|
 There’s a very, very fine line between
competence and brilliance, a slight margin that separates the good from
the great and decent from the decedent and which puts a glass ceiling
above many popular rock bands, preventing them from ever hitting the
global heights achieved by the likes of Coldplay, U2 et al.
Despite the undeniable popularity of Maximo Park, ‘Our Earthly
Pleasures’, the second album from the Newcastle outfit, confirms that
the band will perhaps forever be lying just below that hallowed line,
staring up at the dizzy heights of superstardom, never feeling quite at
home in the contention of simply being good.
That’s not to say that there’s anything particularly wrong with ‘Our
Earthly Pleasures’; it’s a bold deceleration of intent to create
cracking tunes made by a band with all the confidence, swagger and
talent needed to do just that.
Songs are heavier, and at once both more introverted and extroverted
than their critically acclaimed 2005 debut ‘A Certain Trigger’ as
stabbing guitars wrestle with forceful vocals and Lego-like synths,
slamming into every corner of your stereo and spitting forth with a wit
and charm amplified to the twelfth degree.
Songs such as recent single ‘Our Velocity’ and our personal favourite
‘Unshockable’ foam at the mouth with an untamed energy and unrestrained
spirit that whips around with aplomb from the opening chords to the
final outro.
Yet what is ultimately disappointing here is that, for all their
enthusiasm and excitement, Maximo Park just fall short of really showing
off anything outstanding. The songs are good, entertaining, even
invigorating on occasion, but sadly, there’s nothing here that really
makes you sit up and utter the one single word every band since the dawn
of time have tried to invoke in their listeners, ‘wow’.
Saying that though, it’s hardly a scathing insult to criticise a band
for being good rather than brilliant, so over all we have to declare
that we enjoyed ‘Our Earthly Pleasures’, but it won’t be going on our
Top Ten Albums list any time soon.
Recommended Links:
►
www.maximopark.com
►
www.myspace.com/maximopark
►
Return to Album
Reviews
|
