On their 14th studio album Find A Way Home, Washington state-based outfit MxPx continues to sharpen their sound after 20 years of being together through their reflective lyrics and upbeat instrumentation.
From the initial start of the opening track “Not Today,” the band comes out of the gates running with hard-pressed guitar riffing courtesy of lead guitarist Tom Wisniewski. While Wisniewski and rhythm guitarist Chris Adkins continue to plug away, drummer Yuri Ruley doesn’t miss a beat to catch up. Even lead vocalist Mike Herrera gets in on the action with rapid-fire lyricism.
The album is a perfect blend of cadences, not just tempo-wise, but also with the instrumental feel and lyricism of the record. Wisniewski and Ruley are the culprits regarding the album’s speed, with their furiously-paced driving songs like “Undone” and “Call Me” in their opening moments. Herrera luckily catches up quickly and adjusts his vocals slightly to keep pace.
Herrera has his speedy moments too, especially with his rapid-fire lyrics like those in “Excuse My French.” With a chord progression and rhythm that sound similar to the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated,” Herrera lyrically tries to figure out if someone will be staying in his life, not just because he wants them to but because of their own actions.
“Excuse my French but s’il vous plaît / J’ai besoin de savior la vérité / For or against the possibility / Of spending your whole life with me.”
However, the best song on the album is much further down in the tracklist with “Mountains To Climb.” The track seems like a throwback to their Christian punk beginnings with simple instrumentation and a few lead guitar riffs to add depth. The lyrics maintain the imagery, describing someone who is persistent and determined in their life.
“When you see mountains you climb / When you see lightning you ride / When you see water you dive right in / That’s how you know you’re alive again!”
Overall, MxPx has added another solidifying album to their discography that continues to play themselves into the “Sunrise” with each track. They’re making their way back and starting to find their way home.
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