|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Maine - Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop By Brian Campbell  |
| |
 The Maine
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
Fearless Records
The Maine is like a talented rookie athlete. Subsequently, Fearless Records is like a smart sports team. They sign young and promising talent and cultivate it until it blossoms and shines (IE. Every Avenue, Mayday Parade). Anyways, so much is expected of them as they enter their sophomore year, and if they don’t perform, well then, they get benched. The Maine was a rookie with The Way We Talk, and now they are back as a second year pro with Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop. The question is though, are they still performing at a high level?
I believe so, yes.
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop isn’t as subtly ironic and over-the-top tongue in cheek as I imagined, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t without its charm. They backed off a bit from their Cute Is What We Aim For style of uber-inside joke songwriting, and tried in vain to move towards writing songs with more substance (Whoever She Is). Now, don’t worry, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop still plays hosts to the type of songs you fell in love with The Way We Walk (Kiss and Sell, Count em’ One, Two, Three). You Left Me could be the best song of the outing in terms of its diverse electronic pop sound, and the albums closer, We’ll All Be… sounds eerily like something the Almost didn’t put on their Southern Weather record.
John O’Callaghan’s voice still leads the Maine into battle on Can’t Stop Won’t Stop; there isn’t really much argument against that. His vocals are both welcoming and breezy, and the guitars throughout the entire record are still just as vibrant and bouncy as would want them. Everything put together make the vibes sunny and hooks durable.
At one point I thought the Maine would eventually surpass Cute Is What We Aim For as the uncrowned kings of make you laugh, make you dance, sassy powerpop, but after hearing Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, I don’t think that is quite what these boys are interested in.
Grade: B
Listen to: Kiss and Sell, Girls Do What They Want
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|