-favourite-pop-punk-album-of-all-time-is|title=The Wonder Years' Dan Campbell: My Favourite Pop-Punk Album Of All Time Is…|work=Rock Sound|date=September 1, 2014|archivedate=July 18, 2022|access-date=August 28, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Ryan De Freitas of Kerrang! stated that the album "paved the way for a thousand sappy, hopeless romantic pop punk bands to make a career out of writing songs about the ‘friendzone’, but let’s not hold that against it, eh?"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-12 |title=The 20 best pre-2000s emo albums |url=https://www.kerrang.com/early-emo-albums-best-american-football-saves-the-day |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}</ref>

==Track listing==
All songs written by [[the Get Up Kids]].<ref name=STWHAbooklet/>
{{Track listing
| title1          = Holiday
| length1         = 3:29
| title2          = [[Action & Action]]
| length2         = 4:05
| title3          = Valentine
| length3         = 4:19
| title4          = Red Letter Day
| length4         = 2:56
| title5          = Out of Reach
| length5         = 3:46
| title6          = [[Ten Minutes (The Get Up Kids song)|Ten Minutes]]
| length6         = 3:12
| title7          = The Company Dime
| length7         = 4:06
| title8          = My Apology
| length8         = 3:24
| title9          = I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel
| length9         = 3:08
| title10         = Long Goodnight
| length10        = 4:48
| title11         = Close to Home
| length11        = 3:50
| title12         = I'll Catch You
| length12        = 4:22
}}

==Personnel==
Personnel per booklet.<ref name=STWHAbooklet>{{cite AV media notes|title=Something to Write Home About|others=[[The Get Up Kids]]|year=1999|type=booklet|publisher=[[Epitaph Records|Epitaph]]/[[Vagrant Records|Vagrant]]/Heroes & Villains Records|id=6587-2}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''The Get Up Kids'''
* [[Jim Suptic]] – guitar, vocals
* [[Ryan Pope (musician)|Ryan Pope]] – drums
* [[James Dewees]] – keyboards, vocals
* [[Rob Pope]] – bass
* [[Matt Pryor (musician)|Matthew Pryor]] – guitar, vocals
{{col-2}}
'''Production and design'''
* The Get Up Kids – producer
* [[Chad Blinman]] – co-producer, recording, mixing
* Alex Brahl – co-producer, additional engineer
* Dale Lawton – assistant
* Ramon Breton – mastering
* Travis M Millard – cover painting, inside painting
* Sam Spencer – design, layout
{{col-end}}

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Original release'''
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1999)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|31|artist=The Get Up Kids|access-date=February 19, 2019|rowheader=true|refname=BillHeat}}
|}
{{col-2}}
'''Reissue'''
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2015)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|BillboardVinyl|16|artist=The Get Up Kids|access-date=February 19, 2019|rowheader=true|refname=BillVinyl}}
|}
{{col-end}}

==References==
'''Citations'''
{{Reflist}}

'''Sources'''
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite journal|author=Anon.|title=The Get Up Kids: Something to Write Home About|journal=[[Melody Maker]]|date=April 11, 2000|issn=0025-9012}}
* {{cite journal|last=Beaujon|first=Andrew|title=American Football: American Football / The Get Up Kids: Something to Write Home About|journal=Spin|volume=15|issue=12|date=December 1999|issn=0886-3032|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HJbW_6l-uRUC&pg=PT7|access-date=2020-12-04|archive-date=2017-02-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217034145/https://books.google.com/books?id=HJbW_6l-uRUC&lpg=PP1&pg=PT7|url-status=live}}
* {{cite podcast|host=Heisel, Scott; Simpson, Greg|title=Best Midwestern – Episode 37 – Something to Write Home About|publisher=Punknews.org|date=August 19, 2016<!-- Release date according to iTunes-->|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/61641/podcast-best-midwestern-episode-37-something-to-write-home-about|access-date=March 4, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306045356/https://www.punknews.org/article/61641/podcast-best-midwestern-episode-37-something-to-write-home-about|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|editor1-last=Napier|editor1-first=Patrick|title=The 250 Greatest Albums Of Our Lifetime|journal=Rock Sound|date=April 2019|issue=250|location=London|issn=1465-0185}}
* {{cite journal|last=Pearlman|first=Mischa|title=The Get Up Kids – Something to Write Home About|journal=[[Record Collector]]|issue=369|date=December 2009|issn=0261-250X|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/something-to-writehome-about|access-date=2020-03-08|archive-date=2022-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624170346/https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/something-to-writehome-about|url-status=live}}
* {{cite podcast|host=Shea, Mike|title=AP Podcast: The Business Behind the Music – #46 The Get Up Kids|work=Alternative Press|date=November 25, 2009<!-- Release date according to iTunes-->|url=https://archive.org/details/podcast_the-ap-podcast_episode-46-the-get-up-kids_1000416880785|access-date=September 28, 2022}}
* {{cite book|last1=Simon|first1=Leslie|last2=Kelley|first2=Trevor|title=Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture|year=2007|publisher=[[HarperCollins|HarperEntertainment]]|location=New York City|isbn=978-0-06-119539-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Soults|first=Franklin|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor1-link=Nathan Brackett|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-link=Christian Hoard|title=[[The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]]|year=2004|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|isbn=9780743201698|edition=4th|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA330|chapter=The Get Up Kids|access-date=2020-12-04|archive-date=2022-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624170340/https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA330|url-status=live}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
<!-- This is a licensed stream for the album, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices -->
*[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lifZGJ1XVIAPwJIR1K8dLqKIJcfLh3L34 ''Something to Write Home About''] at [[YouTube]] (streamed copy where licensed)

{{The Get Up Kids}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:The Get Up Kids albums]]
[[Category:1999 albums]]
[[Category:Vagrant Records albums]]