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Now that all silliness is aside, let me get down to business. This is, by far, the best album MxPx has ever put out. Gone is much of the childish rambling found on Pokinatcha and Teenage Politics. What we have here is a more mature group of guys who still haven't forgotten how to have fun.
The album starts out at a great high pace with "Under Lock and Key." A good preview of what's to come. Fast, tight, and very musical. I've never heard MxPx sound cleaner, and yet they haven't lost a bit of their edge. The album continues speeding along, coming to the next highlight, "I'm OK, you're Ok." Seems to be a song about being on the road away from the one you love, and being Okay. This one's a bit slower, but still at a good pace, keeping the head bobbing. Nice background vocals too. "Cold and All Alone" is a good song about learning from your mistakes in a relationship and the remorse of hurting the one you love. "Downfall of Western Civilization" is a visit back to really old MxPx. It's just frantic, fast and fun. "Invitation to Understanding" is a plea for understanding--written in a neat humorous way. I think it's my favorite song on the album. It's almost a punk rock ballad. Well, not really. It's just a neat medium-paced melodic punk song. Next highlight is "What's Mine is Yours." Ouch. This is an angry song, seemingly to Tooth & Nail execs upon MxPx's departure to a major label. "You don't own me. They've abolished slavery." Read the lyrics. It's pretty obvious. "Self Serving with a Purpose" is another highlight. It's fast, jumpy, and fun, with some neat background vocals. "For Always" seems kinda nostalgic and happy, although it's not clear what the song is about. "Set the Record Straight" is another pretty straightforward song upon leaving Tooth & Nail. ("Did we ever have an understanding? Did we ever have anything at all? Not that I recall. You were never really there for us, but then we were never really there for you--it's true. . . . And if we don't seem so brokenhearted, it's because we're glad we parted.) Ouch. The next few songs finish out the album nicely.
Woo! I can't wait for the next album or the next time they come to town. Oh--did I mention that Greg Hetson of Bad Religion played the solo on "Downfall?" Imagine my bliss--B.R. is one of my all-time fave bands. I recommend this album to all MxPx fans and/or fans of any kind of punk rock music.
Al Newberry.
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