Ahh, Mayday Parade. There’s always been something that I really love about these guys. Yet again, here’s another band that I’ve been following now for awhile, so the release of this new album was one that I had been waiting for. Granted, this review is probably well overdue since it’s been just under a month since the release. But hey, when you’ve got something good to say about some good music, better late then never, yes?
Here’s something I’ve realized about my boys from MP. As a band, they’ve never drastically changed their sound, always stayed true to the music and the fans, and most importantly, staying true to themselves. I saw Mayday for the first time back a year and a half ago at Warped Tour, after listening to Anywhere But Here a thousand times over throughout 2009-2010. They were one of the last bands I heard, and my friend and I had gotten to their tiny stage at least a half an hour early just to get a good standing spot (I’ll never forget this because shortly after they started their set, we had to bolt out of there after continuously getting whacked in the face by various crowd surfers and nearly getting trampled from the amount of people there to see them- I was perfectly content with seeing them from 50 feet back). Needless to say, they put on a great show.
Mayday has always been the go-to band whenever I need some feel good, upbeat, loud music that is easy to sing along with. That’s what we expect from them, and it seems that with every album they release, they become more feel-good, louder, and just all around fun to listen to! I mean, who doesn’t listen to past songs like Kids In Love or Take This To Heart and not want to scream out the lyrics from start to finish? After listening to the new album, I still pretty much feel the same, especially with You’re Dead Wrong and Oh Well, Oh Well, which are both my favorite tracks. Oh Well, Oh Well was really the perfect way to start it out. I’ve always loved the use of a piano in the slower and faster songs, especially when the lead singer is really just fantastic at playing, rather then just hitting a few notes here and there like in most pop songs. The melodies are fun and non-threatening, complimenting the guitar riffs, which makes the music even more feel good!
I’ve taken a huge liking to the song Stay, for many reasons. There’s always that one song that gets me lyrically, and this song claims that title. The lyrics written by the band in general are great, but something about this song stuck out more than the rest. The opening lyrics coincide with the piano so well, kind of bringing out the feeling of the song slowly, and building up to this main emotion that carries out until that bang! in the middle. This song is a perfect example of how lyrics and melodies work together to create an emotion that can’t be put into just words, but is best described through song. So not only is the music feel good at this point, but it’s completely relateable, and most likely, we find ourselves at the end of the song thinking “Well… that pretty much sums up how I’m feeling.” Is it apparent yet that I’ve listened to this track 100+ times? Maybe a tad bit.
The remainder of the album continues at this pace that it’s kept since the beginning, which is perfect for keeping its fluidity. Like any other well put-together album, it makes you want to listen to it over and over again. Sometimes we find in a 12 or 13 song album, the songs don’t flow into one another, which creates this imaginary wavelength (as I’ve said in past reviews) that sets the mood for the album while also carrying you from one song to the next. Mayday has yet again successfully put together a fluid album, and never fails to make you feel great from start to finish.
So all in all, I think many Mayday fans would agree with me in saying that the new album has been a huge success. They guys have stayed true to their music, and been doing what they’ve done best: providing songs and lyrics that we can all relate to and sing loud and proud to in our cars with five of our friends. This album gets four and a half stars from me! What about you? Tell me and the rest of NT what you think in the comment box below!
Oh, and while you’re pondering your thoughts, here’s a little Mayday to listen to while you write about Mayday. Below is the new video for Oh Well, Oh Well, which has been out for a few weeks now. Enjoy!
