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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This album is for real, September 19, 2007
Over the years, Motion City Soundtrack has gained quite a following, blossoming from unknowns to staples in the indie world and borderline mainstream. It's always difficult for a band to toe the line between staying true to their original style yet still evolving without "selling out." I hate that term, but when bands like Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance do a complete 180 in terms of their musical style after they got famous, you have to wonder what spurred that. Luckily, I think that with this album, Motion City Soundtrack has successfully pulled it off.
I have to admit, if you are looking for a punk sound, you may be disappointed. While a lot of their old stuff (songs like Throwdown and many tracks on I Am The Movie) had a grittier sound, Motion City Soundtrack has definitely gotten a little poppier. You can tell the difference in production and polish on this album than on I Am The Movie. Yet they have done so in such a way that their punk roots are still slightly evident, though the "pop" of "pop punk" is definitely the headline here. I think this evolution to a poppier sound was evident in Commit This To Memory, and they do it again here. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the sound is soooo different from their last album. It's a small change, and it works.
If you've read the Alternative Press article, then you know a big theme of this album is the sobriety and feelings of Justin Pierre, the lead singer and songwriter. This is very evident; many of the lyrics are more personal than in Motion City Soundtrack's past work. As a result, some of the songs are a little softer and more expressive, and there is more use of piano, most notably in "The Conversation," which is very Ben Folds-like. But they still retain their fast-paced, synthesizer rock sound. Lyrically, I think this is their most mature album. Songs like "This Is For Real" and "Even If It Kills Me" deal with themes like drug use and trying to get your life back on track, while tracks like "It Had To Be You" have the fun, goofy lyrics that MCS is known for. The quality of Justin's vocals (one of my personal favorite points of this band) are still very high, and the rolling drums that pushed the beat in old songs like "My Favorite Accident" and "Everything is Alright" is still here, like in "This Is For Real" and "Broken Heart." And while some songs are more mature, the pop sound has required that the Moog synthesizer remain of the band's focal points.
All in all, it's good to see a band successfully cater to their old fans while adapting their style to fit their changing musical tastes and abilities. If you ask me, I think this album is going to blow up (and for good reason).
Personal favorites: "This Is For Real," "It Had To Be You," "Where I Belong," "Point of Extinction," "Antonia," "Even If It Kills Me"
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Actually an amazing album-- one you can listen to again and again, October 1, 2007
Recently I was introduced to Motion City Soundtrack, before the release of Even If It Kills Me and fell in love with their fun lyrics and awesome beat. When I got this album I was surprised to see how amazing the band has become over the years. The tempo in each song DOES change often, keeping you engaged, along with lyrics that don't just sing, they tell intricate stories with lines you'll love.
It's amazing how different each song ends up being, from a piano based "The Conversation" to the tragic and dramatic "Hello Helicopter" and the upbeat "Where I belong" that starts with a catchy beat, and best of all lyrics that make you just want to sing along and laugh, each song carries it's own flavor of Motion City Soundtrack.
Overall, a great combination of music that will keep you wanting to play this album over and over again. It may very well be their best album yet.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Album That Gets Better Over Time, November 3, 2007
Motion City Soundtrack's new album, Even If It Kills Me, is the type of album that gets better with every listen. If it's a Motion City Soundtrack record, then the music that's about to blast through those speakers is guaranteed to be extremely catchy highlighted by amazing vocals and infectious keyboards. This record is no different.
Songs like, "Fell In Love Without You," are a good example of what the band does best. Songs that are fast paced, have heavy keyboard and moog elements, loud guitars, and vocals that sound effortless yet fit the song perfectly. "Point of Extinction," falls under the same category of being fast paced, upbeat, and incredibly catchy. The band tends to step outside their comfort zone more often than not this time around. Whether it's utilizing heavy ooo's and aah's as background vocals like in, "It Had To Be You," and, "Can't Finish What You Started," to songs that thrive on piano, incredibly harmony, and vocals that actually sound emotional like in, "The Conversation," the band has grown up since the last record and they're here to display how they've matured.
"Antonia," and, "Last Night," aren't your typical Motion City Soundtrack songs either. "Antonia," sounds like one on the surface, but the lyrics are sung in a way that are almost spoken and sound like they were written to gloat about Justin Pierre(the lead singer)'s significant other. "Last Night," is another slow song that brings the piano into play once again, but is surrounded by low guitars and clapping. The album also has lyrics that anyone can relate to and a perfect example is in, "Last Night;" "I still don't know exactly who I am. I never will. Amen."
Motion City Soundtrack has always had a strong closing track on all their records and Even If It Kills Me is no exception. It's a little slow at first before it builds up and is then broken down again. The lyrics, as I mentioned, are the highlight of the record. One of my favorite lines is from this song; "I'm really not as stubborn as I seem/said the knuckle to the concrete." Motion City Soundtrack has always been able to use vocabulary that other bands wouldn't even consider(like including, "plethora," in the lyrics on their last album), but they outdo themselves this time around by referencing Transformers twice on this record. They've always been able to utilize depressing vocals or songs dealing with depressing issues(like break-ups) that wind up contradicating themselves and usually display the final product in an upbeat way.
This is the type of album you listen to once, forget about, then come back to a few days later. The songs get stuck in your head and the album grows on you. The drawing appeal to this album is the lyrics. Most of the songs are about going through hard times and dealing with them. My life is a mess right now, so this is kind of like the soundtrack to help me through that mess. I think anybody can find something to like about this band, whether it's the heavy moog and keyboard elements that they're known for, Justin Pierre's incredible vocal talent, or the fact that they have lyrics anyone can relate to. Motion City Soundtrack is definitely a band that should be given more than a second glance. Even If It Kills Me is as good as part as any in their catalog to do just that.
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