Album: Even If It Kills Me

Song Title

Time

Fell in Love Without You

This Is for Real

It Had to Be You

Last Night

Calling All Cops

Can't Finish What You Started

Conversation, The

Broken Heart

Hello Helicopter

10)

Where I Belong

11)

Point of Extinction

12)

Antonia

13)

Even If It Kills Me

Album: Even If It Kills Me

Song Title

Time

Fell in Love Without You

This Is for Real

It Had to Be You

Last Night

Calling All Cops

Can't Finish What You Started

Conversation, The

Broken Heart

Hello Helicopter

10)

Where I Belong

11)

Point of Extinction

12)

Antonia

13)

Even If It Kills Me

Performer Notes

Motion City Soundtrack: Matt Taylor, Jesse Johnson (background vocals); Justin Courtney Pierre, Tony Thaxton, Joshua Cain.
Personnel: Justin Courtney Pierre (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Shawn Harris , Max Bemis, Rachel Minton (vocals); Joshua Cain (guitar, background vocals); Matt Taylor (piano, keyboards, bass guitar, background vocals); Adam Schlesinger (piano); Jesse Munro Johnson (keyboards, Moog synthesizer, glockenspiel, background vocals); Ric Ocasek (keyboards); Tony Thaxton (drums, percussion, background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Chris Shaw ; Tom Lord-Alge.
Recording information: Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY; EQHQ, Chicago, IL; Looking Glass Studio, New York, NY; STratosphere Sound, New York, NY.
Photographers: Bryan Sheffield; James Thornton.
Arranger: Eli Janney.
On EVEN IF IT KILLS ME, its third studio outing for the venerable Epitaph label, Motion City Soundtrack further distances itself from emo angst by offering up an energetic set of catchy punk-pop tunes. Although many of the album's well-crafted songs deal with romance, the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based band never goes for the overwrought angle, opting instead for an earnest, boy-next-door accessibility, as revealed on the celebratory "This Is For Real" and the swooning "Broken Heart."

Professional Reviews

Spin (p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Motion City have deftly filled that space between emotional adolescence and responsible adulthood with this set of near-perfect pop."

Alternative Press (p.169) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Justin Pierre's slice-of-life confessionals are engaging....There's no denying that at this point in their career, MCS are better than their influences and mentors."

Kerrang (Magazine) (p.49) - "[They demonstrate] how brains and catchy melody can survive -- even prosper -- hand in hand."