Worker Bee is the first song on the album, and gets things off to a great start with the suiting first lyrics of “It’s been a good year/ A good new beginning.” Even though it is the shortest of the 12 tracks, it serves as a great introduction to the album, and the bands evolved sound. The lyrics are almost like something one would find in a children’s book, with a chorus of “I’ve been a good little worker bee/ I deserve a gold star” but are almost impossible not to sing along to.
Track three on the album, Her Words Destroyed My Planet is definitely my favorite one on the album. It tells the story of going through a bad breakup, but eventually using the experience to better yourself. The song itself is reminiscent of a lot of the band’s previous work primarily that off their last studio album, Even If It Kills Me. The catchy upbeat melody paired with the vocals of lead singer, Justin Pierre make this song one to listen to over and over.
Disappear offers a change from the band’s usual happy-go-lucky sound and features a darker vibe than most of their other songs. The overall tone is completely different from anything Motion City Soundtrack has ever done, both in sound and the basic point of view. Unlike the other songs on the album where the overall message is that everything will be all right, this song expresses a doubt of that idea, and the notion that it might not be all right, and that the singer may not particularly care. The jumbled somewhat nonsensical lyrics have the sense of someone teetering on the edge, completely unsure of what move to make next and if said move will lead to improvement or disaster. The fast paced, rough sounding verses create a sort of tension with the smoother chorus, where Pierre sings “I can disappear/ any time I want to/ Time I feel you/ Shovel through my skin/ I am with you ‘till the end.”
Delirium is a macabre mix of an irresistibly catchy melody with a heavy base line and quirky lyrics based around a patient in a mental hospital. While the lyrics are still a darker version of Motion City’s past songs, unlike Disappear, Delirium still employs the upbeat sound that the band is known for. The silly opening lines where Pierre sings about a stain on the floor lead into slightly more disturbing lyrics about insects raining from the ceiling, and suicidal thoughts, broken up by a chorus of “I swim in pharmaceuticals.” The slightly monotone quality of the verse melody doesn’t at all take away from the song, and couples with the faster paced more varied notes of the chorus to create a great finished product.
Stand Too Close brings the album back out of the dark with a lighter sound than the previous few songs. The acoustic campfire vibe of the song includes a mellow guitar part, and claps in the background. Pierre sings about finding acceptance with someone special, but remaining afraid of eventual rejection, and acting stupidly because of that with lyrics such as “I have apologized a billion times/ when I’ve gone off the wall like Busta Rhymes/ And pulled a stupid stunt/ That left you thinking/ There was something wrong with me.” While the overall composition of the song is more comparable to most popular Weezer songs, it remains true to the classic Motion City sound, employing an incredibly cheerful rhythm and the quirky lyrics that make their songs great.
Overall, My Dinosaur Life definitely lives up to the hype that fans have been feeling since April of last year when the band announced they were beginning to record the new album. Motion City Soundtrack has definitely pushed the limits of their previous albums and created what may very well result in their breakthrough into the top 40 market. The album is now available thorough most major music retailers, and on the band’s web site.
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