Whoever pissed off the guys in Midtown deserves a medal. No, I’m not being mean, it’s just spurred on four guys to make some of the best emo/pop-punk you could wish to hear. Girls seem to completely dominate their thoughts, and LP number 2, ‘Living Well Is The Best Revenge’ follows on quite nicely from the poptastic ‘Save The World, Lose The Girl’.
The bands first release on MCA is a good album. However it’s just too saccharine sweet and over-produced to be a great record. As on the first album, Midtown are far better when they have some urgency in their sound, and there’s no better case in point than album opener ‘Become What You Hate’. A vitriolic tantrum at an ex-girlfriend, the track throws out riffs from all angles and the three-pronged vocal attack literally spits out the lyrics. It’s easy to see why it’s the first single, following on from ‘Just Rock n Roll’ from their debut record. Ironically, not only were the two tracks the first two singles, they are also the best two songs on the album…
‘Still Trying’ is quick and up-tempo too, and is another good track. The harmonies are all present and correct, the riffs bounce off each other and the chorus is a real pogo-a-thon, a sugar rush for the Ritalin generation. ‘Get It Together’ is re-recorded from the Millencolin split and is a good track, but unfortunately whiffs of major label. It’s way over-produced, and this problem plagues the entire record. Things pick up with the Lit-esque ‘Like A Movie’. It’s typical Midtown, with a chorus which will have you singing along in an instant.
‘There’s No Going Back’ is decent enough, but ‘Perfect’ is a bit disappointing. The obvious slow-song, it’s certainly written with MTV in mind. Imagine a Blink 182 style ‘Adam’s Song’ video and you’ll probably have a big worldwide hit. It’s ok, just very generic and doesn’t showcase the talents that this New Jersey foursome have. So thank goodness for ‘You Should Know’ which is a definite return to form.
‘One Last Time’ is another sugary pop-punk rush that hints at the band’s more emo leanings, but again it’s the three-vocal harmonies that set this lot apart from their many wannabe counterparts. And when you have a knack of writing catchy choruses like Midtown do, you just have to take advantage. ‘A Faulty Foundation’ is featured in re-recorded, and shortened, form and sounds all the better for it. One of the better tracks. Ditto ‘In The Songs’, which although Midtown-by-numbers, is good enough to have playing on the car stereo on a hot summers day. At least the album ends on a very high note with the anthemic ‘Find Comfort In Yourself’. It may be a bit slick for many, but at a live show watch the kids kick off to this.
This is a good record and well worth checking out, but it just tries to hard to be too good. It’s also yet another record about girl-meets-boy, girl-shits on-boy, blah, blah, blah. If you liked their debut, you’ll like this, but mixing the two records would easily produce an all-time great record. You’ve heard of parental guidance stickers…this needs a health warning. Just make sure you brush your teeth after listening kids…
Paul Savage