The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World
| The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 19, 2025 | |||
| Studio | Electrical Audio (Chicago, Illinois) | |||
| Label | Epitaph | |||
| Producer | Sean O'Keefe | |||
| Motion City Soundtrack chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Panic Stations | ||||
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The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World is the seventh studio album by American rock band Motion City Soundtrack. Produced by Sean O'Keefe, the album is set to be released on September 19, 2025, by Epitaph Records. The album comes after a protracted, ten-year absence, marking their longest gap between records. The band, mainstays of the 2000s emo scene, decided to disband after their last album, 2015's Panic Stations. They reunited in the 2020s for a series of anniversary tours. The record includes guest vocal spots from Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump, Citizen's Mat Kerekes, and Sincere Engineer's Deanna Belos.
Background
[edit]Motion City Soundtrack rose to prominence at the height of the 2000s emo movement, with their Moog-heavy sound masking themes of anxiety, alienation, and self-destruction. Led by singer-songwriter Justin Pierre, the band had last released an album, Panic Stations, through longtime label Epitaph in 2015. Having toured and recorded for a decade straight, the band announced their breakup the next year, citing exhaustion and personal life changes.[1] They completed a farewell tour mid-2016, ending with a sold-out show in Chicago.[2] Pierre remained active, releasing solo material in the interim.[3]
After a three-year hiatus, the band reunited in 2019,[4] touring domestically in 2020 before the pandemic halted further plans.[5] They resumed activity in 2022, releasing covers[6] and unreleased tracks,[7] and hinting at future music.[8] For a period, they embarked on a series of anniversary tours celebrating their past work, and performed at nostalgia festivals like When We Were Young.[9] In August 2024, they released "Stop Talking," their first original single since 2015, tied to the film Dìdi.[10]
Recording and release
[edit]The album was recorded by Sean O'Keefe, a veteran producer who worked with bands like Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights and the Plain White T's;[11] he most recently had been making albums with bands like Beach Bunny.[12] The band had previously worked with O'Keefe back in the 2000s, for split EPs with the bands Matchbook Romance and Schatzi.[13] The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World was tracked at Electrical Audio, Steve Albini's space.[14]
The group announced The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World on June 17, 2025, releasing its lead single "She Is Afraid" alongside a music video inspired by Severance.[11] Reflecting on the new album’s creation, guitarist Joshua Cain said it was about reconnecting with what originally made the band special.[15] Frontman Justin Pierre added that, unlike past records focused on personal struggles and confusion, he had since found clarity and a stronger sense of identity through working through those challenges.[16]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Some Wear a Dark Heart" | |
| 2. | "She Is Afraid" | 3:46 |
| 3. | "Particle Physics" (featuring Patrick Stump) | |
| 4. | "You Know Who the Fuck We Are" | |
| 5. | "Melancholia" | |
| 6. | "Your Days Are Numbered" (featuring Mat Kerekes) | |
| 7. | "Downer" | |
| 8. | "Mi Corazón" | |
| 9. | "Bloodline" | |
| 10. | "Things Like This" (featuring Sincere Engineer) | |
| 11. | "The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World" |
References
[edit]- ^ Ariana Bacle. "Motion City Soundtrack announce break up". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- ^ Brian Kraus (September 8, 2016). "Hidden Hospitals cover Motion City Soundtrack in their final days—exclusive". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ Jason Pettigrew (June 19, 2019). "Motion City Soundtrack singer Justin Pierre likes the word "experiment"". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ Alex Darus (June 17, 2019). "Motion City Soundtrack Announce First Live Shows Since 2016". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
- ^ Reilly, Nick (May 14, 2020). "Slam Dunk Festival announces 2020 cancellation". NME. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (June 16, 2020). "All-Star Adam Schlesinger Tribute Album 'Saving For a Custom Van' Benefits COVID-19 Relief". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
- ^ Meyer, Stephanie (3 August 2020). "The Midnight Sun Song". StephanieMeyer.com. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (February 15, 2020). "After a rabidly received reunion tour, Motion City Soundtrack returns home to Minneapolis". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Masley, Ed (2023-10-17). "When We Were Young 2023 in Las Vegas: Lineup, set times, tickets". usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ Nemiroff, Perri (2024-03-24). "This Indie Got Motion City Soundtrack to Make Their First New Song in Years". Collider. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ a b Georgi, Maya (June 16, 2025). "Motion City Soundtrack Announces First Album in a Decade: 'The Most Important Record of Our Career'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ Zoladz, Lindsay (July 7, 2022). "Beach Bunny Is Building an Indie-Rock Career in a Time of TikTok". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ "Sean O'Keefe Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor..." AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ Hunt, Joshua (October 29, 2024). "Steve Albini Left Behind a Towering Music Legacy—and a Struggling Business". Inc. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (June 17, 2025). "Motion City Soundtrack announce first album in a decade, The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ Corcoran, Nina (June 17, 2025). "Motion City Soundtrack Announce First Album in 10 Years, Share Video for New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 17, 2025.