Nine times out of ten when your favorite band signs to a major record label, all that transpires after is normally negative. The constant spree of “they were so much better” and “look at how they changed their sound” runs rampant amongst all the popular music blogs. Very little do we see a band return to form after they’ve signed such a deal, but as unorthodox as it is, such is the case with Motion City Soundtrack latest release My Dinosaur Life.

While their last album left people a little bittersweet, My Dinosaur Life provides a taste of why people fell in love with this band. Some songs rock hard like only Motion City Soundtrack know how to do (“Disappear”, “Worker Bee”) While others show off the band’s pop charms. In particular, “Her Words Destroyed My Planet” and “Stand Too Close” are both cute and catchy with their execution.

The one thing that Motion City Soundtrack has always been known for is their quirky lyrics. Being able to talk about just anything, never taking themselves too seriously with what they mention. This album isn’t any different in that regard, the obscure inspector gadget reference in “Pulp Fiction” and the anti-social panic of “Delirium” allows the music to match the tone of the song precisely.

Motion City Soundtrack have allowed themselves to experiment with past efforts, and this one is no different. It’s not like they have basically re-released their first album under a different name, but rather taken everything they’ve discovered from three records into one hybrid. The album is a jump into a whole new world for the band, because from here they can go all the way to the top. So whether or not you enjoy the vintage sounds of “@!#?@!” or the soft harmonies of “Skin and Bones.” Everything is original, everything is pristine, everything is (more than just) alright.