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| Motion City SoundtrackEven If It Kills Me2007 Epitaph 
 Review by: CaptainCrunch See others by this writer Motion City Soundtrack (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on September 21st 2007
Motion City Soundtrack have been around for the better part of a decade. Touring relentlessly, they've been able to build both a loyal fanbase and enough mainstream buzz to think they're backed by a major. Even If It Kills Me is an excellent release, the band's next logical musical step after their previous two albums, albeit one that will take some time for die-hard MCS fans to get acclimated to.
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I think Justin Pierre is a fantastic song writer. I agree, these guys have gotten a bit too polished with this release, but their brutal honsety remains. In a genre ruled by vague, down-trodden lyricism, Pierre manages to get specific and real. I like that about them. It's not quite IATM, but it's definitely a release with it's own feel. I meant "This Is For Real". I really can't stand the single "Even If It Kills Me". average album..... "listen to Cambridge, then listen to Calling All Cops and tell us you still can't tell a difference" i dont know what you mean by "raw" Fuck you. the drum part to "Point of Extinction" sounds a helluva lot like the drum part to "Time Turned Fragile". Plus the drumming in "Broken Heart" and "Can't Finish What You Started" is as solid as anything on Commit This To Memory. every album i anticipate sucks..what is up with that? The vocals didn't used to seem so flat. Flat = not raw. i dont know what you mean by "raw", but i think there is a lot more backing vocals on this album... whereas before there was more of justin's voice by itself. theres a lot of "ohs" and "ahs", kind of harmony type sounds on here. Definitely not a fan of this cd. Very uninspired and the vocals aren't as raw as they used to be. It's basically a snoozer for me. The music isn't too bad, but they really tried to strip themselves of any uniqueness they had from back in the day. Commit this to Memory is a much stronger effort despite the horrid tracklisting, but they both pale in comparison to I Am the Movie "is it just me or does "the conversation" sound EXACTLY like a ben fold song?" AP.net reviews are oh so much better (even the ones done by random ppl, not just the pro ones) Yo dudes, we've never given a record 8 stars. That would be a little over the top. "Now what was it about this record that made me know the review was going to give it an 8? AP.net reviews are oh so much better (even the ones done by random ppl, not just the pro ones) I can't hate this band for some reason. They remind me of the sorta good parts to mid-90's emo. The first song on this is good, soley for the fact the little synth parts reminded me of Flying Fortress Act 1, 2, AND 3 for Sonic 2 on the Genisis. They get 7 stars. Twice, even. Being a huge fan of Justin Pierre's lyrics, I have been very interested to see how they would turn out on this, being that it's the first that he's written more-or-less completely sober. You can really sense the vulnerability and willingness to be completely upfront about the "mistakes" that he's made and his attempts to overcome them, which I feel results in not only the lyrics being a little more straightforward, but the music as well. The fact that the music is "softer" than their past albums really helps drive that point home... this is an album of healing and self-discovery, and a lot of times, health and discovery can only be accomplished in a state of peace, a state where you're willing to settle down and just be, and I can hear all of this reflected in the music/lyrics/production. While there are definitely spots on this album I would have done much differently (the production is a little unnecessarily slick), I can understand why they're where they are. its true that this site gives too many 8 star reviews, especially when an entire paragraph of the review is dedicated to the album's shortcomings, including a recognition of "necessary evils" that the band made to make it more "radio-friendly" Now what was it about this record that made me know the review was going to give it an 8? Score is for "The Conversation." I cried a lot and then we spooned/ without her I am doomed So where are the new Bronx album(s)? I remember seeing this band almost four years ago at CMU. What the hell happened since then? "Every song starts out with just the guy singing or the guy singing over a palm muted guitar and they all sound the same. These guys need to stop getting a pass because they used to be good." No Way... this is their worst album... gonna get a 6 i'd say this review is pretty spot on actually. i didn't like this the first few times through but it's growing. and yeah, it's a total radio pop record and you need to approach it like that. if you're not in the mood for something light and catchy you will hate it Score is for the new dropkick murphys-oldpunker- meh.. I got bored halfway through this.. I've read a lot of reviews for this album, and yours is one of my favorites. Probably because I'm a biased mcs fan :) But I agree with a lot of things you said. so good job! Every song starts out with just the guy singing or the guy singing over a palm muted guitar and they all sound the same. These guys need to stop getting a pass because they used to be good. I loved I Am The Movie and thought Commit This To Memory was pretty good. For some strange reason though I really have no desire to check this out. This album is okay, but other than the first song, there's really no life to it. And for what it's worth, I kind of like "The Conversation". I can't belive it. This album is actually pretty good. 3 or 4 songs too many, but I really ate my words here. Good tunes. Terrible lyrics, but still good tunes. "Posted by danperrone on 2007-09-21 02:17:56 I mean, even Scott is disappointed with the new record. Shit. IATM sounded fresh as all hell when it came out. This sounds like rehashed power-pop. Not terrible, but completely uninspired and not as hooky as it arguably should be. superchunk I am fucking sick of eight out of tens on this website 8 stars? what the fuck are you thinking? wow! somebody besides me got the ben folds feeling also! this band really loves their influences. i think they even name drop ben folds somewhere in the album. i'm sure i heard it in some song on the second half. this album is fucking weak. oh yeah, i did. oopsssssssssssssssss. extra s's there for you. ben fold? you forgot the "s" at the end. its a decent pop-punk album, nothing really groundbreaking, but a lot of fun, catchy songs. Still, I kind of chuckled to myself that this got a higher score then New Wave* is it just me or does "the conversation" sound EXACTLY like a ben fold song? I just have to accept that this band will never make the record I want them to make. I totally agree, this album is awesome. The great drum parts are still there, they're just a little more subtle. The drums at the beginning of "Can't Finish What You Started" are fucking sweet. 8 stars? You're drunk. This is a 6 at best. I love MCS. I've been there since the beginning (go back in pndoto's history and you'll see), but this just isn't where this band should be. Its certainly a progression from CTTM, but they could have done so much better. i was suprised by the stars you gave this album. i really think it doesn't deserve that much. i love this band alot, but this album just falls flat with it's slower paced songs filtered throught. track 5 'calling all cops' and track 13 ' even if it kills me' stand out amongst all the rest as a better upgrade of what the band has done in the past. the rest just seem like tired re-hashed b-sides of of CTTM or IATM. this band still takes their pride of being 'inspired' by the likes of superchunk and weezer too much. heck, even the anniversary to a certain point. what makes me still like this band though, is the singer and his way with words and their flow within a song. sort of like how kevin seconds does his thing with hardcore punk. Man, "I Am the Movie" is SO great. What an awesome album. I remember listening to "The Future Freaks Me Out" and just being kicked on my butt by their sound. I haven't heard the album, but it sounds like your in denial about how much it sucks, and you're trying to justify why it doesn't. |
