Motion City Soundtrack Albums (3)
What The Critics Say
With punk-pop stalwarts blink-182 now out of the running, Motion City Soundtrack could very well be crowned the genre's new torchbearers. Theirs is a punk-pop untainted by emo, unfazed by hardcore, and firmly focused on the latter element -- pop -- which seems to be second language to this melody-driven quintet. To that end, Even If It Kills Me finds the band working with (among others) Cars co-founder and veteran knob-twiddler Ric Ocasek, who piles their harmonies and distorted guitars into crunchy blocks of radio gold. Motion City Soundtrack shares more than a few similarities with Ocasek's former group -- their dedication to the pop genre, for instance, with roots in something harder -- and his presence is a warm tribute to a band whose efforts deserve some veteran recognition. As before, frontman Justin Pierre is the star of this album, whether he's doing his part to liven up a semi-sedate ballad ("The Conversation" -- one of the album's only downer tracks) or channel the commercial spirit of former single "Everything Is Alright." In fact, Even If It Kills Me does seem to consciously aim for commercial acceptance, but rarely at the expense of the quirks and literate lyrics that first endeared Motion City Soundtrack to its fans. There's simply more radio-worthy material here, from the beefy bass-driven "This Is for Real" to the mix of synthesized pop/rock and latter-day Guster in "Hello Helicopter." By splitting productions duties between power pop veteran Adam Schlesinger, Eli Janney, and the aforementioned Ocasek, Motion City Soundtrack also avoids the seventh inning stretch -- that nebulous point on Memory and I Am the Movie where the albums' final tracks begin to suffer from being so similar to their predecessors. There's no lull here, just fast-paced fun -- which, given the band's motion-centric name, is as appropriate as it is tuneful. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
'Commit This to Memory'
Release Date 6/6/2005
Tracks 12
Label Epitaph
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Like the also-underrated Ultimate Fakebook, Motion City Soundtrack's buoyant sound is informed by their slight age gap from the average pogoing kid. Both bands are eager to find pop-punk's widest point across, a place that includes not only Superchunk and Sunny Day, but classic rock fervor and real vocal melody. And as he proved on 2003's I Am the Movie, Motion City frontman Justin Pierre can actually sing. Which is different from just yelling really loud. His falsetto is silky against the crunchy guitars, giving the band a pop sound even when they're rocking out. Actually, Commit This to Memory doesn't actually rock out that much -- it prefers midrange tracks like "Make Out Kids" or the undeniable "Attractive Today," songs that use Jesse Johnson's moog in conjunction with treated guitar to separate the verses from those big, dynamite, strobe light choruses. Pierre's lyrics have an eye for the mundane detail, too. "I'm sick of the things I do when I'm nervous/Like cleaning the oven or checking my tires," he says in "Everything Is Alright." The details help Motion City Soundtrack, because it makes their wistful memories, tales of breaking up, and frantic searches for answers realer than the next pop-punk combo on the quadruple summertime bill. "Let's get f*cked up and die," the clever "LG Faud" begins. But it's not what you think. "I am speaking figuratively of course," Pierre continues. The track's acoustic layers are a nice touch; in conjunction with the softer "Together We'll Ring in the New Year," they add a subtle sense to Memory that suggests pop craftsmen like Guided by Voices or the Posies. Motion City Soundtrack isn't there yet -- Commit This to Memory does have a slight sameness about it. But right when it starts to get a little trying, the gorgeously mid-tempo "Resolution" and punchy "Feel Like Rain" prove the band's songcraft is already functioning at a higher level. And no amount of additional pogoing will bring their competition a golden intangible like that. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Midwest rockers Motion City Soundtrack give their best post-grunge impression on their studio debut, I Am the Movie. It's probably the slickest thing Epitaph has released up to this point and pretty stylish compared to their celebrated punk roster (Bad Religion, Pennywise, Rancid, Dropkick Murphys), but who's to say that Motion City Soundtrack isn't worthy of being on such a label? I Am the Movie is layered with rich guitar hooks and small electronic bits are precisely tweaked throughout the 14-song set. The band's fierce musicianship is solid and frontman/guitarist Justin Pierre's emo-tinged vocals are charming, and fans of Jimmy Eat World and the like will enjoy that. What's made Epitaph a staple among the punk community all these years is their ability to single out the pure rock & roll grit, and Motion City Soundtrack doesn't exactly possess such energy. But don't write 'em off just yet. I Am the Movie is ambitious in presentation and pop kids latching onto the new-millennium wave of post-alternative rock will appreciate the band's whimsical rock sound. Motion City Soundtrack might be aiming for that polished punk-inspired style and obviously they're eager in effort, so the potential is there. There's nothing wrong with some shiny punk-pop. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide
