MINE ALL MINE

They're not the best pop-punk band of the 2000s, but they might be the most underrated. No one I know has ever heard of them, and the forum where I connected with other fans was unexpectedly shut down in 2019, deleting hundreds of pages of discussions containing information and links that can't be found anywhere else. I'll write everything I can remember here and embed the mp3s I was able to download from various sources over the years.

Return to Home

Mine All Mine (2003) Crunchy and unpolished, but Kilgore's strengths as a songwriter and performer already shine. Unusual topics, clever wordplay, catchy melodies, and surprisingly clean vocal harmonies define this self-titled release.
The band was first formed in late 2001 under the name What You Deserve by Kennedy Bell (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Emma Hirsch (lead guitar, vocals), Ryan Cox (bass), and Liam Torres (drums). All members still attended high school in Mesa, Arizona. Later that year they placed 2nd in a local battle-of-the-bands which sparked interest and created more gig opportunities. The band changed their name to Mine All Mine and Bell took the stage name Kennedy Kilgore. By popular demand, they recorded their first album the summer after the group graduated from high school, pooling their money for a single studio session.
The Hard Way		Lyrics So what, it didn’t feel right Not even at the time That someone like you Could ever be mine I knew your smile was too bright Your soul too light Why did I waste your time For even one night? There’s no need to do this the hard way I’m not gonna try to change your mind If you want me gone You may be surprised to find I’ve already left you behind In the rearview The skyline is more Than just the silhouette That I saw before I know the streets and the alleys The peaks and the valleys But that’s not my home anymore There’s no need to do this the hard way I’m not gonna try to change your mind If you want me gone You may be surprised to find I’ve already left you behind Don’t make this hard It’s supposed to be the easy part Don’t speak I know what’s in your heart I know what’s in your heart There’s no need to do this the hard way I’m not gonna try to change your mind If you want me gone You may be surprised to find I’ve already left you behind
Missus Narcissus		Lyrics It ain’t an accusation I know just how you’d spin it I’ve seen what you call heaven And I’m not in it There’s some ghost of me That I don’t plan to be So find somebody else To live your fantasy Missus Narcissus Does your love for still waters Reach beneath the surface? Missus Narcissus Fall through your reflection And forever you'll be with us I know that I’m the bad guy The way your friends will hear it They’ll say “You don’t need that guy” And baby, that’s the spirit I like to think there’s good In everybody’s heart But it ain’t my job To find that part You crave your name on others’ tongues More than air inside your lungs Girl, you better watch yourself You better watch yourself When you’re on the outside lookin’ in And you see the person that you been Girl, you better watch yourself You better watch yourself Missus Narcissus Does your love for still waters Reach beneath the surface? Missus Narcissus Fall through your reflection And forever you'll be with us
Some Kind of Comfort		Lyrics I gotta say there’s some kind of comfort In knowing that we’re awful for each other I laugh when she says I’m just the worst She’s no longer surprised that I don’t put her first And even though I hate the very air she breathes I’m on the interstate, she’s in the car with me There’s only one thing we could ever get right Her hand is on my thigh (it’s gonna be fine) I crossed my heart and I swore to die (it’s gonna be fine) She’s just another vice of mine (it’s gonna be fine) She’s no good for me, but neither was the wine It’s gonna be fine I let myself fall again for this trick And every part of me knows it’s masochistic She’s gonna get attached, I’m gonna let her She’ll try to tell me I can’t do any better And even though I hate the way she makes me feel She’s on the interstate and I’m behind the wheel There’s only one thing we could ever get right Her hand is on my thigh (it’s gonna be fine) I crossed my heart and I swore to die (it’s gonna be fine) She’s just another vice of mine (it’s gonna be fine) She’s no good for me, but neither was the wine It’s gonna be fine Even if we tried to burn that bridge We’d just walk across the glowin coals Nobody else can reach that itch I hate to say it but she’s irreplaceable Her hand is on my thigh (it’s gonna be fine) I crossed my heart and I swore to die (it’s gonna be fine) She’s just another vice of mine (it’s gonna be fine) She’s no good for me, but neither was the wine It’s gonna be fine
Glass in Sand		Lyrics I want to take you to a movie I want to hold your hand There’s something dangerous about me Like broken glass in sand I make it look so hard to love you Why can’t I just be fine I see the rain-clouds above you And realize they’re mine If I could take it all away If I could hush my doubts and stay If I could spare you the ricochet Baby, I would have done it by now If I could be the one you want If I could give my all to one If I could miss you before you’re gone Baby, I would have done it by now Some days I wake up bleeding I find I like the taste You know you’re not the reason Your loathing is misplaced I seen the place we all descend to I know you been that way But I won’t be the one to send you Not if I got a say If I could take it all away If I could hush my doubts and stay If I could spare you the ricochet Baby, I would have done it by now If I could be the one you want If I could give my all to one If I could miss you before you’re gone Baby, I would have done it by now I tried to tell you (x3) This is how it would be I tried to tell you (x3) But you wouldn't listen to me I tried to tell you (x3) This is how it would be I tried to tell you (x3) But you wouldn't listen to me If I could take it all away If I could hush my doubts and stay If I could spare you the ricochet Baby, I would have done it by now If I could be the one you want If I could give my all to one If I could miss you before you’re gone Baby, I would have done it by now

I Wish I Knew (2005) Smoother edges than the band's debut album, landing squarely in the pop-punk category. Strong riffs and off-the-wall lyrics are as present as ever. This is my personal favorite Mine All Mine album, which is a shame because I've only been able to track down two songs.
At a show in Tucson, AZ, Mine All Mine was discovered by Mark Hillyer, a scout for Tryhard Records. Despite Hillyer's enthusiasm, A&R executive Will Rossi was not interested in the band. Over the following months Hillyer would advocate for Mine All Mine while the band continued performing locally and refining their sound. Finally Hillyer quit at Tryhard to become an executive at rival record company Go-Getter. The first act he signed was, of course, Mine All Mine, who began recording their second album. According to a former employee of Go-Getter (whose acquaintance I made on the now-defunct Splat! punk music forum), Hillyer sent CDs to radio stations around the country but most opted not to air them. One critic dubbed the singles "too cerebral" for general audiences (???), but fans agree that it was Kilgore's sapphic lyrics that barred her from mainstream success. None of Mine All Mine's songs are sexually explicit, but they often imply relationships with other women. Hillyer allegedly urged Kilgore on numerous occasions to rewrite the songs with heteronormative pronouns.
I Wish I Knew		Lyrics I'm sure you've heard all about me The demon of her mythology Some of it might even be true I know about you too Just a friend just a colleague Grabbing a drink after a long week I really don't care that you knew But I suggest a different avenue Did you really think You would be the one to get it right Did you really think I'm the only one she left behind You should know before your bones are cast I was not the first and you won't be the last It isn't personal, it's not about you These are all the things I wish I knew All the bruises and blood she (Quote) Never showed anybody She tore them from the magazines She's living on a silver screen Chameleon gifted actor Every line manufactured Always stealing every scene One day you'll find out what I mean Did you really think You would be the one to get it right? Did you really think I'm the only one she left behind? You should know before your bones are cast I was not the first and you won't be the last This isn't personal, it's not about you These are all the things I wish I knew Go ahead, laugh in my face I did the same when I was in your place Hit me up when you feel the sting Maybe we can grab a drink Did you really think You would be the one to get it right? Did you really think I'm the only one she left behind? You should know before your bones are cast I was not the first and you won't be the last This isn't personal, it's not about you These are all the things I wish I knew
A Day In The Lie		Lyrics Can’t believe I’m keeping Secrets while you’re sleeping Next to me I’m feeling increasingly repulsive Dreaming of the moment You can finally know it too And yet I’m pushing it off What will you think of me? I wish I could tell you how painful it’s been Trying and failing again and again I wish I could tell you how shameful it’s been But it’s far too late so I’ll keep on holding it in I know you’re not stupid You probably knew it Right from the beginning Watching me deny it I ache for a confession I swear I’ll learn my lesson soon It really would be best if I laid down and died right now I wish I could tell you how painful it’s been Trying and failing again and again I wish I could tell you how shameful it’s been But it’s far too late so I’ll keep on holding it in What happens in the dark Will always come to light I’m holding on to dust By truth it is destroyed What happens in the dark Will always come to light I’m holding on to dust By truth it is destroyed I wish I could tell you how painful it’s been Trying and failing again and again I wish I could tell you how shameful it’s been But it’s far too late so I’ll keep on holding it in

MINE ALL MINE

Mine All Mine (2003)

The Hard Way

Missus Narcissus

Some Kind of Comfort

Glass in Sand

I Wish I Knew (2005)

I Wish I Knew

A Day In The Lie