MxPx - Before Everything And After

In a nutshell, MxPx formed about ten years ago while in high school and almost immediately signed a record deal with Tooth & Nail. They've since released 11 albums and slew of singles. However, on Before Everthing and After, they seem to have reverted back to those high school days, because the songwriting reflects a band that has never progressed passed that teenage mentality and musical savvy. Most of the songs revolve around girls, girls they want to build a home with, girls they want to eat popcorn with at home, and those that broke up with them. The problem simply seems to lie in a lack of creativity. Many a time, a good hook will be established (see “Well-Adjusted”) but the chorus will become a repeated monotone line; it’s like fill-in-the blank rock. Furthermore, the whole album just seems a bit too polished. The album opener, “Play It Loud”, would lead one to believe it is a smashing opener to set the tone. Instead we have carefully-calculated chord changes and an obvious use of electronically-harmonized backing vocals. “Quit Your Life” is meant to evoke warm feelings and make the listener believe that the band has a soft, low-key side, but it just comes of as a soaring power-ballad. Even pre-packaged are the cameos of Benji Madden of Good Charlotte, Jordan Pudnik of New Found Glory, and Kris Roe of the Ataris. The backing vocals provided by this group certainly didn't add anything groundbreaking, other than a smatter of blatant name-dropping. Please don’t even get me started on the instrumental prologue “Before” and the epilogue “After”. I wasn’t aware this was a concept album. Note to all artists: use this technique sparingly. Those who like standard, upbeat pop-rock will be satisfied for the time being. With the so-called uprising resurgence of “punk” in the mainstream, MxPx may find its long-awaited niche. However, MxPx fans from the past will be left wishing for the old days, and those of us who value good pop-punk will wish we spent our $12.99 on something else. [www.mxpx.xom]