Stereo Jealousy

Maxïmo Park: Quicken The Heart
Released 11th May 2009
Warp

I liked Maxïmo Park. I thought the debut album was a pretty damn good record, certainly deserving of being on the hallowed Warp label. Second album was a little bit off colour, but packing enough punchy tracks to bear out repeated listens. Shame then that Quicken The Heart continues that downward trend – this time lacking any songs of flair or interest. The opening four or so tracks pass by without hook or standout. Sadly the band seems to have taken their always-present “big sound” leanings and replicated it over the course of an album. Gone are the stop-start moments that made tracks like Apply Some Pressure so exhilirating; replaced with leaden words and single paced tunes. There’s only a couple of tracks that lifted the monotony, the glittering Calm and darkly raw Roller Disco Dreaming. At times it comes across as lightweight as an 80s synthpop album, only lacking the immediacy and subtlety; all flash no bang. Despite the immediacy there is no pop hook; for all the stadium sound, there’s no shout-along chorus. This places the album in no-man’s land, passing the listener by and leaving nothing behind.

Rating:

Calm (mp3)
The Kids Are Sick Again (Video)

Band Site

Myspace

Last.fm

Buy Quicken The Heart

Photo: Stuart Leech

Show of the Week: Maxïmo Park, Blood Red Shoes, Mystery Jets & Pete & The Pirates, May 28, Kentish Town Forum.

A special charity show in aid of a couple of charities, and some fantastic bands playing. Gotta be a winner from all angles.

Paul Smith from headliners Maxïmo Park says “When someone you know is up against cancer it makes sense to give them your full support. Since that is currently the case, and that person is being treated at The Royal Marsden hospital, which was recently damaged by fire, we decided to do what we can as a band. What we do best is play concerts and we intend to give all profit from our gig at The Forum to help rebuild the cancer unit where they not only look after sufferers but continue to further our knowledge and treatment of the disease. We’ve never been a preachy band or asked people to shell out daft amounts for tickets, but this show will be well worth the entry fee for a number of reasons.”

For three further reasons, listen to these:

Maxïmo Park – Apply Some Pressure
Blood Red Shoes – ADHD
Mystery Jets –  Young Love

Here are the best of the rest…

May 27
Sennen @ Dublin Castle
Tom White / Chris TT @ Upstairs at The Enterprise
Bob Mould @ Koko

May 28
Paris Motel @ Bush Hall
Tapes & Tapes @ ULU

May 29
The Black Keys @ Astoria
Silver Jews @ ULU
The Futureheads @ The Electric Ballroom
Ice, Sea, Dead People @ Good Ship

May 30
Bruce Springsteen @ Emirates Stadium

May 31
The Owl Service @ RoTa, Notting Hill Arts Club
Ed Harcourt @ 12 Acklam Road

June 1
Grand National @ Amersham Arms
Lykke Li @ George IV, W4

June 2
Autolux @ Cargo
Sons & Daughters @ Koko