 Upon its release , Commit This to Memory received general acclaim from music critics . Scott Heisel of Alternative Press wrote that " Memory is an inspired , mature sophomore disc chock full of catchy , intelligent pop @-@ rock . " Allmusic 's Johnny Loftus considered the band more intelligent and sophisticated than their Warped Tour peers : " Motion City Soundtrack [ ' s ] wistful memories , tales of breaking up , and frantic searches for answers [ are ] realer than the next pop @-@ punk combo on the quadruple summertime bill . " Jennifer Maerz of Entertainment Weekly ended her review with the note that " MCS ' slick , soaring anthems ultimately unite the spirits of those who see themselves , like Pierre , as ' lifeless corners of this empty frame . ' " Mark Griffiths of Kerrang ! wrote , " It 's a bright and invigorating affair [ ... ] and is , in short , fantastic . " The Washington Post 's Marianne Meyer opined that the record " nimbly moves from skittish rhythms to genuinely tender sentiment . " Jessica Grose of Spin favorably compared it to Blink @-@ 182 's Enema of the State ( 1999 ) . Tony McMenamin of Blender deemed it the publication 's album of the month , calling it " a charged mix of instantly catchy pop @-@ punk lashings and somber acoustic wailings . " 
