MxPx

Item: Before Everything & After
Author: Matt Modrich

Before Everything & After

(2003)

Reviewed by Matt Modrich

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Label A&M RecordsDecapolisSeptember 2003

pop punk power pop punk skate punk

It's been over two years since "The Ever Passing Moment" came out. Since then diehard MxPx fans have been anticipating "Before Everything and After." The album is similar to their last one, but it can't really compete with "Life In General" and "Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo." Having said that, it's pretty comparable in level of quality to "The Ever Passing Moment."

The album layout and artwork are great. Tattoos are what MxPx is known for, that and the Pokinatcha punk. With all six guests on the album, one can't help wondering why the credits don't list Keanu Reeves in his appearance on the back of the album.

The CD starts and ends with "Before" and "After," both of which are basically a mix of various clips of songs on the CD that really could be done without.

"Play It Loud" is a punk anthem, which is okay for a starting track. Not spectacular, but mildly entertaining. America finally gets to hear the end of "Well Adjusted" (the song from their Diet Pepsi commercial) and it's not bad. "It's Alright" goes back to MxPx's roots of melodic pop punk, while "Brokenhearted" sounds just like something off "The Ever Passing Moment."

"First Day Of The Rest Of Our Lives" starts with a Slick Shoes like intro and has a pop sound much like Good Charlotte. Their influence seems to pop up throughout the album. "Everything Sucks (When You're Gone)" is a nice track that features a little showy guitar lead, which is generally uncommon for MxPx. "Quit Your Life" has a little bit of a Counting Crows feel with the piano driving the song. "More Everything" is another pop song, which is a take-it-or-leave-it type track.

"Kings of Hollywood" features a bass groove with a cheesy guitar intro, but the song picks up nicely with the chorus. "The Capitol" continues to show MxPx experimenting with an 80s like guitar intro. The song has its NOFX like moments, but the chorus is fairly repetitive beyond the point of enjoyment. "On The Outs" starts with a melody that just makes the song, despite some more Good Charlotte moments. Benji Madden even does some BGVs.

"Don't Walk Away" starts like something Bruce Springsteen would write. It maintains a sort of 80s rock ballad feel, which is less than desirable. "You Make Me, Me" is full of octave riffs that complement the vocals. On top of that the lyrics are even spiritual too: "Height won't separate us from this love. Death can't separate us from this love. Depth can't separate us from this love. These days so few seem to have faith in the son of man and his grace." "You're Not Alone" starts off like "My Life Story" played twice as fast. It's another so-so song.

"Before Everything And After" will probably find older fans less interested, but younger fans will definitely dig it. There's a lot to like about the album and it will undoubtedly become someone's favorite. Who knows maybe even Clear Channel's favorite.

B+