Midtown, New Jersey's own rock band, has come back into the arena of recordings with their 2002 release "Living Well is the Best Revenge". This is Midtown's second release on Drive Thru Records, and the third release of their career (which is just now going to be having its fourth birthday: Midtown formed in the fall of 1998).
This record, produced by Mark Trombino (Blink 182, Jimmy Eat World, Finch...), is most likely to be classified somewhere in-between emo and punk. Midtown mixes things up by switching lead vocals not only from person to person, but throwing a third lead vocalist into it.
Midtown's songs are also catchy and they span a wide variety of subjects (unlike many punk/emo bands, Midtown does not just talk about heartbreak). The first track, "Become What You Hate", is a sing-along song that can remind anyone of a certain past relationship where the person changed so much to the point of where the relationship ended. A few songs later "Like A Movie" touches on the every day wish that reality could be more like Hollywood portrays it ("she seeks to find the answers for/the reason her life did not turn out/More like a movie/She's trying to forget it all"). The ending song of the album, "Find Comfort In Yourself" throws in some harder vocals here and there and deals with just 'being yourself' and not trying to fit into the status quo no matter who wants you to.
All in all, this is one of my favorite records that I have picked up yet this year. While I think Midtown's first release "Save The World, Lose The Girl" was a feat in itself, Midtown has topped it with "Living Well is the Best Revenge". There were a few places where some harder vocals could have been added in, but this record still takes the cake.
A-
Similar sounding releases
2002No Use For A NameHard Rock Bottom
2004Dynamite BoyDynamite Boy
2005MxPxPanic
2003HangnailTransparent
2004Letter KillsThe Bridge
2004Sum 41Chuck
