Forty Hour Train Back to Penn [Enhanced, Limited Edition]

The Movielife | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 25, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Enhanced, Limited Edition
• Label: Drive-Thru
• ASIN: B00008BNUI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,689 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

New York's the Movielife cut their teeth as spiky hardcore upstarts, but with Forty Hour Train Back to Penn, they've evolved into a quality pop-punk band. Crushing tight emo intensity, shout-along choruses, and post-hardcore dynamics into a polished package, they provide a fine example of label Drive-Thru Records' skill at nailing the brightly populist side of modern punk. "Jamestown" displays the kind of heartfelt emo fury that At the Drive-In specialized in; the song chronicles a recent van crash that left frontman Vinnie Carusa "bruised and broken" and gives the album its name. Elsewhere, emotional pain drives Carusa's lyrics. "Face and Kneecaps" deals with a relationship nearing the end, while "Kelly’s Song" strikes a strong chord with the line: "When Kelly cries / The makeup runs from her eyes / Spilling the truth / Of how she feels inside." This is a band that plays to its strengths. --Louis Pattison

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Good CD, April 5, 2003

By 

"ccbobby2000" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forty Hour Train Back to Penn (Audio CD)

Im just going to rate the CD song by song.

1. Face or Kneecaps: a really catchy song. got me into this CD. second best song. 9.5/10

2. Jamestown: A deep song but its really good. WARNING: this song will get stuck in your head. 9/10

3. Spanaway: My least favorite song on the CD. Its too slow and generic for me. 4/10

4. Kelly: A good song but a bit repetative: 8/10

5. Taking It Out and Chopping It Up: A great song. One of my favorites. 9/10

6. Scary: An alright song but not anything special: 6/10

7. Hey: A Pretty good song though it is slower than most: 7/10

8. Jamaica Next: A pretty catchy song. another one of my favorites: 9/10

9. It's Something: This is my favorite song on the CD. Guitar rifts are good and its really catchy: 10/10

10. Keep Never Changing: Kinda of dull i think. not that great but still decent: 6/10

11. Ship to Shore: A pretty good song. I think if it and Jamaica Next were switched i would like it more but not a good song for the end of the CD. 6.5/10

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is truly AMAZING!!!, April 22, 2003

By 

Giles (Cardiff, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forty Hour Train Back to Penn (Audio CD)

I bought this album from the day it came out and man ive had my moneys worth. This album is definately one of the albums of 2003. Starts off well enough with "Face Or Kneecaps", which has a really crunchy guitar riff. "Jamestown", probobly the darkest song in the album contains very emotional vocals that really shows the Movielife's true colors. The third track "Spanaway" is a slowish track, probobly the most average song in the album. Then comes "Kelly Song", which is my fav in the album. Very catchy song and very well structured...this song is probobly one of the best Movielife songs and sounds amazing live. "Takin It Out...." is more like a typical pop punk song wit a really catchy chorus that goes 'c'mon c'mon, shut up shut up'. The start of Track 5, "Scary" reminds me a little of Hell Song by Sum 41...good lyrics and another dark song in the album. "Hey" is a very cool song, quite funny if u read the lyrics. The next song "Jamaica Next" is a typical Movielife song i guess, sounds like something out of the This Time Next Year. "Its Something" has very good lyrics and is a nice sing along song. Track 10, "Keep Never..." has fast punk drums and is a sort of song that would make you mosh when played live or really loud. "Ship to Shores", the last track in the album sounds a little like Face Or Kneecaps, probobly because of the guitar riff. The song is very emotional. Overall, I think this album is very good. Very emotional and Vinnie's vocals really stands out. This is a must have! Stand out tracks - Face Or Kneecaps, Jamestown, Kelly Song and Its Something

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, not perfect, but a classic nonethless, April 7, 2003

By 

"spikedbeltgirl" (Houston TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forty Hour Train Back to Penn (Audio CD)

When you hype yourself up for something mind-blowing, it's never as good as when you're expecting something pitiful. Hand Granade was the track on the Warped 2002 cd that got my feet tapping, so when I started reading shining reviews of The Movielife's latest offering I bought 'Forty Hour...' and unwrapped it, my mouth watering in expectation...

...it took two listens, but even with higher than high hopes this cd really makes it. It's faster rocking than Brand New [not necessarily better!] and faster to kick in than Taking Back Sunday. This is pop-core that switches from the post-hardcore intensity of 'Jamestown', to the emo-tinged pop-punk of the beautifully executed 'Kelly Song'. Marvellously done, boys. Marvellously done.

It's exciting yet soothing; dark yet catchy. You can really feel Vinnie's pop-punk voice as he angrily comes out with heart-felt, memorable lyrics that show quality songwriting and inspiration. One of my favourite voices in punk.

It's also frustratingly addictive. The first two tracks smack you with skilfull guitars and noteable drumming, and you're left wanting to get back to your bedroom while you're at school/work just to spin this disc and savour the emotion that is The Movielife. 'Jamestown' is a raw, heavy track complete with swearing based on the New York band's dangerous tour bus crash that had a strong influence on this album. "Late night, snowfall,get us to the HAWWspital!"

'Spanaway' is bad apple that starts like it's been slowed down and it never really picks up, however, there are some gems that glint now again that are worth a listen. It confuses me as to why it's track three, but maybe it's so the next beauty, 'Kelly Song' can sparkle in juxtaposition to it's averagness. And sparkle it does... mmm...vanilla creaminess... It's destined to be a favourite, albeit the obvious, mainstream sound choice of the cd.

'Takin' it out and Choppin' it up' is a catchy shout-a-long moaning to an ex-girlfriend who mouthed off a-la Dashbord Confessional, 'It's Something' is a winner with different lyrics and a cute hook, and 'Keep Never Changing', has lyrics like "Not saying it's right, not saying it's wrong, it's just the way I chose to go"

'Scary' is one of my favourites. It's a pile of Finch-esque perfection proof these guys can squeeze originality out of their guitars, and I think the use of the word "Monster" says it all abdout this anthem of darkness and seriousness with a childish edge.

However, though it starts really tight, no seams, you'll lose concentration at track 8 or maybe even way back at track 5 if you have ADD and it'll just be mush of brilliance that you can't hear. Yes, it's top class music, but if it lacks something, it's variety. Fear not though the last track, 'Ship to Shore' should remind you that you're listening to the next big thing, parlty because the words "Naked body" graces your ears, and partly because it rocks. Quite alot.

Extra track, 'Sailor Tattoos' is light and jolly, but of course it's a teary eyed affair, that hits it lyrically, bites it in catchiness, but ends the cd with 3 seconds that had me cracking up.

But I won't ruin the surprise, I'll let you find out for yourself when you sprint to Best Buy and strangle Neil the store assistant with nose hair he needs to pluck and sweat marks on his armpits when he tells you that their all out of copies for The Movielife's 40 Hour Train Back to Penn.

Best of 2003 so far? Yeah, I think so.