Customer Reviews

Yesterday Rules

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

 

 

This is my early favorite for 2004 album of the year. Delivers the hook-heavenly pop-punk MTX is famous for, blended with intricate Byrdsy and Kinksy arrangements & Beach Boys backing vocals, all to tell emotional and articulate and true stories about love and, um, crucifiction. "Big, Brave Beautiful Hammer" will tear your happy heart out, "London" will remind you of being defiantly heartbroken in a faraway land, "F*cked Up on Life" will shout across the hills that great rock music is still being made in 2004.

You cannot really go wrong in the hands of the Good Doctor. The Mr T Experience, MTX for short are back, pumping out what could be their most inspiring work. This smile inducing, head bobbing treasure rocks out from the first chord, and continues to hold you in throughout. Dr Franks Elvis Costello-ish delivery is quite brilliant, not to mention the fact that that delivery always comes with sharp, witty and unmatched lyrics. If you have never been a fan of, or never even heard of MTX, this album is a great time to become a little more aware of waht could possibly be the best band on earth!

MTX continues to impress. Another top-notch collection of songs from Dr. Frank. Not exactly "pop punk" at this point, but Frank's songwriting skills seem to transcend musical genres. More of the hooks and clever lyrics you've come to expect from this band. Slightly more rocking than "Alcatraz," but still basically a pop album. Not as consistent as their best efforts, but still very good. And "London" is one of Frank's best songs ever.

I've been a fan of the Mr. T Experience since I first heard Revenge in the late 90's. Not long afterward, a strange thing happened. The MTX released Alcatraz, a rock and roll album that didn't fit into the pop punk mold. A lot of people, even some I knew and respected, were disappointed that MTX didn't sound like they should. To each his own, but Alcatraz is a great album.

Anyway, the damage had been done. And to his credit, Dr. Frank didn't appease anyone. Yesterday Rules is another great rock and roll album that doesn't sound like Love is Dead--hence the negative reviews on this site.

Since 2004 I've been saying that Yesterday Rules is my favorite album, and it's still true. (It pushed Screeching Weasel's Anthem for a New Tomorrow to the number 2 spot when I'm counting.) I won't attempt to say why and I'm not a music critic, so I'll just mention that my favorite songs on the album are "Fucked Up On Life", "Sorry for Freaking Out on the Phone Last Night", "Everybody Knows You're Crying", and "Institutionalized Misogyny", although they're all excellent.

The latest edition of the MTX Starship is a tight, fluid band whose melodic chops match the wit and sparkle of (evil genius lyricist) Dr. Frank's latest set of twisted tunes. It's the first time in years Mr. T is officially a four-piece, with guitarist Ted Angel matching Frank lick for lick, and longtime ace drummer Jym holding down the rhythm with their versatile new bassist, Bobby J. "Yesterday Rules" shows the good Doctor still in top form, with songs that skillfully balance a moody pessimism with a deceptively simplistic playfulness. The searching spirituality of recent records has been scaled back, as has much of the musical experimentalism that bewildered some of his head-bobbing fan base. Nonetheless, this disc is as musically diverse as they come, with '60s-styled go-go riffs and Cheap Trick power chords lined up alongside good old 1-2-3-4 punk, lilting acoustic ditties, and even a whiff of country-rock. Above all, Dr. Frank remains a preeminent spokesman for today's contingent of irony-drenched, asocial, overeducated slackers, those of us who like to screen all our calls and stay in the apartment for days on end. Several songs promise to become classics, notably the sardonic "Jill," the jaunty "Institutionalized Misogyny," singalong crowd pleasers like "Boxfriend Box" and "F**ked Up On Life," as well as the moodier, more personal songs such as "London." As ever, Frank's lyrics have more depth to them than you're likely to parse out in just one listen -- that's why this catchy little disc will likely stay on "repeat" on numerous iPods for many months to come.

MTX is very notable for their special blends of pop-punk, and can pretty much sing about anything: girls, adjectives, Love Connection, and even Velveeta cheese. In recent years, Dr. Frank has been experimenting with new, "lighter" sounds, such as on the EP "The Miracle of Shame"... but this time, he's taken it too far. The overdose of keyboards and organs really take away from the songs... hence why "She's Not A Flower" is one of the few tracks that I can actually listen to all the way through. The songs have great potential, if only they had not been so watered down as they are. You'd really be better off with albums such as "Love is Dead", "...and the Women Who Love Them" (special edition)", "Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood", or even "Night Shift at the Thrill Factory".

I just found out that MTX had come out with another CD, and being a fan of earlier releases, I picked it up right away. This CD is really good, don't let people tell you otherwise. The witty and smart lyrics are still there, as well as the MTX pop-punk-rock sound. I think that Dr. Frank's voice is at its best in this release, conveying all the emotions that most people are afraid to express. All I have to say is buy this now!

What ever happened to the MTX that made the brilliant Milk, Milk Lemonade, Love is Dead & Our Bodies, Ourselves??
The last three MTX CD's have been absolutely horrible. It seems that the days of witty lyrics & catchy beats are a thing of the past.