Mörë ümläüt mädnëss!!

Just some documentation of how umlautastic Maxïmo Park really is...



And the "Apply Some Pressure" demo...

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Chëck ït öüt, yö!

Lukewarmplay

I am not ashamed to admit that I really like Coldplay. (Ok, maybe I'm just the tiniest bit ashamed to admit it, otherwise I wouldn't have had to make that statement.) If I had to pick a favorite song, I would have to say "Shiver." The guitar riff is just brilliant, and who can't relate when Mr. Martin growls, "And it's you I see, but you don't see me..." Haven't we all lived through that one? It's just such a fucking good song. Runner up would be "Warning Sign," I think. I have a vivid memory of hearing this song driving through the Scottish Highlands on a yellow Haggis tour bus. And tearing up at the "When the truth is I miss you." This song can make me cry any time. But it's so lovely at the same time that it's so melancholy. And it's such a lesson..."A warning sign, you came back to haunt me and I realized, that you were an island and I passed you by, when you were an island to discover..." All the things we've let slip away because we didn't appreciate them or examine them enough, really look at them. "And I'm tired, I should not have let you go..."

And I am really looking forward to the new album. And a friend will be (hopefully!) ordering us tickets on Saturday to witness the spectacle that is Chris Martin and Co. live (though not up close, most likely.) Truth is, though, (that I missed you?) I'm looking forward to the album even more because the songs that I've heard off of it...well, they haven't really won me over. That's not to say that Coldplay won me over immediately, either. It was actually a tough sell. It was right around the time that my friend Natalie was in school in London for a year, and she kept reporting back with these British bands she was in love with - the Doves, Starsailor. And none of them really did anything for me. I had yet to develop my ear for British rock (because it really does sound so different from American rock.) "Yellow" was monotonous, overplayed, and really, nothing altogether great.

It really wasn't until A Rush of Blood to the Head came out that I found the Coldplay love. And I remember hearing "In My Place" and wondering what the big deal was about this band, that it wasn't anything special. But then they played "Clocks" at the end of an episode of Alias, and it was this moment of "HOW FUCKING GOOD?!" And then they played "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face" at the end of a different episode. Well, I went back and did some serious reevaluating. And found that I even liked "In My Place" and "Yellow." A lot.

So I am in the Coldplay zone already. But still not liking the new material so much. I'm not wowed by "Speed of Sound." I think "Fix You" has some beautiful lyrics, but the melody is a bit boring. I like "Talk" the most of these three, but I don't love it. Frankly, I'm concerned. There has been so much talk and hype about this album, about how it couldn't possibly live up to its predecessor, and it's most likely true. But I really want to like it. No, I want to LOVE it. Then again, the songs I love most off of the other albums were not any of the singles (at least not here), and there is the whole rest of the album for me to discover...

I mean, hey, if Colplay is good enough for J.T., it's good enough for me. ;)

Why are you like that? Like what? Like how you are. How am I?

How am I??

This is only loosely music related, but I was quite disappointed since I was supposed to go see Jordan Catalano's Jared Leto's band, 30 Seconds to Mars, last night. I am not ashamed to admit that the only reason I wanted to go was to gawk at the man that was Jordan Catalano. Despite the fact that he has been trying his best lately to look as ugly as humanly possible (for him, this is not very ugly at all.)

He was THE guy when I was younger. I think there are still grown women walking around carrying a torch for that tv character. I was even going to bring a camera with me. That tells you a thing or two. I had checked the Mercury Lounge website and there weren't tickets on sale, so I thought that it was one of the show up and pay shows. Then my friend told me it was sold out. We both got the same email on Monday, saying a few last minute tickets were available the day of the show. So we didn't go last night. I suppose I should be happy since I really need to be saving money, and really, I was so freaking exhausted last night that I shouldn't have gone anywhere. But still. JORDAN CATALANO!!

If anyone's ever seen them, please tell me the music was so awful that it's good I didn't waste my time or drool.

Big Pimpin’

For my inaugural entry, it’s only fitting that I pimp the band that I have affectionately been referring to as “my new favorite band.” (There is a difference.) This band is Maxïmo Park, and if you haven’t heard them yet, well, all I can ask is, what are you waiting for? Their first album, “A Certain Trigger” is out in the States on May 31 (or, if you’re like me and a tad impatient, available online as we speak.) The are also currently on tour, so if you can get out and see them, I implore you to. You can check dates here. As for me, I will be seeing them in New York in June, and at Leeds festival in August. And am eagerly awaiting both.

So what’s so great about them, you’re asking? What sets them apart from all the other bands coming out of the UK right now that have all blended together into one Franzblocliberchief? Well, I can’t tell you they’re better than any of the bands mentioned there, or that they’re not completely derivative of somebody (living in America and having had very little exposure to British music for the past 25 years makes one blissfully unaware of current bands’ unoriginality. :D) What I can do is tell you what I like so much about them.

It's the music, man. It's so good. Rollicking fun, danceable as hell. In fact, it had two grown women jumping up and down holding hands while singing along the last time they were in New York. (I won't tell you who - must protect my sources, after all.) I've listened to the album over and over already - and it's rare for me to listen to an album through and not a mix of all the songs I like. And while some of the lyrics are simple, and some downright silly (what if I don't speak French?), there are enough great turns of phrase (is that the correct plural?) to satisfy this self-confessed lyrics whore. I will spare you a rundown of all of them, but I have to at least include a few of my favorites...

You magnify the way I feel about myself
I like to wait to see how things turn out if you apply some pressure
Apply some pressure, you lose some pressure
"Apply Some Pressure"

I sleep with my hands across my chest and I dream of you with someone else
This can't go on so I should just regret it, and even though I led you on, forget it
"Going Missing"

I'm losing more than I'll ever have
I wrote my feelings down in a rush, I didn't even check the spelling
"Postcard of a Painting"

I rewrite my life beneath moonlight
You're always my reminder
"I Want You To Stay"

And if it comes down to me and him, you know I kiss you better
You, are you so scared that you're just gonna let it happen?
"Kiss You Better"

When it's all good, keep things close at hand
"Limassol"

Alright, so maybe I got a bit carried away there... An added bonus is that, unlike so many bands whose accents disappear seamlessly into the words they sing, Paul Smith's Geordie accent displays prominently, and is quite charming. (I dare you to try and sing "I am young" instead of "I am yooong." I double dare you.)

My only complaint (yes, there is one!), and some of you have heard this before, is that some of the songs on the album aren't as good as the demo versions. In particular, "Apply Some Pressure," "Going Missing," and "Limassol." If you can get your hands on these versions, do so. (The ASP demo is available as a b-side on the "Graffiti" single.)

So, in closing, check this band out!! They won’t change the world, but they’ll sure make it a more entertaining place.