Motion City Soundtrack still have plenty to say. Their breakout record, Commit This To Memory, turns twenty this year. Its earnest oversharing felt like a safety net for many. The early 2000s were unkind to those who struggled with their mental health and confidence, but the band’s 2005 LP welcomed nuance. Now, their 8th studio album, The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World, digs even deeper.
This record spares no prisoners, candidly exploring anxiety, love, and personal growth. Some moments feel like epiphanies—the leap from “Particle Physics” to “Downer” is a perfect example, specifically this line, “If I had known back then it wasn’t my fault, it might have affected the way that I acted, with confidence instead of hiding behind it all.”
Vocalist Justin Pierre’s stream-of-consciousness style remains central, though the band sometimes intervenes. “Sometimes we interject, like, ‘hey buddy,’” laughs Joshua Cain. “‘This doesn’t make sense …’ Or, if Justin doesn’t love a line, we’ll throw one at him. But it’s mostly Justin’s (words).”
That collaborative spirit extends beyond the studio, shining throughout the whole record. In the lead single, “You Know Who The Fuck We Are,” fans appear as gang vocals in the bridge—a VIP perk from a tour. “Our manager, Kieren Smith, came up with that idea. And we were like, ‘whoa, I’ve never heard of another band doing that,” explains bassist Matthew Taylor.
Producer Sean O’Keefe, who worked on the band’s debut, I Am The Movie, helped them stay true to their roots while evolving. “(I Am The Movie) is one of his favorite records,” says Cain with a nod.
Retracing their steps allowed Pierre to loosen his lyrical grip. “Particle Physics” invites collaborator and friend Patrick Stump, who penned much of it. After years of friendship—and performing a bulk of Pierre’s set for him while he was out sick for the Yacht Club festival—Stump evidently understood the group’s voice at ground-level.
“Patrick actually wrote the original part of the song,” confirms Cain. “Most of the chorus is Patrick’s lyrics, and he had written it from Justin’s perspective. (“Particle Physics”) feels like you need someone to intervene for the world to understand you.”
The album includes more features than previous work, but nothing feels like filler. Even Sincere Engineer’s appearance on “Things Like This” makes sense stylistically. The band balances careful curation with creative openness, proving they still have stamina decades in.
Reuniting in 2020, just before the world shut down, showed fans they weren’t just revisiting old hits. Pierre had just wrapped his solo tour, yet Motion City Soundtrack returned fully formed, with drummer Tony Thaxton performing double sets nightly. New music may have been unconfirmed, but it was clear the band had more to offer than nostalgia alone.
If anything, The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World proves Motion City Soundtrack’s best years are ahead of them. They continually prioritize fan connections while evolving lyrically and sonically. Inviting collaborators—from O’Keefe to Stump to Sincere Engineer —only strengthens the group’s potential. The record is so solid that Cain and Taylor struggled to pick their top three tracks.
“I can’t forget any of my babies! If I did that, I’d be really sad!” proclaims Taylor. “The title track, ‘Your Days Are Numbered,’ and ‘Some Wear A Dark Heart’ is beautiful. It’s so hard to pick 3! There’s a lot of great songs on this record.”
For Cain? “‘Mi Corazón,’ ‘Downer,’ and ‘Your Days Are Numbered.’ Even my wife went out of her way to tell me she loved ‘Your Days Are Numbered.’ She doesn’t really talk about our music that way. She said, ‘Your Days Are Numbered’ is my favorite song and not just by you guys. It’s one of my favorite songs.’ So I think it’s really special.”
Some might argue that all of Motion City Soundtrack’s songs are “really special.” From deep cuts to hit singles, their work touches the masses because it dares to go where most refuse to even glance. The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World scratches an itch missing since Panic Stations while expanding upon the magic of Commit This To Memory. For old fans and new fans alike, the newest Motion City Soundtrack record sounds like coming home.
The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World is out today, and you can order it from Epitaph Records. Follow Motion City Soundtrack on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, and TikTok for future updates.
Photo Credit: Ben Peir
