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 | Motion City SoundtrackCommit This To Memory2005 Epitaph 
  Review by: Cronophrog See others by this writer Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on June 7th 2005
When I Am The Movie came out, I thought I had found musical bliss. Amidst the growing love of bands like Simple Plan, New Found Glory, and Sugarcul, MCS was a very welcome divertissement from such -- ahem -- shit. Not a flawless record of course, IATM was a helluva fun one. Now 4 years later, MCS has released a well-crafted followup that reminds of their previous album, but never rehashes.
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sick CD, the review blows. Fucking love this CD! I preferred I Am The Movie, I just liked the songs better. Crap, the review below should have been a 4 out of 5 (didn't notice the scale). Anyway, that translates to an 8 out of 10, so here. Great album. It's amazing how well Make Out Kids and Time Turn Fragile fit together. That's on some Dr. Dre - The Chronic type cohesiveness, but I digress. These two tracks are probably my favorite on the album (and really ends up sounding like 3 with the change that happens on Time Turn Fragile about half way through). Also loved Ring in the New Year... it's like my freakin anthem sometimes. love this band first heard them on warped tour . then i got thier cd it rock my cock even though i don't have one but you know what i mean. good cd everyone should listen to them sooner or later Mark Hoppus needs to produce more records this is the best album ever i absolutley love hold me down so you ppl who r saying it is bad well go get a life i love the way the write there songs it makes me feel amazin i love these guys and there albums. Go hold me down! this is the best album ever i absolutley love hold me down so you ppl who r saying it is bad well go get a life i love the way the write there songs it makes me feel amazin i love these guys and there albums. Go hold me down! I personally love this band. From what I have heard their sound is distinct, and a nice breath of fresh air from the same boring junk that has been playing over and over again on the radio. I have both their albums and enjoy almost every song. The last song on CTTM is pretty dull I must say... how have i never commented on this? This album is truly amazing. The combination of the keyboard and guitar really brings out the best in music. To me it seems like an improvement from I Am The Movie. MCS must've chose to improve on some of the things that they weren't too good on their last album. Room for improvement is always good. i love this album . justin pierre has a great voice i like how the lyrics are more personal this time around. this album makes me feel warm inside, but warm with pain. ""Attractive Today" is a pathetic opening" all of the songs sound the same to me...I don't like it. Am I missing something? all of my friends love it... Super fun in spurts, but doesn't have the staying of I Am The Movie. my god! I cannot get the verse of "make out kids" out of my head. Cripes that song is catchy. This album would probably be better if they didnt associate themselves with bands like small towns burn a little slower. I'm revising my earlier score down. I've had it for over a week and my favorable first impression has vanished. It's still tolerable, but it's far too bland to really be considered a good album. It's a "safe" album, though well-constructed, and it plays that way. Honestly, I can't imagine listening to it again after the newness wears off. I think an argument can be made that I am the movie is better than this...and I think a solid argument can be made that this cd is better. Both are very strong albums, and I don't see how anyone who liked 'i am the movie' isn't liking this...i can only think you are all biased against mark hoppus, who did as good of a job w/ production as ed rose IMHO, or you are all being bitches now that more than 50 people know who they are and they might get 'big' on this cd. who cares, they're great This record is amazing. Anyone who claims not to like it is lying. it's an alright CD. There is a conspicuous lack of riffs and lead guitar, which really could have added to the CD. Although this album is alright (expecailly the song "Everything Is Alright", that songs kicks ass) they sort of let me down with this one. They've lost most of their catchy punk rock nature and have turned itno minie Death Cab For Cuties. Although this album is alright (expecailly the song "Everything Is Alright", that songs kicks ass) they sort of let me down with this one. They've lost most of their catchy punk rock nature and have turned itno minie Death Cab For Cuties. After listening to this a few more times, I've come to the conclusion that you are a bitter, cynical, lying human if you liked their first album and don't like this. This record is just as catchy/distinctive/fun as "I Am the Movie." It's not as over the top "weird" sounding, but just as good in my opinion. Not the greatest album in the world, but I thought it was pretty good. I have been buying a lot of hardcore stuff recently, so I thought this was a nice break from that. The second song is disgustingly catchy, though. I learned the guitar part (super-easy, that's why I learned it) and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since. Maybe some Blood Brothers will take care of that.... kind of a let down. i finally listned to it. absolutely brilliant album This album is phenominal and a great accomplishment in modern day music. Motion City Soundtrack sound is distinctive, unlike so many other bands that sound monotonous. In comparison to I Am The Movie, Commit This To Memory will totally rock your socks off too. This album is phenominal and a great accomplishment. It is complex, alluring, fun and entertaining. I'm so glad to hear MCS grow musically. "I remember Alternative Press did a little bit on Motion City before the cd came out. This isn't a direct quote, but Pierre was asked about donuts and said something to the effect of, "I think we're all empty people on the inside" . Then goes on to say that is one of the underlying themes of this peice." Weezer called they want their image back. well i havent gotten a chance to buy it yet (so damn busy) but i've heard the whole thing on purevolume and i love it. suppose i love pretty much everything mcs does though. such irony and intelligent lyrics contrasted with fun danceable tunes. i admit some of the slow ones aren't my favorites but i still enjoy them. why did epitaph put a parental advisory sticker on this album? it seems like they're doing it more and more lately! this band will fill the void left by get up kids If this was a nine song cd it would be the cd of the year. Unfortunately there are also songs 10-12. I can't believe how crappy those last three songs are. Well I only listened through once so far, and there were already like 5 standout tracks for me. This bodes well for repeated listens and the album's ability to grow on me. Hardly. I just streamed it on purevolume and it sounds like an album that you would listen to for a week, if that, and hang up. Superb album. One of the year's best. I guess I just don't get it. You could tell me this was the new Simple Plan CD and I would believe you. It's garbage. scott pushed this band as the best unsigned band in the country. where is he now that they put out this entirely mediocre record? Man, I didn't like it. I thought it would eventually grow on me, but it didn't (with a few exceptions). I listened to the old Motion City Soundtrack songs to see if perhaps my tastes just changed in the few years since , but i still found those songs to be awesome, and these new ones, not to be. I'm not sure they really held back completely from using the moog. To me it just seems that it's used in the wrong parts. It seems like it's only used when there are already 2 guitars driving the song. http://www.purevolume.com/motioncitysoundtrack/music I had a feeling this was going to happen. "I Am The Movie" was one of those albums that was so fresh and fun that I just loved it purely for its enjoyment, not necessarily the songwriting. The lyrics were flukey and the vocals were distinctively strong. However, you could get a sense that they just weren't serious enough about making good music that they wouldn't live up to the potential they showed. And unfortunately, this is the case with "Commit This To Memory". boring boring boring Nah this isn't as good as I Am The Movie. They seem to be lacking ideas on this one, which is a pity. And yes, I too question the state of Epitaph these days. Man, I didn't like it. I thought it would eventually grow on me, but it didn't (with a few exceptions). I listened to the old Motion City Soundtrack songs to see if perhaps my tastes just changed in the few years since , but i still found those songs to be awesome, and these new ones, not to be. This cover art reminds me of the cover art for Since by Man's "We Sing the Body Electric". That is a good record. I bet this one sucks. While it's not a total bomb, this certainly is a let down if you're expecting another gem like I Am The Movie. This album lacks energy. It tries to ignite but only a spark or two comes out of it. Download the MP3s from the Epitaph site and you're good. i like the acoustic "when you're around" on that split they did sooo much better. only 3 songs into the album so far and it's alright. score is for that acoustic song. This is a disappointment. It just seems to me that there was a lack of effort or thoroughness that went into writing some of these songs. I can handle the increased production and poppiness (hey, they deserve to make some money and appeal to a larger audience). I do not like the fact that there are some throw away songs on this album. Motion City Soundtrack proved they have the ability to write very good slower songs with the I am the Movie Re-Release, but these slow songs just reek of 'filler'. They can do much better than this. I'll still buy the album, but I fear that they are close to jumping the shark. Exactly. I was expecting to hear the next Throwdown. But if this is what they wanted to do, no problem. I'll take the slower songs on here that aren't trying to live up to the fast predecessors of I Am the Movie. (cough Everything is Alright) "Where are the fast songs on this?" 'better open the door' and 'when youre around' 'attractive today' are all pretty fast songs...i am the movie had its share of slower tunes by the way... I remember Alternative Press did a little bit on Motion City before the cd came out. This isn't a direct quote, but Pierre was asked about donuts and said something to the effect of, "I think we're all empty people on the inside" . Then goes on to say that is one of the underlying themes of this peice. IS THAT REALLY SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF OR WRITE AN ALBUM ABOUT!??!? I dont thinks so. C'mon "everything is alright"....its okay to be an empty being null of meaning or soul... I think that IS what this cd is about. Settling with empty music. Settling for a release without the PASSION or FIRE. AND THEN MAKING AN ENTIRE CD ABOUT NOSTALGIA, when this band DID have the passion (I Am The Movie). This most definately is a dissapointment. While I don't think this is better than I Am The Movie, it is still one hell of a record. One of the very few anticipations I've had that has delivered so far. I don't want to listen to this album because it's not the Starting Line, but seriously... "This record doesn't even come close to touching how good I Am the Movie is. Where are the fast songs on this?" I like this record This album is really good, not quite as good as IATM but still really really good. I Am the Movie came out 3 years ago, and only 2 if you consider the re-release. the review doesn't give you the slightest hint as to what this album sounds like. it just says "these songs are good" and "i like this one lame lyric in the shorter song." This will go down as one of the best albums of 2005. Recognize. Without the moog, this band would be average. Average band with moog > other average bands. inagreendase said more in his comment than what this whole review could. I've never agreed with him so much. The band is trying to be something it isn't on this disc. It just doesn't work. i hate it when people call albums by their intials .. its really gay and so scene. come on just write out the title fag. Paul, you're being arrogant. You're talking about sugary pop-punk bands not political maneuvering. seriously, dude. waaaay too many acronyms. that was one of the most annoying reviews i've read on this site because of it. I was gonna write a review for this album, since it had been leaked for so long, but then I got lazy. Anyway, here's my two cents: Motion City Soundtrack jumped the shark. There's a handful of good songs on here, but nothing that I'd miss if I never listened to the album again. "a turn towards the mainstream'?? 'falloutboy w/ moog'?? just to add, ironically, I think 'hangman' is one of the weaker tracks, along w/ 'lgfuad' Matt Skiba wish's he was still upset enough to write lyrics like this. Decent review of a great record. This was a challenge to read, and left me wondering what I just read. Please work on your writing skills. oh, and this review is as juvenille as they come okay, first of all, CHILL WITH THE ACRONYMS well, no one has said it yet so it may as well be me - this is really weak shit......music that no one will remember Epitaph has turned into shit. Seriously. This album is pretty good, but it didn't hit me the way IATM did when I heard it. Back before they were "cool". I used to be able to listen to IATM over and over and over and over, but I couldnt do that with this album. Some really solid songs, but really, it's nothing more than a pop album. FOB with moog, really. I think they lost their originality and freshness on this album. Which is sad cause they had lots of potential. Still love them, though, and I hope this sells well enough out here so they will tour. Obsessive fanboys should not write reviews. are you people kidding me? i looove their last album...witty lyrics, poppy but still managed to rock the fuck out. this one is totally drained of everything that made them fun. the production certainly didn't help anything, mark made it sound like a blink 182 cd. I really liked this CD. Lame that this didn't get respectable staff treatment. Bah! My review gave way more information than this. I will hold the opinion that Justin has managed to sound like Ben Gibbard of Death Cab/Postal Service at multiple points on this record. And if you even try to argue that the begining of "Together We'll Ring In the New Year" DOESNT sound like it was taken straight out of a Postal Service song, you're high as a kite. Okay... but what does it sound like? Score is for the review. definitely a turn towards the mainstream. Could easily mistake this as the new mae or fall out boy. That quirkiness you cited definitely made them more endearing and standout. Now they are more of the same unfortunately (look to troubled hubbles new one for that quirk, different genre but same quality) p.s. that "quirk" someone mentioned before. i heard it on their earlier stuff. it was songs that made no sense. if you like nonsensical shit, then quirkyness is for you my man! This band is only getting better. They have turned their amps up from the previous record and put the moog a little more down with the guitars..and the drummer is getting more complex without taking away from the songs, brilliant. i liked one song. but now i'm sick of it. i totally agree with inagreendase's comment. i'm not trying to sound "too punk" for mark hoppus or anything, but the first thing that i thought when i listened to this is boy this sounds a lot like so many other pop punk bands. i am the movie was very fresh, very original. it almost seems like commit this to memory should have been the first record and i am the movie was the maturing one. not a bad record, but what made motion city soundtrack stand out from everything else is pretty much gone Decent review of a great record. I just heard this and agree whole-heartedly with the review. Like Jimmy Eat World, they've matured (for the better) without totally changing their sound. Too bad more bands can't manage to work that out. This is completely void of the quirk the band had going for them on all previous recordings. I don't completely mind the new topics of the lyrics but I preferred them when they didn't take themselves as seriously. The keyboards are sparse and the vocal harmonies lazy...a few of these tracks barely qualify as catchy. album of the year. any band that uses a Realistic Moog mg-1 rocks. |
