by Damien Ellinghaus
Motion
City Soundtrack - My Dinosaur Life
(Sony)
Motion City Soundtrack has been at the top
of the power pop scene since their debut,
and with My Dinosaur Life, they show
no signs of giving up those reigns. Not your
typical bubblegum pop band, MCS has always
stood out from the rest of the pop masses
( Hi Decaydance and Fueled by Ramen!) with
their above-par songwriting and genuine talent,
especially in vocalist/guitarist Justin Pierre,
who’s powerful yet sweet tenor stands
head and shoulders above the rest of his peers
and imitators. Dino Life, as it will now affectionately
be called, is not entirely different from
MCS’ previous efforts, but there is
a certain degree of aggression and energy
not seen previously on the other albums. Don’t
fret though, lovers of feel good harmonies,
layered guitars, and smooooooooooooth baselines,
the power pop attack is in full effect, and
the band does its best to make you as happy
as possible, and in the end, isn’t that
what we all truly want? The lyrics are very
thoughtful, mixing clever yet sarcastic wit
with your typical pop-punk angst and heartbreak,
but the pinnacle comes from “Skin and
Bones”, where Pierre questions human
kind’s very existence and worth. This
album will undoubtedly be one of this year’s
best, or at least should be when the time
comes. Don’t be afraid to embrace your
inner heartbroken happy child. They certainly
haven’t.
Stand-out Songs: "Worker Bee," "Skin
and Bones," "Her Words Destroyed
My Planet"
