Maximo Park--Our Earthly Pleasures

Brace yourself for this one. Fusing a delicious union between the crashing post-punk of The Futureheads the pop-friendly dance-driven rhythms of Bloc Party, Maximo Park rocket into 2007 with Our Earthly Pleasures. Vocalist Paul Smith’s style in tracks like "Girls Who Play Guitars" and "Our Velocity" possess a smack of Futureheads’ vocalist Barry Hyde, and explosive guitar instrumentals follow a vein of The Futureheads (see "A Fortnight’s Time")—but toned down, giving the overall impression of a pop-indie sound delicately toeing the post-punk waters. Drum-beat led tracks ("The Unshockable") elude to A Weekend in the City or even Franz Ferdinand, but fall short of being as eruptively monumental. Other tracks such as "Russian Literature" are more modest (think a more interesting Razorlight, or modern Smiths) and have horrendously catchy melodies that will haunt your long after listening. Smith’s vocals are always easy on the ear, and quieter pieces such as "Your Urge" work beautifully where Barry Hyde or Kele Okereke may falter.

Maximo Park pepper-spray Our Earthly Pleasures with a healthy mix of contrasting songs to keep things interesting, and by the closing riffs of "Parisian Skies" your only thought will be of starting the whole thing over again. A release that will surely attract more than its share of comparisons to The Futureheads, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, and Withdrawal, Maximo Park’s sophomore full-length is strong where previously mentioned heavy-hitters are weak. Our Earthly Pleasures may not rocket up the charts as fast as A Weekend in the City or News & Tributes, but it is a delightful treat for anyone who loves what’s been coming out of England lately—and will surely generate some Maximo Park buzz.

(Published at ComfortComes.com)