Monday Melodies: The Mr. T Experience – “Love is Dead” (1996)

For most people living today, there was something confusing about Valentine’s Day. It was the first done during a pandemic, which meant that most romantic gestures had to be sacrificed, forcing these intimate stay-at-home acts that probably lost some appeal because of how accustomed we’ve all become to those four walls. Sure, the people still have plenty to offer, but without that Italian dinner where a guy plays accordion, what is so special about today? While some could argue it’s a win for Singles Awareness Day, it’s one of those moments where you both feel bad that you can’t do squat, but also recognize the value of love.

Then there’s today. February 15, 2021, stands to be just like any other day. Everyone returns to their regular lives, realizing that one good day is better than none. If you were out there crying and saying “Love Is Dead,” then I want to just say that you are not alone. It’s been quite a fraught period for us all, where the news reports an upswing in general depression. We’re less than two months from when America turned that corner into its modern aesthetic. It’s been a personal struggle for me. How could it not feel like “Love Is Dead,” even during one of the most romantic days of the year?

There’s no easy way to transition, but it’s exactly why I chose to finally highlight a band that I think deserves more love. There was something about the Post-Valentine’s Day mortem that drew me to discussing this album. I didn’t have a strong relationship with it, but there’s still something fun about The Mr. T Experience. Like the best of punk bands, it isn’t the music that draws you in but a distinct name, some random joke that connects with a certain way of thinking. As far as I know, there is NOTHING about MTX that actually ties to The A-Team actor. However, you’re still like “Who is that?”

That is the thing. The Gilman Street/Lookout! Records era were full of those types of bands. They were our own west coast outlet for a late-80s punk scene that produced, among others, Green Day, Operation Ivy, and Rancid. I personally liked The Queers a lot, even though I’m sure “Grow Up” as an album probably hasn’t aged well. What I think was most interesting about the bands that broke out was their general shift more towards melodic harmonies within their fast guitars, setting the stage for pop-punk in the 21st century. Sure, MTX was never the most influential band in the world, but they did a cameo in a Ben Affleck movie at one point.

On some level, I think that MTX was a band that in another life would’ve been a 50s doo-wop/rockabilly group. To look at the various songs on this album will see someone who wants to aim for earnestness. Most of these exist as love songs, and I’m sure “That Prozac Moment” was supposed to be a play on “This Magic Moment.” It’s so cheeky and fun, reflecting the sense of humor that the genre had. Much like their name, they didn’t take things seriously enough to think long-term about their legacy. These were goofy songs that helped you pass an afternoon, living fast and dying young while in love. On some level, it can be read as satire, but that’s to discredit the magic of Dr. Frank and crew.

To be clear, I’m a bit disappointed that the song I wanted to talk about (“Love Is Dead”) didn’t appear on the album “Love Is Dead.” To me, that song embodies the silly heart of this band. Where later generations could argue it leans a bit too incel, it’s this catchy upbeat song sung with the familiar fast guitars and 60s romantic pop ballads. Imagine “Put Your Hand on My Shoulder,” but the word DON’T is spray painted in the middle as a cheeky joke. As much as this is a song about cynicism (a 90s hallmark), there is an underlying sense of criticism that Dr. Frank is a bit delusional, especially as he sings “emotional vertigo was never supposed to happen this time.” The breakdown is sweet, and his happiness undercuts any anger. The cherry on top of it all is how they use childish taunts under the chorus.

Sure, there’s reason to argue that pop-punk as a genre was a bit misogynistic solely because of how many “My girlfriend dumped me” songs there were, but MTX never felt cornered by this logic. Sure there was an instability to their love songs, but it was done humorously, as much acknowledging their shortcomings as paying tribute to classic rock of yesteryear. Think of the optimistic bops like “I Just Wanna Do It With You” or “I Fell for You” and you’ll see what I mean. The latter song has great use of backing vocals, capturing the familiar Top 40 simplicity of focusing on emotion. That’s the thing. MTX isn’t really about the big ideas. You pretty much could read the titles and have a strong idea of what to expect (well, maybe not the opening song “Sackcloth and Ashes,” but points for clever titles). 

This isn’t strictly an album of love songs or even shares one cohesive narrative. The best that I can determine is that this is just a compilation of catchy songs. How else could you jump between covering Dorothy Parker in “Somebody’s Song” to a stretch of humorous views like “Dumb Little Band”? One of the endearing subtexts of these bands is their willingness to comment on their own universes, such as touring and setting up shows. Their D.I.Y. aesthetic has to exist on their checklist even if they totally differ from whatever band they’re touring with. Even “Thank You (For Not Being One of Them)” reflects their personal divide from other people that they meet along the way.

Though at the end of the day, they deserve some credit for writing some of the most concise pop songs that were never big. In the song “The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be,” Dr. Frank sings:

I'll still be bored by the same old stuff

Still falling short of close enough

I'm still gonna breathe air

But you're not gonna be there

Seems like a pointless exercise without you

A simple break-up song at heart, but what makes it impressive is how it suggests the complacency of Dr. Frank in the relationship. Were they really in love, or was it just another person to keep him company as he did nothing of significance? This is the type of self-awareness that makes MTX particularly endearing. Where other bands had a more complicated view of relationships, often focusing on the divide between people, MTX wasn’t afraid to acknowledge their faults, whether humorously or sincerely. The fact is that Dr. Frank sang everything with the same energy. 

This record doesn’t set out to change your views on anything. It’s just a fun time hiding some deeper woe. There are enough quality tunes on here that if you’re a fan of pop-punk, it’ll entertain. There isn’t anything significant that it has to say about Valentine’s Day, but like the holiday itself, it’s impossible to not want to make fun of it a bit. Love is a silly thing, even when it’s very meaningful. To have a punk band try to address it with a more complex view besides “everything sucks” is refreshing. In fact, compared to most MTX sounds a bit white bread. They don’t have a dangerous vibe about them. They’re the guy who you could bring home to your parents.

I’ll confess that I haven’t listened to a lot of their catalog. They were one of those bands I tried to collect records by when I went to Second Spin in Santa Monica, CA. It never panned out, only ever coming across the halfway decent “Yesterday Rules.” Still, I loved getting a chance to expand a little more, recognizing the charm of a fairly underrated band. They’re more than a goofy name that clearly wasn’t supposed to last. They genuinely have something to say, even if it’s about how you shouldn’t take love seriously and that it’s probably dead. They’re not making fun of you, they are you.