Motion City Soundtrack
My Dinosaur Life
There is an old saying that says, “To be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” It’s Motor City Soundtrack’s constant quest to evolve and challenge themselves as musicians – and people – that keeps their fans coming back for more. My Dinosaur Life is the latest release (January 19, 2010) from MCS on Columbia Records. The first three releases, 2002′s debut I Am The Movie (Epitaph), 2005′s Commit This To Memory (Epitaph), and 2007′s Even If It Kills Me (Epitaph), were all unique works of art; individual canvases that told separate stories through the band’s lyrics and music. Continuing with the theme of individuality, My Dinosaur Life finds the band paired with Blink 182′s Mark Hoppus as producer. Hoppus first worked with the band on their second release, Commit This To Memory.
My Dinosaur Life is 12 new songs that are lyrically contemplative, poignantly honest and cleverly and culturally astute. The music harkens back to early Motion City Soundtrack with its grit and hooks while employing the musicianship and maturity the band has gained over the past seven years. During these years they’ve accomplished quite a bit – including headlining Warped tour, Bamboozle and the mvtU Campus Invasion Tour to playing Lollapalooza, Fuji Rock Festival and Honda Civic Tour. They’ve won two mtvU Woodie Awards – in 2005 the Breaking Woodie for Best Emerging Artist and in 2008 the Best Video Woodie for “It Had To Be You.” Motion City Soundtrack has worked incredibly hard over the past seven years for everything they’ve achieved and they’re excited about the next chapter.
My Dinosaur Life provides the listener with a sonic feast made up of 12 tracks that are masterfully put together and sequenced on the CD. The album’s first single, “Disappear” is reminiscent of 90′s-era angst rock (a la The Pixies and The Replacements), with its muffled guitars and cautionary vocals. “Pulp Fiction” is a piano driven rock overture that frames the rousing adventures of a stranger in a strange land, all while name-checking everything – and everyone – from Miami Vice to Seabury Quinn. Finally, “A Lifeless Ordinary” is a perky yet pensive romp that ponders themes of escapism and displacement – emotions that are felt and expressed throughout the lyrics of My Dinosaur Life.
The verdict? My Dinosaur Life is a damned good CD. MCS is supporting this release with a tour this year; the first in a over a year and first in support of this release. Fans can pre-order the album now and the band is offering a special deluxe edition only available through the MCS store which you can access via the band’s website www.motioncitysoundtrack.com
