Maximo Park

Maximo Park is the most entertaining group I have heard and seen in many years. Having worn out Who records as a teen ager and grown up with the Jam, Clash, Replacements, Roxy Music, now It takes a lot for me to even care what people say in these reviews. I bought Jimi Hendrix records as they came out for gods sake! I enjoy many of the UKs' new entries Bloc Party, Rakes, Kaiser Chiefs,Franz, Hard-Fi, this record will hold your attention long after you have retired the others to the been there done that pile.
These guys are original and may require more than a cursory listen but as with all music, If you like it first time around it will probably be gathering dust in a forgotten pile soon. These songs grow on you and become part of your musical personality.The first 8 songs are the strongest lineup I have seen on any record.Our Velocity,Russian Literature,The Monument....Absolutely my Idea of what Rock is all about. Buy it Now! YOU CAN NOT GO WRONG! thanks Maximo Park!

i'm serious. this album is everything that is good about "current" british music. someone said in one of the other reviews that he can't stop listening to this album. it's true. it's that good.

in the linear notes they wrote:"thanks for listening to this music-it's yours"
not only an amazing record but an amazing band.

When Maximo Park are at their best, they make strikingly catchy and resonating melodies. "Our Velocity" is a myriad of spacey tunes with a pace and tempo that jumps back and forth like a pendulum. Its misguided lyrics embellished well by the panic stricken synth energy. Its Impressive. Its a complete song.

"Books from Boxes" tells a story in the same vain as Death Cab for Cutie's "title and registration". Again, Mr Maximo manages well to link the melancholy tempo and melody of the song with what he is actually singing. Its an absorbing moment on the album.

But then there are moments on this album , I find myself suspicious of the bands craftsmanship. I wonder whether his choice for words is a sincere attempt at poetry or whether its a mere sellout to make the rhyme work. "5 times 5 equals 25..."

Maximo do chorus lines well, they are catchy... but on the weaker tracks the verses sound like detached phrases of dribble. With derivative melody, mediocre at best.

A certain Trigger had hints of a one dimensional emotional Maximo and this latest release only confirms this. Maximo seem to think that life is all about one thing... relationship. They sing only about relationship, whether it be losing it, wanting it, or hating it. It seems there has been only one thing on their mind since their conception....
and it gets too much after a while.

They have great potential, and great energy but its time to get over it... and transcend to greater heights.

This album really fails to hold my attention. Nothing bad can be said for the work behind it, however I was wanting to fast foward through tracks in the hopes of hearing something that would grab me and me want to listen to it over and over.

Respect this review, realize that I'm no critic but I know what I like and this album has nothing I like...Recommending it because I own some Simian Mobile Disco merits the effort to give this album a bad review. Plus, believe me that I took a good listen to this album with the hopes of finding something good in it even if it was for the purpose of remixing/refixing for the dancefloor.

I'ts hard to put your finger on Maximo Parks sound,it really grows on you the more you listen. The first cd was a little herky/jerky and lacked refined production value but Our Earthly Pleasures has a much smoother sound without detracting from it's origins. I would recommend to anyone who craves original sound along with intelligent and inspiring lyrics.

"Apply Some Pressure", "Graffiti", and the first song that got me hooked, "Kiss You Better" are really good.

The rest are OK.

Three great songs and a bunch of OK ones makes it well worth buying in my opinion.

Before you read anymore reviews, you have to know this- this is nothing new for post-punk. And when you don't get something new, for instance how this album totally steals from the fabric that the Fall were notorious for creating, you have to have something different, or more exciting, or else you just go back to the old stuff. And that's what happened with me. It's not really imaginative, the lyrics are okay at worst and okay at best. The singer is also okay, but at least he's better than the Futureheads'. In other words, you might like this album if you haven't been looking into old post-punk, but if you have ever looked into any of the influences this album draws from, then you'll get bored and go listen to something better. Which is what happened to me. Not all the post-punk revival groups are terrible, or like Park mediocre. Other good groups would be Bloc Party, Forward Russia!, and, to an extent, TV on the Radio. So, if you like them, and older outfits such as the Fall, Gang of Four, and Joy Division, and you still like this album, all the power to you. You've got more tolerance than I'll ever have.

Yes, there is a ridiculous number of post-punk bands out there today- The Futureheads, Kaiser Chiefs, etc... and while I love them all, the boys of Maximo Park have proven that they can stand out. The killer riffs and beats are only the beginning- frontman Paul Smith (in addition to proving that combovers can be sexy and making scissor kicks look effortless) writes lyrics full of wit and heartache and sings his heart out with the most conviction I've seen in a lead singer in the past few years. But anyway, to the album...

"Signal And Sign", the album's opener, is a strong beginning with a really catchy beat that sucks you in, but by the time "Apply Some Pressure" opens, the beat is downright infectious. This song is my personal favorite, not just because it is dangerously catchy- it's got everything from the singer's "fragile desperation" (as Smith put it) to the hope of starting all over again and being in love. Maximo Park have been accused of being pessimistic, but this song shows that there is real hope in the midst of all the desperation.

"Graffiti", the album's most popular single, is quintessential Maximo Park- the line "I'll do graffiti if you sing to me in French... What are we doing here if romance isn't dead?" is witty, romantic, and powerful.

"Postcard Of A Painting" is usually overlooked by listeners but it would have been prime single material. The melody bounces along and as Smith cries out "Your eyes are big when they're so close, why can't we say goodbye in public?" the conviction in his voice is amazingly powerful. This definitely has an infectious pop beat that rivals more popular singles like the previous two tracks.

"Going Missing" is one of the more depressing songs but has a melody that sticks in your head, even five days later, when you find yourself singing "This can't go on, so I should just forget it, forget it, forget it..." While the singer is only imagining his love with someone else ("Mr. Brightside"-esquely), you can feel a foreboding feeling throughout the song.

"I Want You To Stay" is my next favorite after "Apply Some Pressure". The beat for this song is very rhythmic and yet different from the other songs on the album. The lyrics paint a vivid, romantic portrait that makes you feel the pain of a lost love that the singer refuses to and can't ever forget. It's the most heartfelt, tearjerking song on the whole album, and really shows off Maximo Park's romanticism, poetry, and ability to make dangerously catchy pop songs that can be mainstream and still touch the heart.

"Limassol" has got a lot of really good keyboard and is quite poppy. It's probably the most pessimistic/angsty but with that angst comes a lot of passion. The line "Saw the lights on in your window, even though they said you'd gone" is a little stalkerish, but pretty good.

"The Coast Is Always Changing" is very direct ("I am young and I am lost"- a big theme of this album) and bittersweet. It's witty like the rest of the album but has an especially earnest quality. The keyboards are really New-Wavey and the song reminds me of the Smiths a lot.

"The Night I Lost My Head" is a little bit humorous as it's basically about meeting someone special, but being just a bit too
inebriated. Just a bit.

"Once A Glimpse" is ridiculously catchy. You can hear the bass and guitar play off each other perfectly- the whole song is brimming with energy and angst. It's definitely one that makes you want to jump around.

"Now I'm All Over The Shop" is different in that the singer is in control of the situation, and that dynamic makes it very interesting. Beginning few lines are especially catchy, and the line "I know you'll be fine now that you're not mine!" is one of my favorite lines in the whole album.

"Acrobat" is definitely different- it's spoken-word, which is often the downfall of many a well-meaning artist (just think Madonna's "American Life" rap)... yet instead of standing out as awkward it stands out as especially poignant. It also slows the album down a bit and gives you a bit of a break from all the crazy dancing you've probably been doing since you started listening... I know it isn't just me... seriously...

"Kiss You Better" races quickly and is maybe the most optimistic song on the album. Smith exits pleading "You, you're so scared, that you're just gonna let it happen!" and before you know it, it's over. In my personal experience, it ends before you can realize it and leaves you optimistic, despite the final line not exactly being full of sunshine.

As for flaws- the only flaw I see is that the album ends too soon! Maximo Park have definitely set the bar high for other bands and for themselves, but if their sophomore effort turns out half as good as "A Certain Trigger" it'll be a knockout (in a good way). Many accuse Maximo Park of being no different from other post-punk bands, even though every second of A Certain Trigger says otherwise. Many artists make catchy pop songs, others make romantic and lyrical songs, but Maximo Park is one of the few bands out there who can combine all these factors so well. Paul Smith, Lukas Wooller (keyboards), Duncan Lloyd (guitar), Archis Tiku (bass) and Tom English (drums) come together to that killer formula that makes Maximo Park soar above the rest. Long live post-punk...

The best praise I can give this album is that it has been in my car's cd player for over a month straight, and it has never grown old. These five guys just know how to write good old fashion catchy songs that will stick in your head days.
For those of you who like to categorize your music, good luck with this one. They mix mod danceability and beats with Cure style pop riffs and throw in some post punk bar chords to boot, stealing pretty much just the best parts of all of the above. The only thing that I think might throw some people is the singers voice. It is a bit quirky in its sound, and his accent is unabashed. I find both just make the album more endearing with each listen, but am not sure everyone would agree.

This album first came to my notice in October 2005,when it had in fact been released earlier in May. I had seen Maximo Park on Jools Holland's "Later" and enjoyed their performance. They seemed to stand alone amongst other pop rock/art rock bands. I thought I would like to purchase their debut CD "A Certain Trigger" and I finally did so in the early autumn, not knowing what to expect. I was unsure whether I would even like the tracks.
How wrong was I?? From the moment the CD hit my player I was instantly hooked by the opening drum and guitar bars of the first track "Signal and Sign."
This anthem to changing life direction and getting motivated awoke my interest and lit the blue touchpaper for the rest of the album. Definite and direct,it sets the tone for the other twelve songs on the album.
From then on I never looked back. There isn't a dull,dud or depressing track on this album. It speeds along with the urgency of a train heading to its destination. It has a message for everyone.
Frontman Paul Smith has a distinctive rock voice. It is one that HAS to be listened to. At times it can just border on the light operatic,and there is plenty of melody there. Emotion runs high throughout his vocal delivery and as for his Geordie accent,it adds masses of charm and at times lends a dangerous edge to the words and music.
The second track "Apply Some Pressure",urges the listener to rethink,if things in life go wrong. Good advice indeed. The keyboards chorus is a very catchy one,with jangly piano chords,backup organ and a driving guitar and drum rhythm. This track was released for a second time as a single in the autumn of 2005,I feel it should have got higher than No.17 in the Top 40, but it didn't happen.
"Graffiti" is rather more obscure. There's a political slogan in there somewhere,but the gist of the song could be over most folks' heads. However,Paul's voice is as listenable as ever,returning to the recurring theme of provincial boredom and personal daring.Intriguing stuff.
The fourth track "Postcard Of A Painting",is quite a moving one.The singer is lamenting the loss of a love. Sheer exasperation at the one-sidedness of the relationship comes over and the hopelessness of the situation is evident.
I felt much sympathy for the loser in love in this song.
The next track "Going Missing" is wonderful. Ringing guitarwork accompanies the chorus and again we feel the sadness and loss exeperienced by the singer. Will he get another chance? It's looking very unlikely.
One to bring tears to the eyes,but the upside is that the chorus is immensely singable.
"I Want You To Stay". This is my joint favourite with "Once,A Glimpse". THIS ONE STRIKES A CHORD. It's bittersweet,angushed and sad. But there's not a jot of depression in this track. In fact the lines of the song send shivers down the spine. The writer of these lyrics cannot forget THIS love. She lingers on in his memory......can he let her go?

The remaining seven songs on this album are all unique,particularly "Acrobat" with its dramatic spoken word section by Paul "The sky is often used as a metaphor....."
and is theatrical and compelling. It came as a big surprise the first time I heard it,in fact,and is very moving. The listener finds himself entrapped in emotion in this song,which eventually fades. It is theatrical and compelling.

The last track on the album "Kiss You Better",jumps out off the player with a lighter pace. Quite a jolly final cut-don't get me wrong-not that the previous songs are in any way miserable.
They're far too intelligent for that.
The song ends abruptly,on a strangely satisfactory note.

Well there it is. I can't add more. If you haven't already bought "A Certain Trigger" in 2005,make sure you at least give it a listen and a chance. Its songs will steal their way into your heart and leave your ears wanting to hear more from this remarkably talented band.

I recently learnt that sales of this album had gone past Silver in 2005.

In my opinion,they should have been pure gold.
Submitted by Juliet R

This is one of the those b-side collections that make you think, "They really picked the right tracks for the album." Not that these songs are terrible-- they're just lacking the extra spark of the songs that did make "A Certain Trigger." Most notable are "Fear of Falling," which sounds the closest to something that could've found a place on the album, and a fascinatingly lo-fi demo version of "Apply Some Pressure."

This album is a collection of nine tracks(B Sides and non-LP) plus three original demo versions,comprising a real patchwork quilt compilation from Maximo Park.The opening track"A19"is raw and intense, and the rest of the album is very 60s and 70s influenced. These songs from Britain's most exciting new band(some would say that was open to debate) were the blueprint for greater things.
Most of us will have heard "A Certain Trigger"by now,which many would hail as Maximo's masterpiece.This album preceeds it musically but still contains the same charm,anger,intense lyrics and musical style,without as much theatricality and drama as "Trigger" contained. Still as listenable as "Trigger" however,and with so many good tunes that it's hard to choose between them all. This album carries a raw energy,powerful hooks and that urgency which is so unique and central to Maximo's music. My favourites include "A19", the dry,humourous "Year Of Doubt" and the beautiful,acoustic,somewhat sad "Stray Talk."
If you like this band,you may already have this album in your collection. If you haven't got into their music yet,try and give this a listen. It will get your attention, and hopefully keep it. As for frontman Paul Smith,with his unique hairstyle, well-I'm a total fan! I haven't seen Maximo play live yet,but will have the pleasure later in 2006. I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

EP's and b-side albums so frequently suck that I stressed about blowing hard earned cash for this, even if it was only $9. A Certain Trigger was maybe my top album of '05 so I was prepared for disappointment. While not matching the highs of ACT, there is nothing here of decidedly lower quality (save the demos, which are worthless). The production is a bit less dense and there is less of a "wall of sound" effect than on ACT which does make this sound a bit "cheaper" but this occasionally becomes a revelation like on "Stray Talk". Worth every penny.

A year of impressive live performances and hot singles such as Apply Some Pressure and Graffiti have made Maximo Park's debut album A Certain Trigger a favourite for fans of the revitalised British rock movement. Frontman Paul Smith's stage presence is equal parts Ian Curtis and Ian McKellen, orating like a Shakespearean actor from a book of lyrics one minute before erupting in an angular dance aptly aping the Maximo Park sound.
With the advent of Dual Disc, tour editions and repackaged albums it seems that music fans are being suckered into buying numerous versions of their favourite albums to ensure they don't miss out on the bonus rarities. Unlike closely aligned UK group Bloc Party - who have managed to release four separate fan-screwing versions of their debut Silent Alarm this year - Maximo Park take a positive stance by offering Missing Songs as both a stand-alone disc and as a special package coupled with the staggering A Certain Trigger.
Clocking in at a little over a half hour, Missing Songs kicks off with the excellent A19 and the brief John Lennon cover Isolation, previously available as part of a Q magazine promotion. As well as the dead Beatle, XTC are also offered a tribute of sorts with the track Trial And Error, which comes close to approximating Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding's art rock sound. The acoustic Stray Talk and the Kaiser Chiefs-with-added-xylophone feel of Hammer Horror are highlights, with the gloriously tinny demos of Apply Some Pressure and Graffiti an intriguing commodity compared to the versions polished up by in-demand Brit producer Paul Epworth.
Comprising unreleased commodities and non-LP tunes from the Newcastle group, Missing Songs emerges as a worthier and more revealing album than many legitimate releases from 2005 upstarts such as Art Brut, Babyshambles and The Subways. The double-headed power of A Certain Trigger and Missing Songs prove that bringing back the comb-over is the least of Paul Smith's 2005 achievements.

"Apply Some Pressure", "Graffiti", and the first song that got me hooked, "Kiss You Better" are really good.

The rest are OK.

Three great songs and a bunch of OK ones makes it well worth buying in my opinion.

Before you read anymore reviews, you have to know this- this is nothing new for post-punk. And when you don't get something new, for instance how this album totally steals from the fabric that the Fall were notorious for creating, you have to have something different, or more exciting, or else you just go back to the old stuff. And that's what happened with me. It's not really imaginative, the lyrics are okay at worst and okay at best. The singer is also okay, but at least he's better than the Futureheads'. In other words, you might like this album if you haven't been looking into old post-punk, but if you have ever looked into any of the influences this album draws from, then you'll get bored and go listen to something better. Which is what happened to me. Not all the post-punk revival groups are terrible, or like Park mediocre. Other good groups would be Bloc Party, Forward Russia!, and, to an extent, TV on the Radio. So, if you like them, and older outfits such as the Fall, Gang of Four, and Joy Division, and you still like this album, all the power to you. You've got more tolerance than I'll ever have.

Yes, there is a ridiculous number of post-punk bands out there today- The Futureheads, Kaiser Chiefs, etc... and while I love them all, the boys of Maximo Park have proven that they can stand out. The killer riffs and beats are only the beginning- frontman Paul Smith (in addition to proving that combovers can be sexy and making scissor kicks look effortless) writes lyrics full of wit and heartache and sings his heart out with the most conviction I've seen in a lead singer in the past few years. But anyway, to the album...

"Signal And Sign", the album's opener, is a strong beginning with a really catchy beat that sucks you in, but by the time "Apply Some Pressure" opens, the beat is downright infectious. This song is my personal favorite, not just because it is dangerously catchy- it's got everything from the singer's "fragile desperation" (as Smith put it) to the hope of starting all over again and being in love. Maximo Park have been accused of being pessimistic, but this song shows that there is real hope in the midst of all the desperation.

"Graffiti", the album's most popular single, is quintessential Maximo Park- the line "I'll do graffiti if you sing to me in French... What are we doing here if romance isn't dead?" is witty, romantic, and powerful.

"Postcard Of A Painting" is usually overlooked by listeners but it would have been prime single material. The melody bounces along and as Smith cries out "Your eyes are big when they're so close, why can't we say goodbye in public?" the conviction in his voice is amazingly powerful. This definitely has an infectious pop beat that rivals more popular singles like the previous two tracks.

"Going Missing" is one of the more depressing songs but has a melody that sticks in your head, even five days later, when you find yourself singing "This can't go on, so I should just forget it, forget it, forget it..." While the singer is only imagining his love with someone else ("Mr. Brightside"-esquely), you can feel a foreboding feeling throughout the song.

"I Want You To Stay" is my next favorite after "Apply Some Pressure". The beat for this song is very rhythmic and yet different from the other songs on the album. The lyrics paint a vivid, romantic portrait that makes you feel the pain of a lost love that the singer refuses to and can't ever forget. It's the most heartfelt, tearjerking song on the whole album, and really shows off Maximo Park's romanticism, poetry, and ability to make dangerously catchy pop songs that can be mainstream and still touch the heart.

"Limassol" has got a lot of really good keyboard and is quite poppy. It's probably the most pessimistic/angsty but with that angst comes a lot of passion. The line "Saw the lights on in your window, even though they said you'd gone" is a little stalkerish, but pretty good.

"The Coast Is Always Changing" is very direct ("I am young and I am lost"- a big theme of this album) and bittersweet. It's witty like the rest of the album but has an especially earnest quality. The keyboards are really New-Wavey and the song reminds me of the Smiths a lot.

"The Night I Lost My Head" is a little bit humorous as it's basically about meeting someone special, but being just a bit too
inebriated. Just a bit.

"Once A Glimpse" is ridiculously catchy. You can hear the bass and guitar play off each other perfectly- the whole song is brimming with energy and angst. It's definitely one that makes you want to jump around.

"Now I'm All Over The Shop" is different in that the singer is in control of the situation, and that dynamic makes it very interesting. Beginning few lines are especially catchy, and the line "I know you'll be fine now that you're not mine!" is one of my favorite lines in the whole album.

"Acrobat" is definitely different- it's spoken-word, which is often the downfall of many a well-meaning artist (just think Madonna's "American Life" rap)... yet instead of standing out as awkward it stands out as especially poignant. It also slows the album down a bit and gives you a bit of a break from all the crazy dancing you've probably been doing since you started listening... I know it isn't just me... seriously...

"Kiss You Better" races quickly and is maybe the most optimistic song on the album. Smith exits pleading "You, you're so scared, that you're just gonna let it happen!" and before you know it, it's over. In my personal experience, it ends before you can realize it and leaves you optimistic, despite the final line not exactly being full of sunshine.

As for flaws- the only flaw I see is that the album ends too soon! Maximo Park have definitely set the bar high for other bands and for themselves, but if their sophomore effort turns out half as good as "A Certain Trigger" it'll be a knockout (in a good way). Many accuse Maximo Park of being no different from other post-punk bands, even though every second of A Certain Trigger says otherwise. Many artists make catchy pop songs, others make romantic and lyrical songs, but Maximo Park is one of the few bands out there who can combine all these factors so well. Paul Smith, Lukas Wooller (keyboards), Duncan Lloyd (guitar), Archis Tiku (bass) and Tom English (drums) come together to that killer formula that makes Maximo Park soar above the rest. Long live post-punk...

The best praise I can give this album is that it has been in my car's cd player for over a month straight, and it has never grown old. These five guys just know how to write good old fashion catchy songs that will stick in your head days.
For those of you who like to categorize your music, good luck with this one. They mix mod danceability and beats with Cure style pop riffs and throw in some post punk bar chords to boot, stealing pretty much just the best parts of all of the above. The only thing that I think might throw some people is the singers voice. It is a bit quirky in its sound, and his accent is unabashed. I find both just make the album more endearing with each listen, but am not sure everyone would agree.

This album first came to my notice in October 2005,when it had in fact been released earlier in May. I had seen Maximo Park on Jools Holland's "Later" and enjoyed their performance. They seemed to stand alone amongst other pop rock/art rock bands. I thought I would like to purchase their debut CD "A Certain Trigger" and I finally did so in the early autumn, not knowing what to expect. I was unsure whether I would even like the tracks.
How wrong was I?? From the moment the CD hit my player I was instantly hooked by the opening drum and guitar bars of the first track "Signal and Sign."
This anthem to changing life direction and getting motivated awoke my interest and lit the blue touchpaper for the rest of the album. Definite and direct,it sets the tone for the other twelve songs on the album.
From then on I never looked back. There isn't a dull,dud or depressing track on this album. It speeds along with the urgency of a train heading to its destination. It has a message for everyone.
Frontman Paul Smith has a distinctive rock voice. It is one that HAS to be listened to. At times it can just border on the light operatic,and there is plenty of melody there. Emotion runs high throughout his vocal delivery and as for his Geordie accent,it adds masses of charm and at times lends a dangerous edge to the words and music.
The second track "Apply Some Pressure",urges the listener to rethink,if things in life go wrong. Good advice indeed. The keyboards chorus is a very catchy one,with jangly piano chords,backup organ and a driving guitar and drum rhythm. This track was released for a second time as a single in the autumn of 2005,I feel it should have got higher than No.17 in the Top 40, but it didn't happen.
"Graffiti" is rather more obscure. There's a political slogan in there somewhere,but the gist of the song could be over most folks' heads. However,Paul's voice is as listenable as ever,returning to the recurring theme of provincial boredom and personal daring.Intriguing stuff.
The fourth track "Postcard Of A Painting",is quite a moving one.The singer is lamenting the loss of a love. Sheer exasperation at the one-sidedness of the relationship comes over and the hopelessness of the situation is evident.
I felt much sympathy for the loser in love in this song.
The next track "Going Missing" is wonderful. Ringing guitarwork accompanies the chorus and again we feel the sadness and loss exeperienced by the singer. Will he get another chance? It's looking very unlikely.
One to bring tears to the eyes,but the upside is that the chorus is immensely singable.
"I Want You To Stay". This is my joint favourite with "Once,A Glimpse". THIS ONE STRIKES A CHORD. It's bittersweet,angushed and sad. But there's not a jot of depression in this track. In fact the lines of the song send shivers down the spine. The writer of these lyrics cannot forget THIS love. She lingers on in his memory......can he let her go?

The remaining seven songs on this album are all unique,particularly "Acrobat" with its dramatic spoken word section by Paul "The sky is often used as a metaphor....."
and is theatrical and compelling. It came as a big surprise the first time I heard it,in fact,and is very moving. The listener finds himself entrapped in emotion in this song,which eventually fades. It is theatrical and compelling.

The last track on the album "Kiss You Better",jumps out off the player with a lighter pace. Quite a jolly final cut-don't get me wrong-not that the previous songs are in any way miserable.
They're far too intelligent for that.
The song ends abruptly,on a strangely satisfactory note.

Well there it is. I can't add more. If you haven't already bought "A Certain Trigger" in 2005,make sure you at least give it a listen and a chance. Its songs will steal their way into your heart and leave your ears wanting to hear more from this remarkably talented band.

I recently learnt that sales of this album had gone past Silver in 2005.

In my opinion,they should have been pure gold.
Submitted by Juliet R

Generally I'm not too into videos, as I feel they can distract from the true energy of a song, but the video for this track is really fantastic. It's just a frantic as the song itself.

You can check the video out here:

http://spectremusic.com/

And just click on the Maximo Park banner.

The four songs on this single are four of the best you will hear this year (until the LP comes out). All of the songs change at least three times in their three minutes and no song ends up quite were it started. Maximo Park truly need to be heard to be believed. Theck them out.

Apply Some Pressure from Maximo Park jumps and bounces out of your speakers and into your memory like an agile cat. Each of the four cuts is a short shot of energy...no duds. Sparkling beats as relentlessly infectious as the Futureheads, frontrunner Paul Smith's voice dances across blazing guitars with fast changing tempos and melodious harmonies that make shameless joy back in style, tight songs reminiscent of an upbeat Elefant. Irresistible ska beats, sweet sly smart lyrics...and oh, who cares: listening to them in my car, I found myself bopping my head wildly and smiling at everyone as I went by! The title song is a flawless innocent seducer, the Coast is Always Changing and Fear of Falling witty lilting stories that jettison you into romance and relationship stories with so much verve and abandon, you will gladly forget who and where you are, and return to earth long enough to spin the cd just one more time.

very catchy stuff.
it will be in your head
you will be dancing in the street
sadly just four tracks.

I heard maximo parks first single, 'the coast is always changing', back in december and loved it. I saw this a couple of months ago and was enraptured. It is a brilliant single: catchy,addictive,good instrumentation, and very cool. Maximo park are one of the most promising acts around and i can't wait for their album to be released in May.

The sixth single taken off Newcastle band Maximo Park's critically acclaimed album, A Certain Trigger, "I Want You To Stay" the album's melancholic love song, the lyrics reading like a classic Morissey masterpiece. With Maximo Park's album being the triumph it is, it is quite fair to say that any song could be released as a single, but the decision to to make "I Want You To Stay" a single produces a reaction of ambivalence: it is hardly a surprise - because it is in fact so damn good - but at the same time, it does seem an unpredicted move on the part of the band, since it has less twists and jerks than most of their songs. But perhaps that was the reason "I Want You To Stay" was released. It is as if the lads are saying, "Look here, we are very much capable of variety, thank you". If the The Field Music/J Xaverre Mix isn't reason enough to go get this album (which it is), it must be bought for "La Quinta", which is just sheer Maximo-brilliance.