This is the best batch of songs Justin Courtney Pierre has ever released, and that’s certainly saying something. His first two albums with Motion City Soundtrack – I Am the Movie and Commit This To Memory – are some of my favorite records from my high school years, and they hold up much better than some 00s pop-punk does. In fact, I still remember how awesome it was hearing Motion City playing a tiny ass venue in Muskegon, Michigan in 2002 was. The band’s openers were little known (at the time) acts like Northstar and The All American Rejects who were so good; however, it was Pierre’s almost magical stage presence and upbeat nature that struck a chord with teenage me. There’s an earnest yet upbeat nature to much of Pierre’s work that has helped him stand apart from the more morose and grim tales his peers were telling.
So it’s a welcome turn for this EP to ground the songs in a sadder scope. Maybe it’s being locked down for over a year, but an adult, pained record set in outer space feels like the right mix of escapism and realism to me. These five songs showcase the excellent hooks and smart lyrics that Pierre is known for, but they feel much more intimate here. Even the fast-paced jams like “Footsteps” and “Promise Not To Change” feel like the best version of a favorite local band playing a Friday night session. There’s this sensation that Pierre is talking directly to us in a way that the best rock records do.
Maybe that’s it – while much of these five songs are wrapped in the familiar keyboard-fueled pop-punk, An Anthropologist on Mars sounds like timeless rock songs performed by a master of the craft. They aren’t showy or filled with flair, but their messages and hooks hit home efficiently and effectively. There’s not a dud in the bunch. Pierre has been very public that he wished he had the chance to release a full-length, and while I certainly wish him a speedy recovery, it’s a good thing Epitaph boss Brett Gurewitz convinced Pierre to let these songs loose into the world. When joy is hard to come by, why not let yourself dig into a short but very sweet EP that shows Pierre at the height of his powers?
You can buy this record at this location.
