With its roots in the New York/New Jersey hardcore scene, the band was formed in New Brunswick, New Jersey in1990 by singer Ari Katz and guitarist Dan Yemin (also of Kid Dynamite, Paint It Black, and Armalite). In contrast to the negative, sometimes violent tone promulgated their New York hardcore contemporaries, lyricist Katz emphasized more positive, personal themes in their two-minute songs. In 1992, Lifetime released their first full length album, entitled Background, that bore only passing resemblance to their later, more melodic work. By 1995, the band achieved some form of stability with the addition of Pete Martin (guitar), David Palaitis (bass), and Scott Golley (drums). That same year, they released their second album, Hello Bastards on Jade Tree Records. Hello Bastards marked a slight shift in direction, incorporating more melodic punk leanings over a driving hardcore tempo. Ari Katz's lyrics, though sometimes undecipherable, dealt mainly with more introspective and personal themes such as relationships and youthful disaffection. Hello Bastards also includes a cover of "It's Not Funny Anymore" by the seminal 1980s alternative rock band Hüsker Dü, hinting at the band's musical influences. In 1996, Lifetime issued a compilation of their 7" releases and unreleased songs, on Glue Records, also released in Europe by Day After Records. In 1997, the band completed its third full-length Jersey's Best Dancers. With twelve songs clocking in at under 24 minutes, Jersey's Best Dancers continued in the same vein as Hello Bastards. However, after a short tour in support of their new album, Lifetime decided to disband in 1997. After disbanding, Dan
1 | Daneurysm | Hello Bastards |
2 | Anchor | Hello Bastards |
3 | What She Said | Hello Bastards |
4 | Rodeo Clown | Hello Bastards |
5 | It's not funny anymore | Hello Bastards |
6 | I'm Not Calling You | Hello Bastards |
7 | Neutral Territory | Hello Bastards |
8 | I like you OK | Hello Bastards |
9 | Irony is for Suckers | Hello Bastards |
10 | Knives, Bats, new Tats | Hello Bastards |
11 | Ostrichsized | Hello Bastards |
12 | Bobby Truck Tricks | Hello Bastards |