Album Review: MxPx - "Before Everything & After"
Sept 28, 2003 12:39:36 GMT -5
Post by ctbx on Sept 28, 2003 12:39:36 GMT -5
Finally, after a two year wait, we have a new full-length album of new songs from MxPx.
"Before Everything & After"
As soon as I read that MxPx had put out a new album, I knew I had to go out and get it. So, as soon as I had the cash, I went out to Meijer's to see if it was there. Nope. My next stop was Wal-Mart. It wasn't there either. I finally decided to stop by the mall and check Sam Goody. Yep, there it was -- for a good old price of $19.99. Crap. No other store in town had it, and I finally found it... so I went paid for it in an instant.
Needless to say, I was excited about this album. Sure, we got "Ten Years and Running" last year, but it only had about three new songs on it. So, I put in the disc...
Track 1: Before - Rating: NA/5
A little collage of sound effects and various clips from songs on the album. Not actually a song, but it's a track, so...
Track 2: Play It Loud - Rating: 4/5
This song is pretty good. A good 'opening' song for the album. The first thing you'll notice is that this song is 'heavier' than any of the songs on "The Ever Passing Moment".
Track 3: Well Adjusted - Rating: 5/5
Ever since I heard this song on the Diet Pepsi commercial last year, I've always wanted to hear the full version. Easily one of the best songs on the album.
Track 4: It's Alright - Rating: 3/5
This song sounds like something that belongs on "The Ever Passing Moment". I'm not saying that's a bad thing... I enjoyed "The Ever Passing Moment" very much. Still, there's nothing really new here. An average song.
Track 5: Brokenhearted - Rating: 3/5
This song isn't BAD... Upon first hearing this song, I realized how much MxPx has changed since "Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo". I hate to say it, but this song sounds like any other song by any other pop-punk band out there. (Simple Plan, Good Charlotte, etc.)
Track 6: First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life - Rating: 4/5
Again, another song that could fit easily onto "The Ever Passing Moment". Nothing bad to say about this song, although this sort of song has been done before.
Track 7: Everything Sucks (When You're Gone) - Rating: 3/5
This song is okay. Another song about missing a girl, and wishing they were there. Ever Passing Moment, anyone?
Track 8: Quit Your Life - Rating: 2/5
This song's lyrics make it seem like a sequel to "Move To Bremerton". A slow, almost ballad-like song, that's about how he wants his girl to get up and leave her life behind and stay with him. It's been done before. Still, not a bad song, but it's not the best. I can hear all of the so-called 'punks' shouting "sell outs!" all over again.
Track 9: More Everything - Rating: 3/5
This is another one of the songs that reminded me of "Good Charlotte" and other bands. An average song.
Track 10: Kings Of Hollywood - Rating: 2/5
A song about driving around in Hollywood and stuff. Not a terrible song, but not one of the better songs on the album, either.
Track 11: The Capitol - Rating: 4/5
Nice, fast drums in most of this song. The lyrics of this song are pretty inspirational. "When there's nowhere else to hide, when there's no one left to stand beside, when everything seems wrong, I've been with you all along." I think this song shows us the religious side of MxPx yet again. I think it's talking about how God is always on your side, or something like that.
Track 12: On The Outs (Featuring Good Charlotte's Benji Madden) - Rating: 4/5
A song about how his girl doesn't like him anymore, and he how wants her back. This song sort of sounds like something Good Charlotte would put out (perhaps Benji influences this). Not bad, though.
Track 13: Don't Walk Away - Rating: 3/5
Since this song's beginning is sort of strung together with the previous song's ending, it's almost as if the lyrics are a plea to the girl that dumped him asking her not to leave him.
Track 14: You Make Me, Me - Rating: 5/5
Another song with fast drums. This song talks about how he's so blessed he has his girl, and she makes him complete. I'm assuming he either got his girl back (from the previous two songs) or he got a new girl.
Nevertheless, I really like this song. It gave me goosebumps.
Track 15: You're Not Alone - Rating: 4/5
This song sounds like something like NFG or GC would put out. It's basically talking about how his girl isn't alone anymore now that she has him. Same girl from before, or new one? Who knows. :) Good song, though.
Track 16: After - Rating: NA/5
Almost identical to track 1. A collage of sound effects and clips from songs, with the added sound of a car(?) driving away.
Hidden Track: Track 16 at 1:02 - Rating: NA/5
I don't really see the point of this. Just another collage of sound effects and clips from songs.
Overall average rating: 3.5/5
So there you have it.
I was a little disappointed with this album. I don't know if it's just me, but a lot of the stuff on this album reminded me of other bands, most notably Good Charlotte, Mest, and Simple Plan. I was hoping this album would be more close to MxPx's 'old sound' they had solidified by the time "Slowly Going..." was out. I don't really see that happening now, as MxPx seems to be heading in a different direction, musically. I'm not saying that is good or bad. I guess it depends on personal preference.
I think what disappointed me the most about this album is how much it sounded like other bands' music. MxPx used to have their own sort of sound, that when you heard it you'd know right away... "That's MxPx." I'm not saying that it's any different with this one. They still sound like MxPx, just more... commercialized?
With all of that said, this is still a very enjoyable album. After listening to it a second time through (while writing this), it did grow on me a bit. (Actually, the same thing happened with "The Ever Passing Moment". I hated it at first... then I grew to love it.)
So, if you've listened to MxPx for years (like I have), you'll probably like this album about as much as I did, or maybe more. If you've never heard of MxPx, you may think that this is just another pop-punk band and that it's nothing new. Either way, I recommend this album, especially if you like Good Charlotte, New Found Glory, Simple Plan, or Mest.
The end.
"Before Everything & After"
As soon as I read that MxPx had put out a new album, I knew I had to go out and get it. So, as soon as I had the cash, I went out to Meijer's to see if it was there. Nope. My next stop was Wal-Mart. It wasn't there either. I finally decided to stop by the mall and check Sam Goody. Yep, there it was -- for a good old price of $19.99. Crap. No other store in town had it, and I finally found it... so I went paid for it in an instant.
Needless to say, I was excited about this album. Sure, we got "Ten Years and Running" last year, but it only had about three new songs on it. So, I put in the disc...
Track 1: Before - Rating: NA/5
A little collage of sound effects and various clips from songs on the album. Not actually a song, but it's a track, so...
Track 2: Play It Loud - Rating: 4/5
This song is pretty good. A good 'opening' song for the album. The first thing you'll notice is that this song is 'heavier' than any of the songs on "The Ever Passing Moment".
Track 3: Well Adjusted - Rating: 5/5
Ever since I heard this song on the Diet Pepsi commercial last year, I've always wanted to hear the full version. Easily one of the best songs on the album.
Track 4: It's Alright - Rating: 3/5
This song sounds like something that belongs on "The Ever Passing Moment". I'm not saying that's a bad thing... I enjoyed "The Ever Passing Moment" very much. Still, there's nothing really new here. An average song.
Track 5: Brokenhearted - Rating: 3/5
This song isn't BAD... Upon first hearing this song, I realized how much MxPx has changed since "Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo". I hate to say it, but this song sounds like any other song by any other pop-punk band out there. (Simple Plan, Good Charlotte, etc.)
Track 6: First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life - Rating: 4/5
Again, another song that could fit easily onto "The Ever Passing Moment". Nothing bad to say about this song, although this sort of song has been done before.
Track 7: Everything Sucks (When You're Gone) - Rating: 3/5
This song is okay. Another song about missing a girl, and wishing they were there. Ever Passing Moment, anyone?
Track 8: Quit Your Life - Rating: 2/5
This song's lyrics make it seem like a sequel to "Move To Bremerton". A slow, almost ballad-like song, that's about how he wants his girl to get up and leave her life behind and stay with him. It's been done before. Still, not a bad song, but it's not the best. I can hear all of the so-called 'punks' shouting "sell outs!" all over again.
Track 9: More Everything - Rating: 3/5
This is another one of the songs that reminded me of "Good Charlotte" and other bands. An average song.
Track 10: Kings Of Hollywood - Rating: 2/5
A song about driving around in Hollywood and stuff. Not a terrible song, but not one of the better songs on the album, either.
Track 11: The Capitol - Rating: 4/5
Nice, fast drums in most of this song. The lyrics of this song are pretty inspirational. "When there's nowhere else to hide, when there's no one left to stand beside, when everything seems wrong, I've been with you all along." I think this song shows us the religious side of MxPx yet again. I think it's talking about how God is always on your side, or something like that.
Track 12: On The Outs (Featuring Good Charlotte's Benji Madden) - Rating: 4/5
A song about how his girl doesn't like him anymore, and he how wants her back. This song sort of sounds like something Good Charlotte would put out (perhaps Benji influences this). Not bad, though.
Track 13: Don't Walk Away - Rating: 3/5
Since this song's beginning is sort of strung together with the previous song's ending, it's almost as if the lyrics are a plea to the girl that dumped him asking her not to leave him.
Track 14: You Make Me, Me - Rating: 5/5
Another song with fast drums. This song talks about how he's so blessed he has his girl, and she makes him complete. I'm assuming he either got his girl back (from the previous two songs) or he got a new girl.
Nevertheless, I really like this song. It gave me goosebumps.Track 15: You're Not Alone - Rating: 4/5
This song sounds like something like NFG or GC would put out. It's basically talking about how his girl isn't alone anymore now that she has him. Same girl from before, or new one? Who knows. :) Good song, though.
Track 16: After - Rating: NA/5
Almost identical to track 1. A collage of sound effects and clips from songs, with the added sound of a car(?) driving away.
Hidden Track: Track 16 at 1:02 - Rating: NA/5
I don't really see the point of this. Just another collage of sound effects and clips from songs.
Overall average rating: 3.5/5
So there you have it.
I was a little disappointed with this album. I don't know if it's just me, but a lot of the stuff on this album reminded me of other bands, most notably Good Charlotte, Mest, and Simple Plan. I was hoping this album would be more close to MxPx's 'old sound' they had solidified by the time "Slowly Going..." was out. I don't really see that happening now, as MxPx seems to be heading in a different direction, musically. I'm not saying that is good or bad. I guess it depends on personal preference.
I think what disappointed me the most about this album is how much it sounded like other bands' music. MxPx used to have their own sort of sound, that when you heard it you'd know right away... "That's MxPx." I'm not saying that it's any different with this one. They still sound like MxPx, just more... commercialized?
With all of that said, this is still a very enjoyable album. After listening to it a second time through (while writing this), it did grow on me a bit. (Actually, the same thing happened with "The Ever Passing Moment". I hated it at first... then I grew to love it.)
So, if you've listened to MxPx for years (like I have), you'll probably like this album about as much as I did, or maybe more. If you've never heard of MxPx, you may think that this is just another pop-punk band and that it's nothing new. Either way, I recommend this album, especially if you like Good Charlotte, New Found Glory, Simple Plan, or Mest.
The end.