Review Summary: Motion City Soundtrack learns to have fun again, even if that fun is all too familiar.
Panic Stations, the sixth full length release from pop-punk veterans Motion City Soundtrack doing what they know best, even if the territory has been well-trod by this point. A three year gap separates this album from it's predecessor, Go, slightly lackluster release that fell a little flat. Panic Stations marks an important moment in Motion City's career, a chance to reclaim their former glory or begin to fade away slowly. Fortunately, Motion City have crafted a solid release worth being proud of, even if it falls short of previous career highs.
The album opens with the bombastic “Anything At All”. The song is a frantic burst of power chords and jaunty moog-synths. A classic Motion City affair guaranteed to please even the oldest of fans. Quickly we're introduced to the prime difference between Panic Stations and Go: energy. The band is clearly having fun, sticking to their strengths, and delivering exactly the type of pop-punk that put them on the map.
Moments such as these show the band firing on all cylinders, and prove to be the albums strongest points. The excellent “Heavy Boots” and “Over It Now” operate in the same sphere, the former showcasing fantastic drumming courtesy of newcomer Claudio Rivera as his beats propel the song forward at a breakneck pace. Not to be outdone, Jesse Johnson's moog stylings are the best they've been in years, providing a delightful pop backdrop.
Unfortunately, the band takes a few tepid steps into more “mature” song writing territory, which rarely provides the best results. The ironically titled “Lose Control” plods along awkwardly, while mid-tempo “I Can Feel You” loses steam halfway through and ends on a overlong and unsatisfying conclusion. In contrast, “The Samurai Code” a satisfying rocker carried by Justin Pierre's introspective lyrics, showcases the matured sound working exactly as intended.
Panic Stations sounds less immaculately polished than other albums in the band's career, which often works to it's advantage. The one glaring exception is the clear filler of “Gravity” which is pulled down by muddy production quality. The otherwise excellent “Broken Arrow” suffers from this same affliction, it's biting chorus drowning out by a wall of guitars.
In Panic Stations Motion City Soundtrack have released an album worth being proud of. It's unlikely to attract many few fans, but will please those already familiar with what the band has to offer. After a slight step backward with Go, this release shows the band getting back on track, even if that track has been well traveled by this point. Its unfortunate that those few songs that see the band moving their sound in a new direction are also the weakest points of the album. But when it comes to making frantic synth fueled pop-punk, nobody does it better.
Recommended Tracks:
Anything At All
TKO
Heavy Boots
The Samurai Code
