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Street Dogs - State of Grace
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Once again, I will scream this from the top of my virtual lungs - Motion City Soundtrack is the best unsigned band in America. Period.

Oh, you want me to write more? Fine. Motion City Soundtrack is a quintet of guys from Minneapolis, MN [home of Prince, Bob Dylan, and the Replacements, to name a few - talk about diverse influences!]. This is their debut full length - eleven songs that make me wonder just why the hell they aren't huge yet.

The band's sound is very heavily influenced by bands such as the Get Up Kids ["Four Minute Mile" era], as well as more pop-oriented bands like Weezer, Fountains of Wayne and Superdrag. Now I know you've heard a million bands be described as "Weezer meets the Get Up Kids," but whereas those bands are just shameless ripoffs, Motion City Soundtrack takes those influences and expands upon them.

"I Am The Movie"'s eleven tracks are all filled to the brim with catchy singalong backing vocals ["Shiver" and "1000 Paper Cranes"], dueling guitars ["Boombox Generation" and "The Red Dress"], pounding keyboard riffs ["My Favorite Accident" and "Don't Call It A Comeback"], and more hooks than Dr. J ever sunk [see "The Future Freaks Me Out" for the only proof you'll even need]. The album was recorded by Ed Rose at Red House Studios, where such bands as the aforementioned Get Up Kids have made their magnum opuses. What this means is the production is nothing short of stellar. Ed Rose has been known to step on a few toes here and there [his production on The Beautiful Mistake's newest album, for example], but he seems content to just sit back on this album and let Motion City Soundtrack do what they do best: rock.

Oh yeah, one more thing: the packaging on this thing is fucking ridiculous. The CD comes inside a 5 1/2 inch floppy disc and sleeve. It is so clever and well done that I would recommend this to someone just for the case alone. That's how cool it is.

One can easily make the argument that "this has all been done before." I agree, but the next question you must pose is, "when was the last time it was done this damn good?" This album probably won't make my Top 10 of 2002 list, but I have no qualms saying that it is the best self-released album I have heard the entire year.

MP3s
The Future Freaks Me Out
Shiver
Don't Call It A Comeback



People who liked this also liked:
Polar Bear Club - Sometimes Things Just DisappearMotion City Soundtrack - I Am The Movie [reissue]Brand New - Deja EntenduThe Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in AmericaThe Bronx - The Bronx (2003)A Wilhelm Scream - Career SuicideA Wilhelm Scream - RuinerAlkaline Trio - Maybe I'll Catch FireThursday - Kill the House Lights [CD/DVD]Get Up Kids - Guilt Show



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    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at 1:33 AM (EST)

    how in the world can i get ahold of one of the old cds? i love MCS, and i would love to have one. aDaM

    Posted by Modern on 2003-06-23 03:12:36
    My Score:

    Nifty CD. Thumbs Up.

    Posted by CaptainCrunch on 2003-02-04 00:05:15
    My Score:

    I just got this in the mail, I bought it off their website....this seriously rocks. Get ahold of this CD at all costs.

    Posted by mintymoose on 2003-01-19 11:42:09
    My Score:

    oh..so NOW, they get some recognition..
    i have been blabbing about this band for ages..so last 6 months ago..*snaps fingers*
    heh..but seriously..this band rocks, they sound somewhat different from your typical rock-out band..maybe it's the cool hooks..who knows! all i know, is that song "The Future Freaks Me Out" is rocktastic!
    i give it 4 stars..as there are only 4 songs i've listened to by them..i can't find their songs anywhere.. :(

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 18, 2003 at 11:02 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    "Scott, you obviously forgot the influence that the stereo has on the band too."

    News flash. The bands are from the same city. They are even friends. And MCS was around before the Stereo. I believe MCS even formed when Mr. Wolford was still in Animal Chin.

    Posted by lou-s on 2003-01-05 17:22:02
    My Score:

    haha, he said shenango valley perkinscore... technically it's hermitage perkinscore... but why get technical

    Posted by punkboy_1 on 2003-01-03 21:38:21
    My Score:

    this kicks ass. i met these guys at warped tour and they are were super cool (except the keyboardist kept hitting on my sister). i love every single song on here. the future freaks me out and dont call it a comeback are some of the best songs i have heard in a while. and they are awesome live to boot.

    Posted by waste_elite on 2003-01-03 13:13:02
    My Score:

    brah.

    Posted by fracturedstart on 2003-01-03 02:08:20
    My Score:

    nah.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 1, 2003 at 6:56 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Why did that guy say I guess they are signed now?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 at 12:19 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Hey, I've never heard the song "Don't Call It A Comeback", but that is ripped directly from the LL Cool J song "Mama Said Knock You Out" right? Okay...just checking.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 at 12:54 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I guess they are signed now.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 30, 2002 at 10:05 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    That's my point you fucking pussy. Did I put an album out there to be criticized? Nope. They did. It’s fair fucking game you whiney little bitch. twat

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 30, 2002 at 6:47 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    you fucking meanies should throw together a well-written song and post it on this site. seriously. i'd like to hear these opinions backed up.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 30, 2002 at 4:50 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    The Stereo rules the world

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 29, 2002 at 8:58 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Joshcore is all about shenango valley perkinscore, it's an off shoot of buhlcore.

    ~jacobe

    Posted by joshcore on 2002-12-29 13:14:14
    My Score:

    i packaged some mix CDs using old 5 1/2" floppy disks over a year ago. these guys took my good idea (ok well it's not like they really stole it from me, i've never heard of or met this band) and now everyone knows about it.

    i guess i'm the "poser" now, haha ...

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 29, 2002 at 6:17 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Give me lights! Now, before it gets dark!

    Posted by cubaricho on 2002-12-29 01:45:49
    My Score:

    The Rules had an EP come out in the packaging a while ago.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 29, 2002 at 12:45 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Fuck you kids, tcs owns your fucking asses. Fuck ya'll all ya'll ya'll don't like me ya'll can blow me!all ya little gansters running around talkin bout guns ya like i aint got none!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 28, 2002 at 10:23 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Yawwwwwwnnnnnnn. It's safe pop punk with lame ass keyboards. Way to make the safe choices fat boy. Go with what's familiar. It's bad to branch out into different genres. Goddamn I already want to choke him. That stupid fucking high pitched thing he does with his voice. Good lord I'm going to go to sleep tonight and dream that I'm o.j. and this band is Ron and Nicole. twat

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 28, 2002 at 4:17 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Sounds too much like the Sex Pistols for my taste.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 28, 2002 at 12:22 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This is a great CD, aside from "The Red Dress"!! That song blows!! It's so elementary and... dumb. Otherwise, I love this CD! "The Future.." is catchy as hell. Then I think the other 2 standouts are "Boombox Generation" and "Don't Call This a Comeback", but thats just my opinion. Anyone that can appreciate quality pop will like this.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 28, 2002 at 12:13 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Scott, you obviously forgot the influence that the stereo has on the band too.

    They sound to me like a bizarro getup kids, where Jamie Wolford is the singer.
    (which would be cool as my two favorite musicians would be in the same band then. Jamie and James Dewes.) But MCS is close enough.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 27, 2002 at 10:39 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I love the packaging and everything, but only "The Future..." appeals to me. Nothing else on this CD sounds anything like that song, and I was a little upset about that.


    Yeah I feel the same way.

    Posted by Tahoejeff on 2002-12-27 21:22:04
    My Score:

    ..just ordered the album

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 27, 2002 at 8:06 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I love the packaging and everything, but only "The Future..." appeals to me. Nothing else on this CD sounds anything like that song, and I was a little upset about that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 27, 2002 at 8:04 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    wow that last one is good. I can definitely see the "4 minute mile" influence there.

    Posted by LongDukDong on 2002-12-27 19:15:45
    My Score:

    What's a happenin, hot stuff?

    Posted by LesaMonster on 2002-12-27 18:45:36
    My Score:

    Scott, I've also been screaming at the top of my virtual lungs, but only a few have been wise enough to listen.
    Great review.. lovely picture.

    Posted by onemessedzebra on 2002-12-27 18:26:22
    My Score:

    He's done it again. Amazing review, amazing album. Agreedly, best unsigned band in America. w00t

    Posted by TahoeJeff on 2002-12-27 17:54:08
    My Score:

    I agree, the last song was unexpected. Pretty good stuff though, its poppy..its catchy..not bad..I'd probably buy the cd

    Posted by evildeadalive on 2002-12-27 17:30:25
    My Score:

    Hmmm... not sure what I think. That first song is pretty good, the second one is absolutely terrible, and the third is pretty unexpected after the first two...
    Thus concludes my review of this album.
    (yes I know those 3 songs are not the whole album)

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 27, 2002 at 5:19 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Mcs own joo. Love them.

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