Review: Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger (or) sickly grey paving stones

Posted on 19 January 2006 | 3 Comments

Filed Under: Album Reviews, Just Plain Rock, Post Rock, Punk

--

Since it was only yesterday that I posted on a British post-punk group, lets make it two in a row. Maximo Park is yet another British group that plays that popular-with-the-kids melodic post-punk. This band (however) is one of the best of the lot. They are from good old Newcastle Upon Tyne which is probably better known for brown ale than rock music. Far removed from the London scene that seems to be spawning a lot of these groups, Maximo Park is a little different. Yes, they have the angular guitars and the sneering vocals, but they just seem a little more sincere than most. Maybe it’s the singer’s thick British accent (which I find endearing because it displays an honesty and realism that many of their contemporaries are lacking) or perhaps its the lyrics that seem to be sung right off a page from a spiral notebook. I can’t put my finger on it exactly but you know these guys aren’t just posing and aren’t faking anything.

Either way their tunes just explode out of your speakers with such an urgency that you can’t help but (at least) tap your foot. I dare you to listen to “Apply Some Pressure” and not be humming or singing it afterwards. Their debut album A Certain Trigger is out now on Warp Records. Again, I triple dog dare you. RIYL: Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Futureheads.

MP3 | Maximo Park – Apply Some Pressure A Certain Trigger
MP3 | Maximo Park – The Coast Is Always Changing A Certain Trigger

Comments

1 Kristi Joy - 962 days ago It took me a while, but these guys really grew on me. Good stuff.

2 Jennings - 962 days ago You're dead on about Maximo . . . this is good stuff.

3 Carl - 962 days ago You realise the Kaiser Chiefs and the Futureheads are also from the north of England too?

Props on the blog, I started reading about a month ago and love it. Keep up the good work.