Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 7.0
Production: 7.5
Originality: 8.0
Tracklisting
2. Lightning Strikes Twice in New York
3. Photosynthesis (We're Losing O2)
4. Who Found Mister Fabulous?
5. Messy
6. At Night We Like to Fight
7. Monkey Monkee Men
8. Time for the Future (Bang Bang)
9. The Name of the Train is the Hurricane
10. Celebracion!
11. Sell Your Money
12. Vowels
In 2003, Daryl Palumbo from Glassjaw formed the disco-punk group known as Head Automatica; nothing completely new, just Kraftwerk for the emo generation. But Daryl missed the mark, which was strange since this is the same man who fronted Glassjaw. Well, another member from the Glassjaw University, Todd Weinstock, has stepped up to take this sound to the level it deserves to be at with this CD. Now, bear in mind that a band like this should not be taken super-seriously, and it is apparent that the band just wants to have fun and make some asses shake.
The band meshes together the sounds of disco, funk, post-punk, metal, and new wave to create a sound that loosens the tight faced listeners of today. From MWC's adrenaline pumped opener "Dance in my Blood", you can get a sense of direction where this album's sound is going and it is sparkling bright, with dark edges. The album's standout tracks are "Time for the Future (Bang Bang)" which recalls the sounds of The Beta Band and "Celebracion!", with a sound that would not be out of place as the soundtrack to the videogame Street Fighter.
MWC's debut swims in ridculous lyrics such as "You don't need a reason to get out on the dance floor/And we can get it on and on, all night long" and "We're monkey monkey men, and we'll eat all your friends" but this seems to be part of the whole gig. They know that any thought-provoking lyrics would sound completely lame here, and why must music nowadays always be taken so seriously? I mean sure, music needs to be intelligent, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun as well--that is what this album is, an album so fun that it is intelligent and not stupid.
This is not the CD to reflect with because you will soon find out that it is going nowhere in the way of reflection; the only way to truly appreciate the album is to play it at the next party you go to or loud while driving around with the windows down and enjoying the playground that is life. It is important to remember that you must think with intelligence, but have fun while doing it, and according to this album, Men, Women, & Children would agree with that statement.