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27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Expand Your Horizons, June 6, 2000
No, it's not traditional, old-school, 3-chord-only punk - and no, not every song has a hyped-up, thrash polka beat....so what? Judge the MUSIC, people...not the genre or the category. It shouldn't be about how "punk" they are, it's about how good the music, concept and content is -- and I am a fan from their Magnified Plaid/Pokinatcha/Teenage Politics days. To me, this album is about a band that continues to grow and mature as musicians, songwriters and artists. MxPx's continued growth is evident on this CD. More use of alternate and minor chords, more sophisticated arrangements and song structures...it's a broadening of their "Slowly Going The Way of The Buffalo" album without losing what makes them MxPx. Mike's voice continues to mature in interpretation, and the interplay between guitar, bass and drums is as tight and accurate as ever. It's about the SONGS now -- not just about "playing fast and heavy" or "making a statement." All good things -- but remember this is music, first and foremost. These are songs that have plenty of hook for your ear to latch on to - while still making you think musically and lyrically. It IS pop-punk, yes...but it's concise, mature pop-punk, well-written and played. THAT'S what matters. Why only four stars? Well, I do agree with some other reviews...they're a little too glossed-over on this release and it takes a little bit off their edge and rawness. It's a trend that started on "Slowly Going..." But it's still an excellent album on its own merits. So broaden your genres and open up your ears...you'll be glad you did. (And btw, much more depth here than either Blink or Green Day).
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Their most complex and mature album yet..., December 17, 2000
I have been a huge fan of MxPx since Pokinatcha so it's frustrating to see so many people that are fed up with this album. True, it lacks the hard-edged punk rawk feel of their Tooth & Nail releases, but does that mean that the band sold-out or became too radio friendly? No. MxPx has had radio friendly songs since Teenage Politics ("Do or Don't" / "Rainyday"). Life In General had 'em, too ("Move To Bremerton" / "Chick Magnet" / "Today Is In My Way"). Slowly Going..., of course, had them as well ("Party, My House, Be There" / "I'm OK, You're OK" / "For Always"). Why is it such a crime to make radio friendly stuff? Do you think Mike, Tom and Yuri sat down and said "ok, we are going to totally sell out and make an album that punk kids are going to hate but the top 40 crowd will love." Probably not. If you see 'em in concert, you'd know that they still play with the same power and energy. Could it be that the band decided that they wanted to expand their sound? Maybe Yuri, the original chick magnet himself, decided that he didn't want to drum constantly at mach 3 on every song like on previous albums. Why is this so wrong? Maybe Mike decided that he was tired of writing the same 3-Chord stuff repeatedly and wanted to broaden his song-writing. This album happens to be their most distinct release. It is also their most lyrically deep album yet. Getting back to the whole radio issue, I challenge a mainstream station out there to play a song like "Foolish" or "Undeniable." This album, while rythimically friendly to radio, has one key ingredient that will keep them off the air...meaning. Possibly the best song on the album, "The Next Big Thing," is also one that would create much controversy were it to recieve any frequent airplay. The band should be praised for sticking to their beliefs, and not hiding them under false images. I'm not saying that the other reviews are entirely wrong. This album does not have the same sound as their previous disc's, but to give it a rating of 1/5 is short-sighted. The Ever Passing Moment is their deepest album yet, both lyrically and musically. It's funny because the band's next release is going to be an EP of new songs written in "the old mxpx style." Basically, they are saying that they may be big, but they haven't forgotten about their old skool fans. To paraphrase from the song "Responsibility," they've got a voice and they've got a lot to say.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
They did it again., May 18, 2000
Well, when I heard MxPx was coming out with a new CD I was anxious to see if the boys from Bremerton would be able to improve and mature in their sound. The answer to that riddle is "Yes, they did." MxPx is back and sounding great together again. I would have to say "The Everpassing Moment" overall album wise sounds like a mix between "Life In General," and "Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo." They put in some very punked up fast songs along with some slower "GSF-ish" alterna-punk songs, and as usual tons of them have the ultra catchy sing-along chorus' that we expect from all the MxPx albums. Lyric wise, they seem to have more to say than ever before, as songs deal with things like kids liking music for the wrong reasons (to be popular). As well as realizing we are all much smaller than we think we are. MxPx has given us one more reason to believe they are the leaders of their Pop-Punk genre. It goes without saying that "The Everpassing Moment" is a must buy for fans of catchy Punk Rock.
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