Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


MxPx
Life In General



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 17 tracks: 43 minutes, 37 seconds
Street Date: November 19, 1996


Before MxPx became the kings of the Christian punk scene, they were just another high energy group of twenty year olds in the crowded punk rock scene. That changed in 1996 when MxPx released their breakout record Life In General. This record would take MxPx out of the independent punk scene and thrust them into the mainstream where they would go on to become one of the most influential pop punk bands in the industry.

The album kicks off with the MxPx classic, "Middlename," about a bad relationship that Mike could walk away from, but doesn't. "My Mom Still Cleans My Room" follows and proves to be another standout track that has a great, if not clichéd, punk chorus that says "You don't know me like you think you do." Another MxPx classic follows in "Do Your Feet Hurt" which is a sweet tongue in cheek track that talks about a girl who believes "...in the one true God above." This is a great high school romance song that is one of the best tracks ever put out by MxPx. The great tracks continue with "Sometimes You Have to Ask Yourself." The song has a great message about being careful to not impose your standards on the people around you. "The Wonder Years" brings up how the lead singer is struggling with the change that time has brought in his life, as he ultimately accepts the change. Even though the subject of how time changes people is a common one in the punk world, it is done with enough energy to still make the song sound fresher then it should.

The song that follows may be the most romantic song that MxPx has ever done, which is why they stuck to the formula of "Move to Bremerton" when they recorded "Quit Your Life" for 2003's Before Everything & After. The fun and catchy "New York to Nowhere" follows and is another great track even though it tackles the tired subject of how lonely it is to be on the road. This song is just another great reminder of how Mike Herrera can take a tired song idea and turn it into something fresh and exciting. Another song about a great girl follows with "Andrea," but it is done with such skill and energy that the listener won't mind the lack of new ideas. The rebel inside of Mike Herrera comes out in the next song cleverly titled "Your Problem My Emergency." The song tells the listener that they aren't going to preach to them, but they are not going to sing about sex either just to prove that they are a real rock band. The MxPx classic "Chick Magnet" follows and is not only the catchiest song that MxPx has ever produced, but it is one of the catchiest punk songs ever written.

Another common punk topic comes up in "Today is in My Way," which is a song about leaving the past in the past and enjoying the good things as they come our way. This song is really helped by strong musicianship all around. The weakest song on the entire record, "Sorry So Sorry," follows and is still above average thanks to MxPx being at their very best on this record. The high energy punk rocker "Doing Time" follows and is about the freedom kids feel after they get out of school. It shows how well Mike knows his audience and is able to relate to them. A unique song follows that is about how the lead singer hopes a girl will find happiness after she brakes up with him in "Correct Me if I'm Wrong." This song demonstrates how MxPx is also one of the most up beat bands as well.

"Christalena" is another song about a girl, but because its a song about a girl who wants nothing to do with the singer, it separates itself from the other songs about girls on this record. "Destroyed By You" delves into how everyone has to look for the good in the bad and learn from their mistakes. While this is another above average song, it's neither unique enough nor filled with enough energy to make it stand among the other stellar tracks on this album. The album ends on a high note with the fun punk rocker "Southbound," which is about the joy of driving down the road with your windows down.

This record represents the best MxPx has yet to offer in their almost two decades of making music. Life in General, while having some common flaws found in most punk rock records, is the best Christian punk record ever produced and one of the best punk records of all-time. The record would go on to give MxPx the fame they have enjoyed by getting the attention of a major record label, and the respect of mainstream audiences. All of the tracks on this record could easily make it on to any punk band's greatest hits collections because they are filled with so much energy, clever lyrics, and great hooks. Even though this record probably won't convert any non punk fans to punk music, anyone that does enjoy punk music should check out this record because it offers the best of what pop punk can offer.

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 9/9/09, written by James Chase Lamberth for Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

 


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Tooth & Nail Records
. Album length: 17 tracks: 43 minutes, 37 seconds
. Street Date: November 19, 1996
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Middlename (2:55)
  2. My Mom Still Cleans My Room (2:50)
  3. Do Your Feet Hurt (3:10)
  4. Sometimes You Have To Ask Yourself (2:20)
  5. The Wonder Years (1:52)
  6. Move To Bremerton (3:35)
  7. New York To Nowhere (2:15)
  8. Andrea (1:46)
  9. Your Problem My Emergency (3:16)
  10. Chick Magnet (3:12)
  11. Today Is In My Way (3:06)
  12. Sorry So Sorry (2:14)
  13. Doing Time (1:23)
  14. Correct Me If I'm Wrong (2:33)
  15. Christalena (2:01)
  16. Destroyed By You (2:33)
  17. Southbound (2:36)

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images