Customer Reviews

Secret Weapon

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'll get straight to the point-Secret Weapon
isn't Life In General Pt.2, so don't expect a whole
album's worth of rapid-fire drumming and songs about
Elvis and Punk rock shows. Do expect an honest, confident
album that reminds us why we love MXPX and why we'll
continue to love them. The title track, seems to be the
album's blessing and curse. The blessing is that
when we all heard the leak a few months back, it confirmed
that they were definitely back. The curse however is that
quite a few songs on the first half sound like this
and If it weren't the nicely done "American Idiot" styled
breakdown on "Punk Rock Heroes" I'd think it was the same song.
However when they're not trying to emulate Bad Religion/Pennywise,
they pull off some the best music they've had in a long while.
For one, I was never a huge fan of their political or "angry songs" because I've got a million albums by a million punks
bands that have covered these themes a million times.
What I've always loved about MXPX was their optimistic, yet honest view on life, their fun songs and of most of all, the songs about the complicated, unpredictable species known as the woman. Yeah, Mike's still having girl problems and as a result, still writing great songs about relationships and yeah, there are a some VERY "Life In General" moments on this album. There are a few filler cuts but if you've bought all the other ones, you should be use to this by now. This isn't by any means a perfect album but this might be their most focused album to date. Once you get over the fact that it isn't as fast as you thought it would be, you'll love the album.

A long time fan, I have purchased every album, EP and recording I could get my hands on. I think Secret Weapon is a nice return to their roots, but I don't think they are going to win over legions of new fans. I think this album may bring back some of those who left when they signed with a major label and softened their sound in the search for radio hits. This album is solid all the way through. It does sure more maturity and style than their early albums. I don't hear anything that will be a hit on the radio, but I doubt they are even worried about that. This is a strong album, and if you have been away from MXPX for a while, this is a nice way to get back to the band.

Thank you MXPX for finally putting out a good album. I am one of the few MXPX die hards from the old days. I stopped listening becuase the last few albums were just horrible. This new album is great. MXPX put some great effort into this album and it really shows. A MUST BUY!

I understand the "returning to the roots" aspect, but I just happened to be a fan of the emo-pop punk of the later MxPx. I own all the albums since "Buffalo" (I'm sure you're not surprised). If you got into MxPx for a grittier but still catchy alternative to the huge punk-pop bands (Sum41, Blink 182), you'll be disappointed, because there isn't anything here that's really memorable. If you've been bummed out by all the later albums but loved "Teenage Politics" and "Life in General," you'll love this. For my money, I'll take "Let's Rock."

MxPx will not return to the days of Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo and before. Their early speed, skate, hardcore, or whatever you wanna call it punk days don't exist anymore. This is not necessarily a bad thing. I think I'd laugh if MxPx started writing 30 second speed punk songs about skateboarding or being young and confused as a teenager. MxPx has grown up and changed, and along with them, their sound has grown up and changed. For a band that's been around 15 years, it would be ridiculous to expect them to keep writing the same punk songs they wrote over a decade ago. This album is definately better than the junk they recently put out, known as Before Everything and After, and failed attempt of achieving their original status, Panic. This song has a few songs that everyone should be able to enjoy, and they do a good job of paying homage to punk legends and insprirations with the heavy punk beats of Drowning, driving intro bass line in Contention, and guitar solo of Bad Religion's Brian Baker in Secret Weapon. Is this the speed punk album like Pokinatcha some fans were hoping for? Nope. Is this a bad album because of this? Not really. Listen to this album with an open mind, and I'm sure you'll find something that won't make you embarrassed to still be a fan of MxPx.

good punk rock cd. some tracks are a bit too poppy for me ('sad song' and 'bass so low'), but most of the time it's melodic, up tempo punkrock.

the title track reminds me of bands like pennywise ('reason to believe' cd) and bad religion. it appears that brian baker played the lead guitar of this song :D

very good production as well.

I hadn't bought an MXPX album since Before Everything & After, and I have to say I was very pleased with the album. I didn't like it quite as much as I like that CD, but it still has some great songs on it like "Chop Shop", "Bass So Low" & "Biting The Bullet". From the title track 'Secret Weapon' it keeps a good steady pace with a lot of variety.

Great album! But still not my favorite. If you're looking for an introductory MXPX album, go for Before Everything & After or 10 Years and Running.

MXPX is one of my favorite bands and this is another great release. My favorite songs would have to be "You're on Fire" and "Chop Shop," but the whole album is great with a good mix of driving rock and thoughtful slower paced songs. MXPX also avoids much of the harsh language and themes that are prevalent in most modern music. I can not help but smile when any of these songs comes up on my iPod, the music of MXPX has an uplifting quality that makes the world a little better.

This is by far MxPx's best cd to date! It has more of the old-school feel from their best days. With many bands, time takes it's toll, with these guys, it only makes them sweatier and rawk so much harder, and the lyrics just can't be topped for this album.

So, I'm not the BIGGEST MXPX fan in the world, I own this and "Panic" but the gist I get is that they were getting soft, then when they signed to Sideonedummy they picked it up a little and are continuing that trend. Correct me if I'm wrong.

So, being that I have not all that much to compare it to, I'll just start with Panic. I don't actually thing this album is as strong as Panic was, and it makes me wonder why they abandoned their Sideonedummy journey to return to an older record label. Oh well. The CD is still good ol' fasion catchy pop-rock with obvious punk influence and roots. When you listen to an MXPX song or album, there's always the chance that it's gonna be a little too slow and melodic for my tastes, so when I popped this in and heard the first two tracks, it did wonders to ease the anxiety.

Start to finish this CD is pretty well put together, but it does have a few moments when it bottoms out. There are 19 tracks if you buy the copy from... I don't really remember where I got mine, but it had 3 extra tracks, but they could have shortened it to about 15 tracks, ommiting "Angels" "Drowning" "Never Better Than Now" and "You're on Fire" and it would have been a stronger release, those songs are kind of bland and boring.

Everything else is very nice and appealing to the ears. Tom's guitar and Mike's bass do very well together especially in songs where they both have moments to shine like "Shut it Down" "Bass So Low" and "Sad Sad Song" Mike's vocals are right on key once you get used to it (for some reason it took me a while) and the songs often change from slow to fast without or with little warning. The lyrics cover both petty topics like teenage obsession with electronics and myspace and heavier subjects like relationships and the music industries constant pressure on bands to "sell out." All in all it's good fun to listen to when you're in a good mood or when you're in a bad mood and WANT to be in a good mood.

I originally gave this 4 stars but then I couldn't go through with it 'cause I gave bands like "Suicide Machines" and "Time Again" 4 stars, and those bands are definitely better than this one. If I could go three and a half I would but for now it's three. Ultimately worth picking up. I can't suggest where new fans should start 'cause I'm a relatively new fan myself, so maybe someone can tell me where my new MXPX purchase should be.

Highlight tracks: "Shut it Down" "Contention" "Chop Shop" "Bass So Low" "Biting the Bullet" and "Not Nothing" Wow, they have a lot of really good songs on here. Get this CD.