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Review: The Maine - American Candy

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American Candy is the eagerly anticipated 5th studio album from renowned alternative rock quintet, The Maine. The band have a very distinct sound they’ve been able to maintain over the past eight years. But while their albums sound similar to a certain extent, each comes with a newfound sense of growthand maturity. While the progression from Forever Halloween has not been drastic, American Candy is overall a much more upbeat release compared it’s fairly sombre predecessor, and is sure to please both old and new fans alike.

Second single “Miles Away” is the opening track. Melodious and upbeat, it’s nice and catchy all the way through. It subtly shows what to expect from the rest of the album, as it doesn’t vary much from the sound of Forever Halloween, but also presents a newfound development. “Same Suit, Different Tie” follows and showcases a 90s rock influence through the opening melodies. It’s a slight alteration of what the band has done previously, as it’s definitely funkier, but still includes an element of their somewhat pop sound.

“My Hair” has a similar guitar riff to the one in “Same Suit, Different Tie” and, again, is sort of different to what The Maine have done before. The opening beat and guitar melody work really well and, after being played at South by So What?!, has proven to be really effective when performed live. 

“English Girls”, American Candy’s first single, raised great deals of excitement amongst fans when released. It’s one of the most upbeat tracks from the album and has revealed itself to be a big hit with listeners. The song really sums up the feel of the whole album with its super catchy lyrics and smooth guitar riffs running throughout.

Following “English Girls” comes a song that is almost the polar opposite: “24 Floors”. This track is the slowest on the record and its lyrics are some of the most moving. With this comes the almost heartbreaking vocals from lead singer John O'Callaghan, and the combination of these elements really presents how raw and honest the song is, furthering its emotion.

The next track is “Diet Soda Society”. A potential single, it has a toe-tapping melody and insanely catchy lyrics. With an easily recognized pop sound, it’s bound to be a crowd pleaser. It’s followed by one of my personal favourites: “Am I Pretty?”. It’s consistently upbeat, with great melodies and a bridge that carries with it a style akin to those found on movie soundtracks.

“(Un)Lost” is a really relaxed song. It has simple instrumentals and vocals that slowly build, creating an overall calm tone. The lyrics hold a strong message that I feel fans will resonate with. The album’s title track, “American Candy”, is an offering that’s intended to please those fans who fell in love with The Maine’s rock sound. The chorus really packs a punch and is a step up from the more laid back verses, as the instruments pick up; the drums come to the forefront, alongside the bass and guitar riffs.

“Another Night On Mars” is, in my opinion, the perfect closing track; it’s almost theatrical with the gang vocals and upbeat piano melody. It really encompasses both the message of American Candy and The Maine’s style. It is somewhat similar to the band’s previous album, Forever Halloween, and is also reminiscent of Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop’s closing track. These links to their older music, together with the overall style of the track, really brings out a sense of nostalgia that is sure to hit listeners.

In short, American Candy is an amazing next step for The Maine. This album shows the pop style of the band that was previously so subtly hidden behind the rock manner of the instruments within the music. Even though the set is relatively small at only 10 songs, a story is definitely told, and it’s told very well at that.

Download: Same Suit, Different Tie

5/5

By Shannon Morton

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