MxPx

Item: Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo
Author: Tony LaFianza

Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo

(1998)

Reviewed by Tony LaFianza

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Label A&M Records / Tooth & Nail RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth1998

pop punk punk skate punk

Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo is MxPx's fourth full-length record overall, the first with A&M Records, and shows a maturity in the whole process that the earlier releases did not have. Lead singer Mike Herrera has not really impressed me with his song-writing before now, but some of these songs are good--even very good! Herrera has always had a keen ear for melody; and he, Tom Wisniewski, and Yuri Ruley are very good musicians, but this record takes the band to higher heights, with more of a professional feel present in the recording. The sonic aspects of the record are fabulous! MxPx has not always been too picky about the production of a record as evidenced by their second record, Teenage Politics, but ...Buffalo is engineered and produced so well that one of the best things about this record is the production! At no time is there a lag in the quality of sound. All instruments are clear and crisp throughout, including
Herrera's vocals.

The songs themselves are not all about the girl/boy, high school-type subjects that MxPx is known to produce. They hit subjects like wisdom in a song called "Invitation to Understanding," and standing on faith when things seem wrong in "Tomorrow's Another Day." Our need to understand that inside ourselves there is a void that only God can complete, but pride keeps us from Him, is explored in "Inches from Life." The final lyric in "Inches from Life" reads: "Could it be there's something real/ Not always known but you can feel/ The presence of an absolute/ That our lives can't substitute." Of course, there is the usual MxPx fare of boy/girl anthems and laments, but with a little more thought than in times past.

Along with the maturity in song-writing, there seems to be a maturity in musicianship. Ruley is a great punk drummer, Wisniewski is a very good guitarist (I was surprised to learn that he has only been playing a few years), and Herrera's bass and vocals are trademark! Herrera has a sing-song vocal style that sounds like it might almost be off, but in reality is right on key. With his Green Day-like pseudo-British inflections (that used to bother me but now I love), Herrera is a great punk singer with an ear for melodies. This time out they have also dropped much of the cheesy background vocals that were on previous records.

There is some southern California modern punk on this record, as well as a little bit of the old-school punk. The band even sounds almost hard-core on at least one cut, "The Theme Fiasco." I am impressed with the record; it is very well done and fun to boot! A must for the MxPx fan and the boys may even pick up a few new fans along the way with this one.

4 tocks