Send "MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Strangeglue |
 For the last seven years, their four albums have kept to the same basic sound: ridiculously upbeat, fierce melodies, palpitation-inducing pacing and Justin Pierre's unmistakable voice which is often aped (*cough* Fall Out Boy *cough*) but rarely better. His acumen for ripping through the octaves with complete disregard for the natural order is unparalleled. Over the years the songs have got tighter, the melodies catchier, the production cleaner and the message relatively deeper, but the blueprint remains the same.Essentially Motion City Soundtrack are what you get if you take From Here To Infirmary-era Alkaline Trio, slap them in the face, take them out into the sun and tell them to get a grip because the world's not that bad. Such similarities are exemplified perfectly on "Her Words Destroyed My Planet" which begins with our narrator falling asleep watching Veronica Mars (A* for the pop-culture reference) before veering off into a tale of divorce and self-hatred. It's a testament to Pierre's writing prowess that we're still smiling through these lines. Sure there's a little heaviness in our hearts and those seeking to delve into the deeper meaning of his writing will likely find many melancholic gems, but hey: still shiny. They'll also find a sobering tale of self-improvement and hope in the face of tragedy. With My Dinosaur Life being the band's major label début, the focus will be on any so-called compromises made for the sake of commercial concerns. To these we highlight the fact that MCS are a pop-punk band, the only way they can sell out is if they grab acoustic guitars, retreat to a cabin in the woods and write French poetry to a mournful breakbeat. The added budget has clearly had an incredible effect upon the quality of the songs. Now afforded some real sonic depth, every instrument sparkles and when the choruses or breakdowns come a-knockin' you can practically feel the tremors. Better yet, we can barely hear the 80's synths which plagued their previous work. We're almost tempted to tell producer Mark Hoppus to quit his day job....full text |
| Spin |
| "I've been a good little worker bee," sings Justin Pierre on Motion City Soundtrack's major-label debut, and he's not kidding: These affable Minneapolitans have spent the past decade steadily climbing the ranks of the emo-rock underground; My Dinosaur Life, on which the band strikes a radio-ready balance between mayhem and melody, may well trigger their long-awaited breakthrough. Handclap-happy "Stand Too Close" is obvious Weezer fanbait, but better is "Pulp Fiction," a stop-start riff bomb that erupts like the older brother of Eve 6's late-'90s gem "Inside Out."...full text |
| Ultimate-guitar |
| Sound: This album was written by the five members of Motion City Soundtrack, produced by Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 fame, and mixed by the legendary Andy Wallace. If that isn't enough to describe just how undeniably accessible and fun "My Dinosaur Life" is, then I must continue. This album seems to find Motion City Soundtrack coming through a difficult time, but with a but sunnier outlook than that of their previous album, "Even If It Kills Me". The opening track, "Worker Bee", is not a typical super-fast sugar rush like the listener may be expecting if they are familiar with this band. It is, comparatively, a mid-tempo track in this context. It still has the quality that makes it perfect to open the gates on a great pop-rock album, and sets the tone for a bumpy yet enjoyable ride. "Her Words Destroyed My Planet", if I had to wager, will be recognized as a big hit sooner rather than later. If you don't believe me, watch the video. Try not to have flashbacks to the memorable Fall Out Boy video for "Dance, Dance". I dare you. "Disappear" may be the angriest track this band have ever released, or at least the most frenetic. The vocals sound like a panic attack that somehow managed to find its way to a microphone. Motion City Soundtrack shines brightly when they lay their hearts on the line. "Stand Too Close" will prove this, if you don't believe me. If you don't wistfully recall some lost love or recover a deep-seated pain from listening to "Skin and Bones", you're a robot, and in the words of William Murderface, robots are NOT to be trusted. The sound of this album has all of the guitar, synth and drums that you expect from this band. But as a fan, and a musician who started on four strings, I urge the listener to dig deep and appreciate the deftness of Matt Taylor's bass playing. Taylor's developing skill certainly anchors the sound of this album. // 10...full text |
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