From the opening strains "Anywhere But Here" to the closing fuzz of "Dead End" Magnified Plaid (or MxPx for short) have crafted a quality glitz-punk album in the mold of Green Day, The Ramones, and The Pixies.
Bassist and lead vocalist Mike jumps from the scream-your-mind approach of "Weak" to the melodic singing of "Want Ad" and "Bad Hair Day" with ease. The consistent skin thrashing of Yuri sets the pace for all the songs without overpowering the mix. Andy, the guitarist, has the job of trying to make each song sound different and seems to succeed. Aaron Sprinkle, of poor old lu fame, does an excellent job as producer. It's not easy making a punk band sound like a punk band without also making them sound like they were recorded on a boombox in an abandoned garage, but Sprinkle pulls it off.
Sure, some may call MxPx just another Green Day clone, but that is really just a cop-out. There is a simplistic sincerity that permeates Pokinatcha. The topics on the album vary from reflections on a failed relationship ("Anywhere But Here," "Unopposed") to the anxious expectation of Christ's return ("Too Much Thinking"). All are laid out in a simplistic, street-level manner.
If MxPx keeps producing material of this caliber, they could develop a loyal following, not unlike that of The Altar Boys of the late 80's. But for now, MxPx will have to settle for just having a good punk album.
Other coverage for this album
The Conqueror Worm Jun/Jul 1995Reviewed by argyllethis cd friggin rocks! here we have melodic punk that some will say sounds like green day (man, i really didn't want to have to use that name here) with the major differences being that they don't sound that much alike, and MxPx doesn't suck. this disc has 21 tracks rounding out to 48 minutes. there are 10 or 12 songs i love and the rest aren't bad at all. "time brings change", "no room", and…Trevechoes April 27, 1995Reviewed by Shaun FitzpatrickTwo words that best describe this group are "Modern Punk," from the likes of Green Day or Offspring. The members may be the envy of some high school and college bands, with the oldest member being 18-year old drummer Yuri. Other members include 17-year old bassist Mike, and 16-year old guitarist Andy. Twenty-one songs on the CD give fans plenty of choices for favorites, but a sure success is the…Heaven's Metal #51Reviewed by Jeremy ChoiPokinatcha, the debut release from Magnified Plaid, contains everything, including the kitchen sink. This trio from Washington, which musically sounds like a conglomeration of The Ramones, Green Day, The Pixies, andBlenderhead, have a real hit on their hands. Their sound, dubbed "melodic punk," is not as chaotic as most punk bands' sounds, though it could hardly be classified as "wimpy," either,…The Lighthouse December 1994Reviewed by Richard S. MoliqueIt doesn't take long to realize Magnified Plaid is a quality piece in any Christian/punk/hardcore library. Their new release, Pokinatcha, is quick, hard, and sharp. Definitely classified as punk, this album is a sweet-sweet melody for a recovering Black Flag, Misfits and Exploited fan like me. These guys are light hearted and fun with a unique heaviness that made me want to boogie immediately.…Similar sounding releases
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