Review Summary: Be prepared for a bumpy ride
There’s a lot to love about Motion City Soundtrack. From lead singer Justin Pierre’s whacky hair to the band’s quirky sense of humor, they’ve built a faithful following for their ridiculously catchy tunes since their formation in 1997. Now, nearly 20 years into their career, one can’t help but wonder whether the band is still capable of churning out incredibly upbeat music without sounding redundant. Well, the wait is over. After a three year span since their last effort, they’ve returned with
Panic Stations, perhaps the most wildly inconsistent album of their career.
It’s not that
Panic Stations doesn’t sound like Motion City Soundtrack; believe me, it
does. Keyboards and synths still dance around playfully in nearly every track, and Pierre’s vocals are as distinct as ever. However, this time around a handful of the songs feel forced, like the band is simply making an album for the sake of making an album.
Commit This to Memory was a lyrical treat, as Pierre used witty lyricism to craft some of the most definitive songs of the band’s career. On the other hand,
My Dinosaur Life proved to be their most unapologetically energetic release, never sacrificing quality songwriting for its fun nature. Sadly, the same cannot be said for
Panic Stations. Songs like ‘TKO’ and ‘Lose Control’ are instantly catchy, but for all the wrong reasons. They’re the kind of songs you get stuck in your head, but wish like hell you could get them out. It doesn’t help that both tracks contain some of the band’s blandest lyricism to date. 'Lose Control' is the greatest offender, with a chorus that says nothing more than
whoah-oh, it’s time to lose control repeatedly. When compared to the explosive choruses the band is known for, it’s hard not to feel cheated by such a lazy attempt at songwriting. Thankfully, these tracks are the only two major duds, and the rest of the album gets the job done even if there’s a sense that it’s already been done before.
Despite being a mixed bag of an album,
Panic Stations does provide sufficient proof that MCS still know how to write an exceptional tune. Songs like ‘I Can Feel You’ and ‘Days Will Run Away’ prove to be the album’s saving grace, and even earn themselves a place among the band’s most respectable work. The latter is an incredibly heartfelt track, and easily one of the band’s most mature songs to date. It’s as poignant as it is reflective, as Pierre emotionally spills his guts about a life gone by too fast. It’s such a damn fine closer that once it ends, you’ll quickly forgive the album’s painful missteps. Other choice cuts such as ‘It’s a Pleasure to Meet You’ and ‘Heavy Boots’ attempt to resurrect MCS’s glory days, and are likely to please longtime fans with their familiar and welcoming qualities.
At the end of the day, it’s rather difficult to pinpoint exactly what Motion City Soundtrack were shooting for with
Panic Stations. It could be that Pierre and Co. are simply running out of ideas at this point in their career, or maybe I’m just becoming a cynical bastard in my old age. Either way, there’s no denying that their latest affair is missing that special spark that made their past material so engaging. Thankfully for fans, the album’s strengths are more than enough to warrant a proper listen. This is certainly no final nail in the band’s coffin, it simply leaves us wanting more and keeps us wondering what’s in store for us next from Motion City Soundtrack. It may be a bumpy ride, but it has some truly exhilarating highs.
