Never before in the history of my CD reviews have I bronzed an album.

I’ve been holding out on my first ‘bronze,’ patiently waiting for an album that would come along and knock my socks off with straight-up awesomeness and musical genius.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, today is the day I lose my bronzing virginity.

Motion City Soundtrack has managed to produce an album so lovable, so relatable, and so entirely different from anything else out there, I would gladly take it as my bride, if of course, it were a woman.

Much more produced than its first album “I Am the Movie,” the band fortunately maintains its signature pop-punk, geek rock sound on “Commit This to Memory.” Like most sophomore releases, the band has grown up lyrically and matured as musicians.

The album is very emo, although the songs stray from typical relationship-related content and manage to capture and express everyday scenarios with lyrics that are both coy and clever.

Brutally honest lyrics portray both humor and angst on stand-out tracks “Everything is Alright” and “Better Open the Door,” and the rest of the album never skips a beat.

The song order is excellent, and there is not a weak track on the album.

If you listen long enough, you can even catch a guest appearance by Mark Hoppus from the band Blink 182, who co-produced the album.

You cannot go wrong with this album, unless of course you hate excellent music.

Two thumbs up.

— Dan McClanahan

From the beginning of its new album, “X&Y,” it’s clear Coldplay wanted to bring everything to a new dimension.

The first track, titled “Square One,” begins with synthesizers sounding like something out of this world. Shortly after, Chris Martin begins crooning, “You’re in control, is there anywhere you want to go?”

“X&Y” has been a long-awaited album for Coldplay fans because of the postponement of its release from April to June.

Despite any criticism, Coldplay has proven to stand up to all the anticipation and hype with its latest release.

“Speed of Sound” was the chosen single released before the album and is somewhat reminiscent of “Clocks” with the piano intro and repetition throughout the song.

It is catchy and follows the format of most of the music Coldplay makes.

“Fix You” is the most powerful ballad on the album. There is a total emotional buildup and release at the end, with Martin singing, “Lights will guide you home/And ignite your bones/And I will try to fix you.”

“Talk” is a very innovative track that shows Coldplay extending their creativity to another level.

It is clear that the members of Coldplay are in different places in their lives.

This album has a distinct feeling of maturity and growth and a little less melancholy.

This album took a long time to record and produce, and it clearly shows when listening to it.

The songs are heartfelt, the instruments grand and the vocal tone haunting. The meaning of “X&Y” might remain unclear, but the success of Coldplay’s album is easy to hear.

— Ashley Garbin