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".

This band is fucking awesome live, though.

average album.....

good songs

Track 1, Track 2, Calling Cops, the last song
thats basically it...

slow songs are weak.

"listen to Cambridge, then listen to Calling All Cops and tell us you still can't tell a difference"

word.

i dont know what you mean by "raw"

listen to Cambridge, then listen to Calling All Cops and tell us you still can't tell a difference

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.

and about ap.net, when i read their review i thought it was kind of cheesy. it was an okay review, but the little corny things about it are what made me take it less seriously (maybe thats what they were going for).

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?"
My thoughts exactly. Also, I believe it's Last Night that has a very Postal Service-esque quality.
It's my belief that this sounds similar to the best possible record Fall Out Boy could ever make, but never will. Take this as you will.
I still enjoy it, but it's not the best they could have done.
Oh well.

AP.net reviews are oh so much better (even the ones done by random ppl, not just the pro ones)

Eh, I think it needs to be said that being on a review staff doesn't make one a "pro" writer.

Yo dudes, we've never given a record 8 stars. That would be a little over the top.

Commit This to Memory was mediocre city; probably won't bother checking this out.

"Now what was it about this record that made me know the review was going to give it an 8?
Oh yea... that's what punknews.org reviews are obligated to do with popular bands
That is of course unless the band has too big a fanbase ala MCR etc... in which case it would be too uncool to give it a positive review.
AP.net reviews are oh so much better (even the ones done by random ppl, not just the pro ones)"

How often do staff writers over at AP give a bad review to an album. Fucking rarely. It's true that too this site has been fluttered with too many user reviews of late, but buddy, fuck you.

AP.net reviews are oh so much better (even the ones done by random ppl, not just the pro ones)

http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=266001

Hmm.. .it got an 83% which is like what, an 8/10? Which would be, like, 4/5 stars?

You're a fucking joke dude.

When Tate stops giving Spill Canvas and shitty Thrice albums perfect scores, let me know, cause then I might take your opinion seriously.

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.

_
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.

*******

Take that for what it is though, I am a huge fanboy.

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?
Oh yea... that's what punknews.org reviews are obligated to do with popular bands
That is of course unless the band has too big a fanbase ala MCR etc... in which case it would be too uncool to give it a positive review.
AP.net reviews are oh so much better (even the ones done by random ppl, not just the pro ones)

Score is for "The Conversation."

I cried a lot and then we spooned/ without her I am doomed
From track 12, "Antonia."
best lyrics I've heard in a long time.

So where are the new Bronx album(s)?
Their site hasn't mentioned the new albums since April.
Anyone know whats going on with The Bronx?

PS: New Black Lips record is amazing, eat it against me.

I remember seeing this band almost four years ago at CMU. What the hell happened since then?

Yeah, this is a decent pop record, by why the fuck did they need to make a 'decent pop record' in the first place?

It's catchy but not something I see myself listening to in a few weeks. I'll just pop in I Am the Movie.

"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."

so true. it's all been downhill for this band after IATM

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 am fucking sick of eight out of tens on this website"

And I am getting sick of people who are just looking for something to complain about.

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
weezer
the aniversary
ben folds
and
atom and his package.

there i said it.

listen to those bands and then listen to this.

I am fucking sick of eight out of tens on this website

8 stars? what the fuck are you thinking?
this album has a couple good songs, but nothing spectacular. its pretty boring actually, not something you can listen to all the way through. very uninspired sounding... certainly not on the level that IATM was, or even CTTM

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*

*I am aware that they were done by different reviewers

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.

-Scott

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.

- Kirby

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.

Their second record was very good, some really solid tracks. Over all pretty satisfied.

Listening to the two preview tracks on Epitaph, I have no desire whatsoever to hear more of this record. Too bad.

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.