MxPx

Item: The Ever Passing Moment
Author: Kevin D. Hendricks

The Ever Passing Moment

(2000)

Reviewed by Kevin D. Hendricks

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Label A&M RecordsReAL Magazine2000

pop punk power pop punk skate punk

Hard hitting, melodic punk rock. What more can you say? It's MxPx.

The Ever Passing Moment is their fifth album (aside from various collections, EPs, and live albums), and second from mainstream label A&M Records. The album itself is good. The production, writing, and playing is all stellar, especially if you spend any time listening to the flood of punk bands that entered the Christian market lately. The album features melodic choruses that easily get stuck in your head and loud, blaring guitars. As a whole the album could use a little more diversity. Maybe it's just me, but a number of songs seem to recall and echo bits and pieces from old MxPx songs. But those are minor complaints. The second half of the album comes closer to that needed diversity.

'My Life Story' starts things off with a humorous tale of excuses and a chorus that surfaced in my head a full eight hours after listening to it. 'Responsibility' is the inappropriately picked first single. The chorus has a droning effect that turned me off. 'The Next Big Thing' takes a warranted stab at the music and radio industry. It sounds like they put more time into 'Misplaced Memories,' creating a more original song that stands out from the rest. 'Foolish' is a plea for respect from those who discount the band for their beliefs. Mike Herrera, primary writer, lead singer and bass player comments, "We're not here to preach. We respect people for what they believe. Most bands in the music scene we're in are anti-religion and I understand that. But some people actually hate us. Grow up!"

Which brings up the issue of where to place MxPX. A lot of questions have been asked in the past few years about the faith of MxPx. Granted, most of these questions were asked by the Christian industry, while the mainstream industry shrugged the question off and turned up the volume. And perhaps that's the better response. As Herrera seems to imply, the band is part of the mainstream punk scene, not the Christian scene. MxPx has achieved substantial exposure in the real world, allowing their positive lyrics and daily lives to influence other bands and listeners across the country. It's obvious that Herrera doesn't see MxPx as a vehicle to preach the gospel. Instead it's a vehicle for good music. If the gospel comes along for the ride and impacts people, which it undoubtedly will, then so be it. For some are called to preach, and others are called to live--and the gospel will find its way to the hearts that need it through both preaching and living. So let MxPx live.