Spring Break
Metro Station Debut Mediocre
Tom Crosby
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Focus
Metro Station, one of the fastest-growing indie rock bands in America, released their self-titled debut album on Sept. 18, and maybe they should have kept it caged up. The 10-track record is chock-full of syncopated drum beats, tired synth basslines and a weird mixture of tearful lyrics on some tracks, and crazy dance party sing-along hooks on others.
There are, however, flashes of hope for the L.A.-based overnight Internet sensation. The vocals of lead duo Mason Musso and Chase Cyrus (son of Billy Ray Cyrus), prove that they can out-sing Chase's dad. The two actually combine for a sound akin to the likes of Brand New and All-American Rejects. It's just hard to swallow their feeble attempts at sounding like The Postal Service-meets-Fallout Boy.
The Alternative Press said of Metro Station in July, "If the Rentals had a bratty younger brother, they would be named Metro Station." Metro Station would be the younger brother that gets beat up by his older brother because he's always whining about how sad his life is.
To their credit, the album isn't all bad; it's just not for most people. For instance, "Shake It" has an excited-about-life feel with promising guitar riffs and risqué lyrics reminiscent of Brand New's "Sic Transit Gloria," also about sexual angst and insecurity. The undoubtedly coolest part of the album is when frontman Musso yells "Let's Drop!" at the opening of the track. "Tell Me What To Do" also satisfies with the most upbeat feeling the album has to offer, sampling some sort of Nintendo-esque synth bassline and mixing it with enthusiastic vocals. However, what they are enthusiastic about seems to be a 17-year-old girl's cocaine habit. Many of the songs on the album, despite their catchy hooks and out-of-place danceability, leave the listener feeling dirty and wondering about just how young the youth in L.A. begins having sex, drinking and using narcotics.
In a hard-to-comprehend turn of events, the main single off the album, "Seventeen Forever," is nowhere near the best song to listen to. In fact, the single sets you up for a feeling of drowning in a pool of droning electro-rock for over a half an hour, with minimal, yet eagerly welcome breaks in between.
There are, however, flashes of hope for the L.A.-based overnight Internet sensation. The vocals of lead duo Mason Musso and Chase Cyrus (son of Billy Ray Cyrus), prove that they can out-sing Chase's dad. The two actually combine for a sound akin to the likes of Brand New and All-American Rejects. It's just hard to swallow their feeble attempts at sounding like The Postal Service-meets-Fallout Boy.
The Alternative Press said of Metro Station in July, "If the Rentals had a bratty younger brother, they would be named Metro Station." Metro Station would be the younger brother that gets beat up by his older brother because he's always whining about how sad his life is.
To their credit, the album isn't all bad; it's just not for most people. For instance, "Shake It" has an excited-about-life feel with promising guitar riffs and risqué lyrics reminiscent of Brand New's "Sic Transit Gloria," also about sexual angst and insecurity. The undoubtedly coolest part of the album is when frontman Musso yells "Let's Drop!" at the opening of the track. "Tell Me What To Do" also satisfies with the most upbeat feeling the album has to offer, sampling some sort of Nintendo-esque synth bassline and mixing it with enthusiastic vocals. However, what they are enthusiastic about seems to be a 17-year-old girl's cocaine habit. Many of the songs on the album, despite their catchy hooks and out-of-place danceability, leave the listener feeling dirty and wondering about just how young the youth in L.A. begins having sex, drinking and using narcotics.
In a hard-to-comprehend turn of events, the main single off the album, "Seventeen Forever," is nowhere near the best song to listen to. In fact, the single sets you up for a feeling of drowning in a pool of droning electro-rock for over a half an hour, with minimal, yet eagerly welcome breaks in between.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Debbie
posted 9/25/07 @ 7:24 PM EST
I'm not a big fan of Metro Stations type of music but I have heard most of the songs on the album and think it's better than you're saying it is. I wonder if you wrote about this album only to get your anti-Billy Ray Cyrus dig in. (Continued…)
RussD
Russ D
posted 9/26/07 @ 1:22 AM EST
I have ordered Metro Station's CD and am looking forward to it arriving in the mail. I am a BRC fan and although I haven't liked all of the songs I have heard from the band I do enjoy songs like 'Seventeen Forever', 'California', and 'Kelsey'. (Continued…)
andrew
posted 10/01/07 @ 10:30 PM EST
I agree that they shouldn't of rushed the album and that some of their songs were lacking something. Metro Station is one of my favorite bands though. (Continued…)
Erin
posted 10/03/07 @ 11:42 PM EST
Metro stations songs, although a little hurried, are actually really catchy. For me (as someone who takes lyrical content very seriously) its refreshing to listen to a song and dance around and not pay close attention to frivolous lyrics. (Continued…)
alice
posted 10/27/07 @ 2:10 AM EST
i love metro station.
i completely disagree with wat ur sayin that some of their songs are garbage.
oh and btw, his name is trace not "chase"
jacob
posted 11/20/08 @ 5:48 PM EST
METRO STATION IS THE BEST BAND IN THE INTIRE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOHOOOOOO, ROCK ON
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