Motion City Soundtrack – Even If It Kills Me
Record Label: Epitaph Records
Release Date: September 18, 2007
Wow. That about sums up this album. Motion City Soundtrack have always been one of those bands I could see live over and over again but only be able to listen to occasionally, never really putting on a whole record and listening from start to finish. So when I first heard the single of Even If It Kills Me was called "Broken Heart," I was a little skeptical of a new record impressing me. All it takes is one listen of the band's latest effort to immediately refute that skepticism.
The album kicks off with "Fell in Love Without You" and "This is for Real," the two tracks I've listened to the very least on the album. They're a great start though, bringing back the signature MCS sound we all have come to know and love, while also setting the pace and the direction for the rest of the album. These lead into one of my favorite tracks on the album, "It Had to Be with You," which could easily be huge if it is chosen as the next single. Near the middle we have "Calling All Cops," which leads into "Can't Finish What You Started." The melodies in these two songs are some of the strongest on the entire record, and possibly the band’s entire catalogue. They will have you singing along almost instantly. "The Conversation" splits the album in two, being the only self-produced song on the record, as well as the only piano ballad. It is executed beautifully, and the emotion shines over the stripped down piano track.
"Hello Helicopter" is perfect - easily one of my favorite tracks on the album. It starts off with more piano and emotional vocals, and suddenly kicks into the signature synth-led progression Motion City Soundtrack pulls off so well. The acoustic guitar addition to the verses complements everything perfectly. There is not a dull second in this song. "Where I Belong" is very reminiscent of a 90s pop-rock song, and "Antonia" displays Justin Pierre’s wonderful talent for writing hook-poetry. Finally, the title track closes out the album on an amazing note. It leaves the listener wanting to relive the entire experience one more time, just to get to the final track again. Think "Hold Me Down" and then some.
Pierre’s melodies and lyrics shine so well. I've fully appreciated every song because of his part in them, but this is not to discredit the other musicians of the band. Everyone knows their part in each song, and this could very well be the biggest record of Motion City Soundtrack’s career (so far).
hello helicopter, even if it kills me, the first track and the two singles are all catchy.
it's finally hitting me how good this album is, after i listened to it the first time and didnt really dig it.
A bit disappointing the first time around but this CD grows with every listen. By the 5th time you'll feel like you're listening to an entirely different set of songs. Surprising depth and staying power.
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