MxPx

Nearly fifteen years have passed since MxPx released On The Cover, a collection of eight songs redone in their signature style. Now, after seven more albums, the band has released On The Cover II. In this sequel of sorts, MxPx pays tribute to music of the 80s, including artists that paved the way for their own pop punk style. The result is enjoyable, if also fairly predictable.

Covering another artist’s music effectively is challenging. Come too close to the original and a band risks being ignored or unfavorably compared; stray too far and it risks losing the song altogether. MxPx tries to walk this fine line by using the same method for all of its covers – turning them all into pop punk and cranking them up by 20 beats per minute, while keeping some of the instrumentation from the original. Newcomers to MxPx might get tired of an album full of songs played at the same pace and in the same style. Those who are already fans of the band, though, will like listening to older music that is given their signature twist.

MxPx files off some of the rough edges of punk rock songs and coats them with the band’s own more melodic vocals and harmonies. This works with some tracks better than others. The cover of The Ramones’ “My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down” is an album highlight, as is Dead Milkmen’s “Punk Rock Girl,” featuring a great accordion solo by Matt Hensley of Flogging Molly. “Linda Linda,” a hit by Japanese punk band The Blue Hearts, is infectious. Less effective is “I’m Gonna Be (500 miles).” It isn’t as fun as the original by The Proclaimers, even with a surprise addition toward the end. “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” is a little too faithful to The Clash, and the background exclamations just sound cheesy.

The band also has mixed results with songs borrowed from other genres. Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” featuring Agent M of Tsunami Bomb and The Action Design, is surprisingly one of the album’s best tracks. The guitar work is crisp and flows well with the music, while Agent M and MxPx vocalist Mike Herrera harmonize smoothly on the chorus. The cover of “Fallen Angel” by Poison falls flat on the verses, but pulls back together at the chorus and bridge, with vocals from Craig Owen of Chiodos and a guitar solo by Stephen Egerton of Descendents.

Queen is a challenge for anyone to cover, and MxPx puts forth a good effort with “Somebody to Love.” They are helped by Bryce Avery of The Rocket Summer on vocals, piano and keyboard and Ethan Luck of Relient K with a guitar solo. It doesn’t come close to the soaring emotion and theatricality of Queen’s original track, though. In a puzzling change, not once does Herrera sing the high notes in the final lines of the chorus, instead taking them only a step higher or bringing them an octave lower. It’s a decent but somewhat unsatisfying closer to the album.

Overall, On The Cover II doesn’t bring much new to the table, but what it serves up is energetic and fun. MxPx fans will want to pick this one up, but others may want to listen first to see if they like the style. Also including covers of U2, Descendents, The Go-Gos and Kim Wilde, this album is full of classic ‘80s music with a late-‘90s pop punk flavor.

Tagged as: MXPX, On the Cover II

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