SONG: "Here's To The Life"
ARTIST: MxPx
ALBUM: "Left Coast Live"
YEAR: 2017
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Bremerton, Washington
YEARS ACTIVE: 1992 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
"Here's To The Life" appears to be about making sure to make some time and space for yourself. It's not that the vocalist wants to get away from his current life, he just needs time for himself, probably to recharge the batteries and what not. With so many responsibilities in life, work, relationships, etc, it's important that you step back and take stock or just take a while to clear your own head to feel rejuvenated in your life. I chose the live version of "Here's To The Life" for my song of the week. If you want to check out the original studio recording of the song, it's on the 2007 MxPx album "Secret Weapon".
MXPX DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1994 - Pokinatcha (Tooth & Nail Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
1995 - Teenage Politics (Tooth & Nail Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
1996 - Life In General (Tooth & Nail Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
1998 - Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo (A&M Records)
* peaked at #99 on the Billboard 200 on 6-16-98
* certified gold
1998 - Let It Happen (Tooth & Nail Records)
* peaked at #161 on the Billboard 200 on 11-10-98
1999 - At The Show (Tooth & Nail Records)
* peaked at #189 on the Billboard 200 on 7-27-99
2000 - The Ever Passing Moment (A&M Records)
* peaked at #56 on the Billboard 200 on 5-16-00
2002 - Ten Years And Running (Tooth & Nail Records)
* peaked at #147 on the Billboard 200 on 5-21-02
2003 - Before Everything & After (A&M Records)
* peaked at #51 on the Billboard 200 on 9-16-03
2005 - Panic (SideOneDummy Records)
* peaked at #77 on the Billboard 200 on 6-6-05
2006 - Let's Rock (SideOneDummy Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2007 - Secret Weapon (Tooth & Nail Records)
* peaked at #76 on the Billboard 200 on 7-16-07
2009 - On The Cover II (Tooth & Nail Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2012 - Plans Within Plans (Rock City Recording Company)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2014 - Acoustic Collection (Rock City Recording Company)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2017 - Left Coast Live (Rock City Recording Company)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2018 - MxPx (MxPx Global Enterprises)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2020 - Life In Quarantine (self-released)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2021 - Southbound To San Antonio (MxPx Global Enterprises)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2023 - Find A Way Home (MxPx Global Enterprises)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
MY THOUGHTS ON MXPX:
MxPx, originally called Magnified Plaid, formed as a band back in 1992, hailing from Bremerton, Washington. These guys were just 15 years old when they formed the band. Originally, the band had ties to Christian punk, hence the major reason they signed with Christian punk label, Tooth & Nail. They would move away from the Christian punk label years later as their religious beliefs would change later on in life. The band dropped their debut album in 1994, called "Pokinatcha". They followed that up with "Teenage Politics" in 1995. It was their 1996 release, "Life In General", that really started generating buzz for MxPx, thanks in part to songs like "Chick Magnet", "Middlename" and "Doing Time". MxPx would be signed to major label A&M Records after the success of "Life In General". In 1998, the band showed a more mature sound without losing their pop punk and melodic sense when they dropped "Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo". This album would go on to be certified gold. 2000's "The Ever Passing Moment" included one of MxPx's most popular songs, "Responsibility". 2003's "Before Everything & After" ended their contract with A&M. It was also the band's highest charting album, peaking at #51 on the Billboard 200. 2005 saw the band drop "Panic" which featured the single "Heard That Sound" and in 2007, the band released "Secret Weapon". The title track is a sick song! From 2010 to the present day, the studio album releases became a little more sporadic. The band dropped "Plans Within Plans" in 2012 and "MxPx" in 2018, but they did fill out the years with a covers album, a few live albums and a few acoustic albums as well. There was a time during the 2010's where guitarist Tom Wisniewski and drummer Yuri Ruley stopped being touring members of the band for a few years which prompted singer/bassist Mike Herrera to form a punk/country band called Tumbledown and tour with other members but MxPx seems like they are right back on the front burner for all the guys in the band right now. The band dropped a brand new album this week called "Find A Way Home". Me and MxPx go back a long way! They were one of the first punk bands that I fell in love with and in my mind, were always underrated when it came to pop punk/skate punk bands. I mean, they had success for sure, but I always thought they were very much on par with Green Day who really shot to superstardom. I think Green Day is a little bit better than MxPx, but not by much. MxPx are always great to see live. So much energy! I loved MxPx's early albums but when I heard "Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo", I was super excited to see where this band was going. As I said earlier, they still had those killer melodies and pop punk stylings, but it seemed like a more mature sound which they continued throughout the years right up to the current day. I'm stoked that their new album just came out and I can't wait till they come around to Boston!
SIMILAR ARTISTS:
Slick Shoes
Fenix TX
The Ataris
No Use For A Name
Face To Face
TEN MXPX SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Well Adjusted
2. Secret Weapon
3. Under Lock And Key
4. Heard That Sound
5. Doing Time
6. My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Ramones cover)
7. Far Away
8. Punk Rawk Show
9. My Life Story
10. Rolling Strong
