EastScene

It was hit or miss. Motion City Soundtrack’s new album My Dinosaur Life is their first release since signing to the major label Columbia Records. They had announced their follow up to Even If It Kills Me while they were on Warped Tour in 2008. Even If It Kills Me is a tough album to top, especially when it involves mainstream publicity such as “This Is For Real”, which was used on the trailer for the movie 17 Again, “It Had To Be You” was used in trailer for Hotel For Dogs, and “Fell in Love Without You” had been used on an episode of Gossip Girl. Not only is this their fourth studio album, but also their second album being produced by Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus.

I thought that they could have opened up the album stronger, but as I listened to the remainder of the record, I realized each track had its own specific highlights. The second track, “A Lifeless Ordinary”, showcases the improvement of Justin Pierre’s vocals as well as guitar riffs, and both tracks “Disappear” and “Delirium” included captivating choruses. As “Pulp Fiction” arrives, you’ll be brought back into the 90’s pop-era with a similar sound to The New Radical’s hit “You Get What You Give”. And when “Hysteria” comes through, you’ll take a step forward to the sounds of their former albums. Furthermore, they also embrace features that are comparable to other artists, for example the track “Stand Too Close” includes the similar sounds to the band Sherwood with their easy-listening-pop, driven by simple acoustic guitars and very catchy clap line. In addition, the track “@!#?@!” shows an older, bouncy, pop-punk root like the vintage style of the bands Green Day, New Found Glory and coincidentally Blink 182. This record was saving the best for last with “The Weakends”, including mesmerizing features such as brilliant guitar riffs, a rigid set of lyrics that captures your attention, and a snare that adds a great punch to the track.

My Dinosaur Life doesn’t reach perfection, but what I love most about this band is they don’t write what’s currently hot. However, their passion and belief in themselves drives them enough to continuously write a good record. I feel as if the album itself may have been slightly rushed, due to the fact that they only spent a year creating, working, and producing this album which will be released January 19, 2010. Motion City Soundtrack will enjoy a successful release as fans eagerly await to hear what they have created, and for what’s in store for the next chapter.

-Shannah Lauren

My Dinosaur Life Track Listing:

1.     Worker Bee
2.     A Lifeless Ordinary (Need A Little Help)
3.     Her Words Destroyed My Planet
4.     Disappear
5.     Delirium
6.     History Lesson
7.     Stand Too Close
8.     Pulp Fiction
9.     @!#?@!
10.  Hysteria
11.  Skin And Bones
12.  The Weakends

Check out Motion City Soundtrack on tour w/ Weezer:
January 18, 2010: West Babylon, NY (Looney Tunes In-Store)
January 19, 2010: Boston, MA (Newbury Comics Instore)
January 20, 2010: Fords, NJ (Vintage Vinyl Instore)
January 21, 2010: Aurora, IL (Best Buy Instore Performance & Signing)
January 22, 2010: Bloomington, MN (Best Buy)
January 23, 2010: Minneapolis, MN (First Avenue)
January 25, 2010: Grand Rapids, MI (The Intersection)
January 26, 2010: Cincinnati, OH (Bogarts)
January 27, 2010: Cleveland, OH (House of Blues)
January 29, 2010: Pontiac, MI (Clutch Cargo’s)
January 31, 2010: Pittsburg, PA (Mr. Small’s Theater)
February 01, 2010: Towson, MD (Recher Theater)
February 03, 2010: New York, NY (The Fillmore at Irving Plaza)
February 04, 2010: Hartford, CT (Webster Theater)
February 06, 2010: Charlotte, NC (Tremont Hall)
February 08, 2010: Atlanta, GA (Masquerade)
February 10, 2010: Dallas, TX (The Prophet Bar)
February 11, 2010: Austin, TX (Emo’s)
February 12, 2010: Tucson, AZ (Rialto Theatre)
February 14, 2010: W. Hollywood, CA (House of Blues)
February 15, 2010: Anaheim, CA (House of Blues)
February 16, 2010: San Francisco, CA (Regency Ballroom)
February 20, 2010: Brisbane, Australia (Brisbane Soundwave Festival – RNA Showgrounds)
February 21, 2010: Sydney, Australia (Sydney Soundwave Festival – Eastern Creek Raceway)
February 26, 2010: Melbourne, Australia (Melbourne Soundwave Festival – Melbourne Showgrounds)
February 27, 2010: Adelaide, South Australia (Adelaide Soundwave Festival – Bonython Park Oval)
March 01, 2010: Perth, Australia (Perth Soundway Festival – Steel Blue Oval)
March 04, 2010: Tokyo, Japan (Akasaka Blitz)
March 07, 2010: Nagoya, Japan (Club Quattro)
March 08, 2010: Osaka, Japan (Big Cat)
March 23, 2010: Leeds, UK (The Cockpit)
March 24, 2010: Oxford, UK (O2 Academy)
March 26, 2010: London, UK (Electric Ballroom)
March 27, 2010: Manchester, UK (Academy 2 @ Manchester University)
March 28, 2010: Birmingham, UK (O2 Academy 2)
March 30, 2010: Glasgow, UK (Oran Mor)