justin pierre parle du nouvelle album qui sortira le 18 septembre 2007 :
Justin Pierre, lead singer of the Minneapolis, Minn., buzz band Motion
City Soundtrack, says their latest record was inspired by "failed
relationships." And really, what record isn't?
But it takes on a whole new meaning—and even more raw emotion—when you
consider that the wildly coiffed frontman ended a long-term
relationship just one week before the band finished recording their
third album, "Even If It Kills Me." But with an abundance of synths,
some snappy production work by the Cars' Ric Ocasek (as well as
Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger and Girls Against Boys' Eli
Janney) and a knack for mixing heartache and absurdity, MCS have
delivered a mini-masterpiece. It's the best mix of power pop, humor,
emotional distress and punk since Weezer's "Pinkerton."
The fairly recently sober Pierre discussed his inspirations, the ugly
truth about the side effects of too much coffee and volcanic hair. Really.
How much did growing up in Minnesota influence your sound?
The big thing is that I don't think I'm cool. It's a little easier to make fun of myself.
Would you ever move, now that the band is growing?
No. I mean, I think I'd like to live in Paris or Japan for a summer,
but I'm not at a place in my life to do that, financially or mentally.
And I don't want to be a total jackass and go somewhere and only speak
English. I don't want to promote the American stereotype.
But you recorded the album in New York. How was that?
It was fun, but I didn't do a lot except work on the record. Actually,
I gave up coffee while I was there. It was hell—it was the last drug I
was holding on to—[but] coffee is a diuretic, and it dried out my voice.
Yum! On your last record, you had this great catchy song called
"Let's Get Fucked Up and Die." And, on this new record, you seem to
swear a lot during your catchiest songs…is that all on purpose?
I do that so they don't get played on the radio. I'm kidding…but for
some reason, that's always been the case. Whatever song everyone loves,
I end up ruining it by swearing.
Have you ever written a song you now absolutely despise?
There's a line in one song, "Red Dress," on our first record. It was
like "with drink I see things better." I don't believe that today, but
I was being honest at the time. And I'm not going to change the lyrics
to my songs like the Beastie Boys do—although in their case, that was a
smart move.
In your new song "It Had to Be You," you go on an extended riff
about Pop Tarts, the PGA, Prince William and steak knives. Care to
explain what it's really about?
Well, I was coming out of the bathroom at our rehearsal space in New
York, and ran into [musician] Regina Spektor, who I love. I was writing
this song, and all of the sudden I thought, "This could be a duet!" So
it's sort of sung like it would be a duet with her. But it's…not.
Anyway, it's about realizing that the person you don't think you want
to be with is the person you should be with. But by then it's too late.
I get the impression the whole album is about that.
It is about failed relationships—not necessarily boyfriend-girlfriend, but
also father-son, mother-daughter, whatever. It was life imitating art,
I guess: I broke up with someone a week before we finished. I think I
saw it coming and wasn't ready to accept it.
On a lighter note, what bands are you loving lately?
I love the shit of this band we're touring with called the Forecast.
They're awesome—they have this dirty "rawk" sound, with a little Fugazi
and some country.
Your keyboardist Jesse does handstands on his synthesizers during
live shows. Has that ever led to any sort of hilarious accident?
Yeah, he's a jackass. He's gashed his forehead, but never fallen over.
Maybe I'll grab his legs when he does that at the next show.
Glad we could inspire you. Now, about your hair—it's wild, to say the least. What kind of hair product do you use?
There's this stuff I get that's made out of volcanic ash. It heats up
the follicles or something, gives my hair more volume. It's actually
kind of scary.
What's the strangest rumor you've ever heard about your band?
Maybe that I'm French-Canadian. I have no idea where that idea came "aboot"… [Laughs]
source:orlandocitybeat.metromix.com
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