Loyola Greyhound

Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: Arts & Society

Media Credit: Photo Courtesy of www.purevolume.com The album cover of Metro Stations debut is pictured above. The album has sold more than 10 million copies online.

When 18-year-olds Trace Cyrus and Mason Musso met through what has been deemed a "blind rock date" arranged by their mothers, things did not immediately click. Mason says of Cyrus, "I had never seen anyone like Trace before. He had all these lip piercings and tattoos and went to rock clubs. I just sat in my room in a big hoodie, writing songs on my guitar."

But when they started talking music, the boys were able to connect on a different level, finding common ground in a love for 80s bands such as The Cure, New Order, and The Clash. Synth artist Blake Healey, 26, and drummer Anthony Improgo, 31, completed the group.

The name, Metro Station is meant to symbolize the merge of the guys' geographic backgrounds and musical influences. Guitarist Mason Musso says, "We're from all over. And we're transitory. That's what it's like to be a teenager-to want to escape and find your place. That's who we sing for."

The band's self-titled debut album definitely fits with this message. Metro Station embodies what it's like to be a teenager today, even going back to their Internet origin. The band first blew up on Myspace, linking them with other "pop-rock" scene bands such as Panic at The Disco and Hey Monday.

Three months later, their singles, "Seventeen Forever" and "Shake It," had hit the top of the Myspace unsigned charts, and they had the gotten the attention of Columbia Record execs.

Selling more than 10 million copies of their album online, the band took off. Metro Station is currently joining Fall Out Boy, All Time Low, and Cobra Starship on the six-week "Believers Never Die, Part Deux" tour hosted by MTV.

The band begins its first headlining tour in October. For a band only out for three years, they have a fanbase of thousands and a number of impressive media appearances, including a feature in Rolling Stone and Alternative Press.

Simply characterized, Metro Station is an energetic, feel-good album meant to make teens want to dance. This impression is reiterated with occasional breaks from the storyline of the songs in order to allow Cyrus to randomly proclaim, "I just wanna get down!"

However, tracks like "Control" and "Wish we were older" attempt to transcend the boy-meets-girl vibe of the lyrics in exchange for more mature meaning. Cyrus' cool vocals and Mason's belting choruses are easy to listen and sing along to, and the faux British accent doesn't hurt either. The songs do a good job communicating the fleeting feeling of young love, accompanied by teenagers' desire to taste the world before their time; fans can easily relate. As long as the lyrics evolve with the fan's experiences, there is no reason why Metro Station can't expect a growing fan base and a bright future.

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