steering clear of the mainstream
since 2001

june 2010

review
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info opinion

Motion City Soundtrack / Schatzi

Split CDEP

Doghouse Records / Redemption

Genres: pop-punk, alternative rock

schatzi / motion city soundtrack

Aug 25 - 31 2003

Split EPs are arguably the best way to test out new bands. You don't have to commit to a full album, but unlike compilations you get more than just one song to base your opinion of the band on. Enter the Motion City Soundtrack / Schatzi split.

So this is essentially a pop-punk disc. Both bands play alternative rock / punk-pop hybrids, heavy on fast tempo, speedy rhythms and youthfully simple melodies. Motion City Soundtrack is the better of the two; they seem to have a stronger grasp on the instantly infectious melodies that are needed for the genre. "Throw Down," their first tune, has the type of melodic urgency that could land it among the charts with Sum 41 and Blink 182. Is that a good thing? Well, you'll have to answer that question yourself. "Capital H" is just as accessible, but more silly and just-for-fun, while "Back to the Beat" isn't really much of a song due to its bizarre structure, although the chorus of "you've got soul" is insanely enjoyable to listen to.

Schatzi's half of the disc is considerably less enjoyable. "Coreopsis" is melodic but doesn't hold under repeated listens. "Arithmetic's Collapse" is their best track, taking a strong Blink 182 influence in the vocals as well as the song structure. Their last song is a poorly-chosen cover of "Any Way You Want It," which is both unusual and uninteresting.

Overall, this is a solid EP for fans of mainstream pop-punk. If you hate bands like Sum 41 and The Offspring, however, you're bound to abhor this.

80%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 6 tracks, distributed by the label, released 2003]