Motion City Soundtrack didn’t surprise, didn’t fail, but it also didn’t create a master piece. They satisfied what I have anticipated from their solid pop-rock sound. Under which classification do they fall under? I don’t want to use the word starting with ‘’i’’. For those who didn’t hear about the Motion City Soundtrack, for the last ten years they are a perfect example of emotional pop-rock in combination with moog synth, sprinkle of punk and occasionally overflooding emotions that do not sound overly pathetic. The main feature of this band is silliness. Lyrically and musically.
Lyrically, their 9th record is not a logical continuation in their career. This one is the least personal, so it in is huge contrast with their discography because of its generalization vibe. Now it is time for general public to identify with it. That doesn’t mean they lyrics are less serious or generic. They are not. It is just that they are less intrapersonal, without name dropping, quotes or personal history facts. Motif is the ocean and the omnipresent confusion and sentimentality in love.
Music core is pretty solid. Grounded bass and accentuated drums. Moog is more subtle than before and guitars are simply great. There are some memorable rhythms, attractive sections and solo parts, but nothing special. Vocal is just ok. My overall impression is that this record is far behind their previous two efforts Go and My Dinosaur Life. Three or four memorable songs and nice ballade at the end of the record do not make a great album. Motion city Soundtrack have done their job in a standard way, but I think they can do better. Plato is still unreachable.
