The Maine - Forever Halloween (23/07/2013)
Only five years after the release of their first full-length album, The Maine’s Forever Halloween is a testament to just how quickly these pop-rock band of boys have turned into men. John O’Callaghan’s lyricism has finally broken free of boppy pop-rock clichés into honest and eloquent expressions of lost love, anguish, nostalgia and maturity.
With the help of producer Brendon Bensen, Forever Halloween has truly surpassed their previous works. The recording for the album was done in a live fashion onto analogue tape creating a raw finished product with an overwhelming sense of honesty and openness. The album is considerably more stripped down than their previous works but allows for the stunning musicianship of each member to truly shine through in each moment.
Take What You Can Carry opens the album with an incredibly catchy percussion and clapping beat that builds up to a rich, classic rock ‘n’ roll sound with the rest of the band. The lyrics tell a rather cynical story of the music industry and selling out to make a dime, and perfectly set the tone for the lyrical exploration across the rest of the album. Love & Drugs is perhaps a surprisingly upbeat song ready to be a summer festival anthem. The pop rock energy pouring from this song is a beacon for their older fans making it clear that despite the band’s changing dynamics, The Maine are still the same boys at heart.
The lyricism of the track Run is dark and quite violent, but fits seamlessly into the tone of this album. With heavily layered guitar riffs and O’Callaghan’s distorted vocals, it creates an interesting bridge between the sound of their previous album Pioneer and the themes of Forever Halloween. Happy is similarly dark with rather hopeless and anguished lyrics that have an honest outlook on life. The song plays as one of the more upbeat tracks on the album to create an intriguing juxtaposition with the downtrodden story of the lyrics.
Sad Songs has one of the most interesting backstories, with O’Callaghan sharing his response to another’s story of losing a loved one. The song is an interesting mix of melancholic lyrics and building guitar riffs that create a surprisingly radio-ready rock anthem.
Stripping themselves down to their bare minimum, These Four Words is a stunningly haunting ballad that rests purely on O’Callaghan’s vocals and a lone piano. This song is a masterpiece of honest lyricism, poignant vocals and heart-wrenching imagery. Following on with a similarly forlorn tone, the title track brings the album to close on a quiet but unforgettable note. It’s a slow building song that shows the band’s characters at their most exposed. The lyrics speak of the masks of bravado and confidence that everyone wears to protect themselves. And finally, Jared Monaco’s piercing guitar solo is a perfect end to both the song and the album.
Forever Halloween shows The Maine at their most open and most vulnerable. It is always wonderful to see bands stepping out on their own and truly finding themselves, but to be able to hear their discoveries in every word and note of the album is a wonderful experience that shouldn’t be missed.
Bethany Williams
With the help of producer Brendon Bensen, Forever Halloween has truly surpassed their previous works. The recording for the album was done in a live fashion onto analogue tape creating a raw finished product with an overwhelming sense of honesty and openness. The album is considerably more stripped down than their previous works but allows for the stunning musicianship of each member to truly shine through in each moment.
Take What You Can Carry opens the album with an incredibly catchy percussion and clapping beat that builds up to a rich, classic rock ‘n’ roll sound with the rest of the band. The lyrics tell a rather cynical story of the music industry and selling out to make a dime, and perfectly set the tone for the lyrical exploration across the rest of the album. Love & Drugs is perhaps a surprisingly upbeat song ready to be a summer festival anthem. The pop rock energy pouring from this song is a beacon for their older fans making it clear that despite the band’s changing dynamics, The Maine are still the same boys at heart.
The lyricism of the track Run is dark and quite violent, but fits seamlessly into the tone of this album. With heavily layered guitar riffs and O’Callaghan’s distorted vocals, it creates an interesting bridge between the sound of their previous album Pioneer and the themes of Forever Halloween. Happy is similarly dark with rather hopeless and anguished lyrics that have an honest outlook on life. The song plays as one of the more upbeat tracks on the album to create an intriguing juxtaposition with the downtrodden story of the lyrics.
Sad Songs has one of the most interesting backstories, with O’Callaghan sharing his response to another’s story of losing a loved one. The song is an interesting mix of melancholic lyrics and building guitar riffs that create a surprisingly radio-ready rock anthem.
Stripping themselves down to their bare minimum, These Four Words is a stunningly haunting ballad that rests purely on O’Callaghan’s vocals and a lone piano. This song is a masterpiece of honest lyricism, poignant vocals and heart-wrenching imagery. Following on with a similarly forlorn tone, the title track brings the album to close on a quiet but unforgettable note. It’s a slow building song that shows the band’s characters at their most exposed. The lyrics speak of the masks of bravado and confidence that everyone wears to protect themselves. And finally, Jared Monaco’s piercing guitar solo is a perfect end to both the song and the album.
Forever Halloween shows The Maine at their most open and most vulnerable. It is always wonderful to see bands stepping out on their own and truly finding themselves, but to be able to hear their discoveries in every word and note of the album is a wonderful experience that shouldn’t be missed.
Bethany Williams