Motion City Soundtrack: Justin Pierre (guitar); Jesse Johnson, Matt Taylor, Tony Thaxton, Joshua Cain (background vocals).
On EVEN IF IT KILLS ME, its third studio outing for the venerable Epitaph label, Motion City Soundtrack further distances itself from emo angst by offering up an energetic set of catchy punk-pop tunes. Although many of the album's well-crafted songs deal with romance, the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based band never goes for the overwrought angle, opting instead for an earnest, boy-next-door accessibility, as revealed on the celebratory "This Is For Real" and the swooning "Broken Heart."
What the critics say...
Spin (p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Motion City have deftly filled that space between emotional adolescence and responsible adulthood with this set of near-perfect pop."
Alternative Press (p.169) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Justin Pierre's slice-of-life confessionals are engaging....There's no denying that at this point in their career, MCS are better than their influences and mentors."
Kerrang (Magazine) (p.49) - "[They demonstrate] how brains and catchy melody can survive -- even prosper -- hand in hand."
