Album Review // Motion City Soundtrack // The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World

Epitaph Records

It's been 10 years since we last heard from beloved power-pop/emo underdogs Motion City Soundtrack, and quite frankly, many of us thought it was unlikely that we'd hear from them again. Despite a number of successful anniversary tours, band members had moved away from each other, started families, and faced mounting health problems. Of course, you might not know that just from listening to The Same Old Wasted Wonderful Word, an album that expertly walks a tightrope between the sound Motion City Soundtrack is known for and the kind of thoughtful maturity that can only come with years of reflection. The term "career-spanning" would indicate an album that touches on every sound they've experimented with before, and while that's technically true, there's also several bold and exciting moves for a band to bust out on their reunion album. Tucked into the album's back half is the one-two punch of "Mi Corazón" and "Bloodline," the former dabbling in brooding, bass-heavy post-punk while the latter embraces chaotic, Foo Fighters-adjacent alt-rock. Cliche as it may be, Motion City Soundtrack has delivered yet another knock-out slice of pop-rock that truly offers something for everyone; perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to doubt them in the future.