By Josh LaVoie
There were two songs that originally got me hooked on punk music: Rancid’s “Ruby Soho” and MxPx’s “Doing Time.” Those two songs changed my musical tastes and have had me listening to punk rock for the last seven years.
The boys from Bremerton waited three years since their last full-length, offering fans the Renaissance EP and the 10 Years and Running collection to tide them over, until they were ready with their latest, Before and Everything After.
Acutely aware of the ever expanding popularity of pop punk, MxPx furthers the variety found in some of their previous albums in order to differentiate themselves from the masses. Without harming the characteristic sound of Mike Herrara’s nasal vocal harmonies over exceptionally rhythmic and melodic guitar, MxPx successfully adds piano interludes and string instruments to the formula.
Tracks like the predominantly acoustic "Quit Your Life" and the piano backed "Don’t Walk Away" make the band’s desire to innovate apparent. Old fans fear not, the track list is still predominantly composed of classic MxPx with songs like "Play it Loud" and "You Make Me, Me" that will make you feel like you’re back at the punk rawk show.
Also present and accounted for are the Halo Friendlies as well as Benji Madden of Good Charlotte and Jordan Pundik of New Found Glory. Collaborating on the track "It’s alright," MxPx and Madden manage to put out one of the best songs on the disc with a unique melody and a powerful chorus.
Take note pop punkers, this is how it’s supposed to be done, the Pokinatcha punks have been producing top notch music for over 10 years and this album proves they’re not done yet.