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April
Maximo Park: Our Earthly Pleasures
Geordie rockers are back and have really announced themselves with their new, more rockier sounding release, “Our Eartly Pleasures. They received much acclaim from their debut album “A Certain Trigger” back in 2005, but have, with this release, moved on as a band and have defined their sound.The title of the album according to lead singer Paul Smith, comes from the fact they wanted a more human orientated album and some of the songs on the album are specifically designed to this.
The first song “Girls Who Play Guitars” is a very upbeat guitar driven song and will put any hardcore fans at ease, because the bands haven’t lost their original sound, just updated it.
The album was preceded by the single “Our Velocity” which is the second song on the album and it would have set many a tongue wagging, and mouth watering with its fast paced synth and driving guitar riffs.
The album is filled with what will be many a summer hit, and party anthem. The romantic “Books From Boxes” evokes much imagery of the modern beauty around us. “Night falls and town becomes circuit boards” “From the air, stadium lights stand out like flares” Bloc party may have a pessimistic view of modern life and in particular city life, but Maximo Park have counteracted this.
“Russian Literature” is somewhat of a hark-back to 80’s pop classics with its continual piano undertone. The 12 track album has very few slow ballads, “Your Urge” is a justification for acting on feelings and really gets back to the human theme of the album.
The final run in on the album is pretty good, where many would let their album die off Maximo Park do not. “Sandblasted and set free” is an anathematic ballad that will no doubt be a hit at the Summer festivals and the final song “Parisian Song” just eases you in then hit hits you with drums and guitar, and shows that not all final songs need be mellow or sad affairs.
No one will be disappointed by this offering from the Geordie rockers. Although you may not feel the need to listen to the album straight through you will defiantly be picking out several songs that will stick themselves firmly in your head.
P J Murray