Someone sent me the new album from The Maccabees.
I have no clear idea why.
It's infuriating to listen to - not least because it's so mediocre, so willfully underachieving, so clearly desirous of wanting to sound like very other band on the block. The record company brought in producer Markus Dravs for the 'difficult' second album. Why? The guy is a dickhead. Not only is he partly responsible for the sound of The World's Most Boring Band™ (Coldplay), he also turned Arcade Fire from a striving, impassioned, post-Animal Collective outfit into a dull-ass, middle-of-the-road, mainstream Pitchfork indie band with the 'epic' (i.e. boring) Neon Bible. And now what does he do, with kittenish, second division UK indie band Maccabees? He turns them into another Arcade Fire, because that's all he knows how to do! Give the dude a gold star for consistency, but... Jesus. At least Ramones had a good idea.
According to singer Orlando Weeks, the first album was recorded in "dribs and drabs".
This one's just been recorded in drabs.
[...] need something to take away the bitter taste of having to listen to The Maccabees 10 minutes longer than I expected while my computer crashed three times – and this fits the [...]
ReplyDeleteET, The Maccabees are a brilliant band. Yes, i work with them, and i am also a genuine, signed up, proper fan of what they do, who they are and how they make me feel when i listen to their music. I could not disagree with you more! I don't often post comments on blogs, look what you've made me do! Wall of Arms is a brilliant record. I love it. You don't have to listen to it if you don't want to!
ReplyDeleteP x
But, dude... you know I respect you, but don't you think they sound somehow, not themselves, now?
ReplyDeleteWhat does post-Animal Collective mean? Sung Tongs and Funeral were both released in 2004, and nothing AC did previously left any audible mark on Arcade Fire's debut LP.
ReplyDeleteFor a while Funeral was the album against which every other 'Pitchfork indie band' was judged.
Sorry. I meant post-Modest Mouse, of course.
ReplyDeletei respect your opinion too ET. but they do sound like themselves. we'll agree to disagree! hope you are well. x
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