published: 8 /
11 /
2007
Label:
Epitaph Records
Format: CD
Clichéd and overly derivative pop punk on third album from the much hyped Motion City Soundtrack
Review
Polished with an inch of its life during two separate sessions in New York, Motion City Soundtrack’s third album whilst undeniably frothy, fuzzy and occasionally fun is ultimately a superficial and unfulfilling body of work.
The recording sessions, helmed respectively by Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne) together with Eli Janney (Girls Against Boys) and Ric Ocasek (The Cars) could have been something quite special but despite their prestigious credentials, there’s only so much you can do with such generic, tired, heard it all before, material. It’s performed well enough and you could argue there are a few hooks here and there – the ironically self-produced ‘Broken Heart’ for example, but for the most part they’re simply not barbed enough to make a lasting impression. Lacking any real edge, given lead singer Justin Pierre’s well-documented struggles with alcohol abuse, fortunately now overcome, some edgier, darker more impassioned material mightn’t have been too much too expect. Too often clichéd and overly derivative, Motion City Soundtrack have some way to go before there’s any danger of them emulating the success of Weezer, who they aspire to, either artistically or commercially.
Track Listing:-
1
Fell in Love Without You
2
This Is For Real
3
It Had To Be You
4
Last Night
5
Calling All Cops
6
Can't Finish What You Started
7
The Conversation
8
Broken Heart
9
Hello Helicopter
10
Where I Belong
11
Point Of Extinction
12
Antonia
13
Even If It Kills Me
14
Not Asking You To Leave
15
The Worst Part...
16
Fell In Love Without You (Acoustic)
17
It Had To Be You (Acoustic)
18
Broken Heart (Acoustic)
19
Can't Finish What You Started (Acoustic)
20
Point Of Extinction (Acoustic)
21
Digital Booklet: Even If It Kills Me [Bonus Track Version]
Label Links:-
http://epitaph.com/
https://www.facebook.com/epitaphrecord
http://epitaphrecords.tumblr.com/
http://www.kingsroadmerch.com/epitaph-
https://twitter.com/epitaphrecords
https://www.youtube.com/epitaph