:: Maximo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures

Maximo Park

I'd been reading how much of an effort Maximo Park had put into following on from the previous album “A Certain Trigger”. It was always going to be a big exercise after that fine record. Well, the Geordies have managed to pull this one off as well, to a very good standard, and listening pleasure. Taking it on face value, it has the catchy riffs and, at times, thrilling vocals from lead singer Paul Smith. The band is very tight and intense at times and one can't really fault it too much. It's best not to compare it too much to anything previous because the band wanted it be known that they were moving on to something different. The relentless and vigorous sounds show up in the first few tracks, so it grabs your attention straight away. The unique Maximo Park song structures and production takes hold until a great final track which leaves much scope and expectation for the next musical excursion. With this record, the band has shown tremendous foresight in flexing their muscles in a powerful direction and will surely keep moving forward from here into greater heights. This is one record I definitely recommend for turning up the volume and letting your spirits run free. Sure to be recognised as one of this year's best albums. And what's more, the band looks set to release quite a few singles, the first of which, “Our Velocity”, has just been released in Australia. It's a ripping catchy song too.