I think the vast majority of Punktastic’s contributors think that MxPx are a tad more than a bog-standard punk band. To me personally they are more like an instituiton – a band that have created some of the best pop-punk songs you’ll ever have the fortune to hear, and the soundtrack to some of my teenage years. So, 10 years from the bands inception in drummer Yuri’s garage, the Bremerton trio have released the age-old greatest hits cd to commemorate their successes. But to be fair, despite the fact that I despise greatest hits albums with a passion (because they are no more than blatant record company cash-ins and sorry Tooth and Nail but this is no exception) this is an awesome record with tracks that everyone with a penchant for melody in their music should have.
MxPx could have filled two or three cds full of their greatest ever songs and there are a couple of tracks that are glaring by their abscene. No ‘Misplaced Memories’, no ‘Party, My House, Be There,’ no ‘Cristalena’, no ‘Summer Of ’69’ even. Still, I guess you can’t have the moon on a stick can you? But what is on offer are some of the best three minutes of pop-punk you could ever wish to hear. The likes of ‘Punk Rawk Show’, re-recorded especially for this release, and ‘The Broken Bones’ are brilliant songs that deserve a special space in your record collection. And anyone who dislikes ‘Move To Bremerton’ doesn’t deserve to be able to use their ears.
It’s also relatively easy to note the progression of the band over the years. The tinny ‘Teenage Politics’ and ‘Want Ad’ are both fine songs, but lack the melody and charm of the later songs. Still, they certainly set the tone for what was to come. ‘Chick Magnet’ (a minor MTV hit) ‘Do Your Feet Hurt’ and ‘Middlename’ are all taken from the awesome ‘Life In General’, a record which sets the standard for independent punk rock records in my opinion. The stunning ‘Tomorrow’s Another Day’ is often used to open a MxPx live set with its crashing drums and massive riffs coming at you from all angles, and ‘My Life Story’ is immense – one of the best songs to have been released in the 21st century. “Don’t hate me forever, I’m better late than never, don’t hate me , I’m sorry, that’s simply my life story.” Simplicity itself, but something I’m sure we can all associate with.
‘GSF’ slows things down a notch, whilst ‘Lonesome Town‘ from their last release ‘The Renaissance EP’ takes a more rough-and-ready production and mixes it with some power choruses. Then there’s the likes of the down and dirty ‘Dolores’ and ‘Rock and Roll Girl’, both songs which would fit on any modern day pop-punk album. Of course there’s also the holy grail of ‘Move To Bremerton’, a tale of small town angst and the band’s signature tune.
You really should already own the MxPx back catalogue and so in that respect you shouldn’t need this cd. But if you aren’t yet acquainted with the band, then there’s no finer place to start. The photo booklet with some brilliant action shots of Mike, Tom and Yuri is also a quality addition to celebrate the birth and life of one of the best bands I’ve ever heard. Here’s to the next 10 years boys…
Paul.