My Dinosaur Life: Motion City Soundtrack (***) <Columbia> Genre: Pop Punk, Power Pop A little late to the party… “I’ve been a good little worker bee,” sings lead singer Justin Pierre on the opening track of My Dinosaur Life.  This is an obvious nod to the fact that Motion City have been around for a long time, and that they’ve finally broken through to the major labels.  In 2008, the American pop punk quintet made the jump from Epitaph to Columbia.  And you know what?  It’s about damn time.  I’ve always loved Motion City Soundtrack and their geeky persona.  They’re like a really fired up Weezer, complete with the nerdy lyrics and the quirky tone that sets the mood for all their records.  But unfortunately, I’m just not unsure how successful a band like Motion City Soundtrack can possibly be now. Had My Dinosaur Life been released in 2005 or 2006, it would have been a guaranteed smash hit.  It was produced by Blink 182 bassist Mark Hoppus, and definitely possesses the punch and ferocity found on Motion City’s 2005 release, Commit This To Memory.  At the same time, the songs have the same pop sensibility that was found on their last release, Even If It Kills Me.  But while Even If It Kills me delved too much into experimentation with new ideas, Motion City instead cuts those short and opts for a leaner, meaner, more to the point pop album.   For the most part, Motion City Soundtrack has succeeded in making a pop record that resonates, that flows, that possesses more substance than the average pop record.  And for that, I applaud and raise my glass to the little Warped Tour band that could.  However, I just can’t merit anything above three stars.  I think it’s only because I’ve grown out of the genre, and I just can’t take emo driven pop punk seriously anymore.  I will say, though, out of all of the pop punk bands out there, Motion City Soundtrack stands alone as a band that is more than just hooks and epiphone guitars.  They have lyrics with substance (and Busta Rhymes references, oh yeah!) and quirks, they have worthwhile hooks, and they aren’t afraid to try new things.  Ultimately, I think the record is too safe, and the production is too predictable, but it’s still good.   Key Tracks: “Her Words Destroyed My Planet,” “Pulp Fiction” For Fans Of: Weezer, Paramore, Jimmy Eat World

My Dinosaur Life: Motion City Soundtrack (***) <Columbia>

Genre: Pop Punk, Power Pop

A little late to the party…

“I’ve been a good little worker bee,” sings lead singer Justin Pierre on the opening track of My Dinosaur Life.  This is an obvious nod to the fact that Motion City have been around for a long time, and that they’ve finally broken through to the major labels.  In 2008, the American pop punk quintet made the jump from Epitaph to Columbia.  And you know what?  It’s about damn time.  I’ve always loved Motion City Soundtrack and their geeky persona.  They’re like a really fired up Weezer, complete with the nerdy lyrics and the quirky tone that sets the mood for all their records.  But unfortunately, I’m just not unsure how successful a band like Motion City Soundtrack can possibly be now.

Had My Dinosaur Life been released in 2005 or 2006, it would have been a guaranteed smash hit.  It was produced by Blink 182 bassist Mark Hoppus, and definitely possesses the punch and ferocity found on Motion City’s 2005 release, Commit This To Memory.  At the same time, the songs have the same pop sensibility that was found on their last release, Even If It Kills Me.  But while Even If It Kills me delved too much into experimentation with new ideas, Motion City instead cuts those short and opts for a leaner, meaner, more to the point pop album.  

For the most part, Motion City Soundtrack has succeeded in making a pop record that resonates, that flows, that possesses more substance than the average pop record.  And for that, I applaud and raise my glass to the little Warped Tour band that could.  However, I just can’t merit anything above three stars.  I think it’s only because I’ve grown out of the genre, and I just can’t take emo driven pop punk seriously anymore.  I will say, though, out of all of the pop punk bands out there, Motion City Soundtrack stands alone as a band that is more than just hooks and epiphone guitars.  They have lyrics with substance (and Busta Rhymes references, oh yeah!) and quirks, they have worthwhile hooks, and they aren’t afraid to try new things.  Ultimately, I think the record is too safe, and the production is too predictable, but it’s still good.  

Key Tracks: “Her Words Destroyed My Planet,” “Pulp Fiction”

For Fans Of: Weezer, Paramore, Jimmy Eat World