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Track Listings
| 1. Girls Who Play Guitars |
| 2. Our Velocity |
| 3. Books from Boxes |
| 4. Russian Literature |
| 5. Karaoke Plays |
| 6. Your Urge |
| 7. The Unshockable |
| 8. By the Monument |
| 9. Nosebleed |
| 10. A Fortnight's Time |
| 11. Sandblasted and Set Free |
| 12. Parisian Skies |
Product Description
Review
An essential part of any band's rites of passage - it's Geordie post-punkers Maximo Park's turn to try their hand at that notoriously problematic second album.
Still, two years of constant touring since their debut appears to have paid off: Our Earthly Pleasures arrives positively brimming with potential hits. Lead single ''Our Velocity'', is a punchy statement of intent, full of 80s choc-a-block synths and driving harmonies.
Opener, ''Girls Who Play Guitars'' is equally attention grabbing. With a chorus that kicks in a mere ten seconds into the vocal line, it's the kind of instant gratification demanded of a band with one critically acclaimed debut under their belt and one eye on a busy festival season.
It's certainly an album that evokes visions of delirious summertime hedonism: its momentum designed for haphazard jumping about in crowds, one sweaty fist in the air whilst the other grapples with a plastic cup of warm lager. Bring it on.
Amongst all the staccato guitars and the steady onslaught of singer Paul Smith's lyrics though, the album perhaps lacks the obvious stand-out tracks of its predecessor.
The relentless energy never lets up, but midway through this record there is a noticeable lull in potency. The aptly named 'The Unshockable' is in danger of becoming just that, serving up what begins to sound like just another indistinct jerk-rock anthem.
The album rallies towards the end, with the anthemic ''Sandblasted'' and ''Set Free'' and the liltingly gentle introduction to ''Parisian Nights''.
Fans will find plenty to love about Our Earthly Pleasures, which helps cement Maximo Park's reputation for producing rough-edged, power-driven pop of the highest calibre. But this is a record dogged by inconsistency, which you can't help feeling would have benefited immeasurably from a greater degree of light and shade. A missed opportunity. --Melanie Jane Spence
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Product Description
MAXIMO PARK Our Earthly Pleasures (2007 UK 12-track CD album following up their gold-selling Mercury-nominated debut A Certain Trigger produced by Gil Norton [Pixies Foo Fighters] it boasts huge radio singles and fantastically developed emotional songs including the single Our Velocity picture sleeve with lyric booklet WARPCD155)
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By TUFC Mark
Format:Audio CD
This is simply the most listen-to-able album this year. I can happily listen to it on repeat over and over... I haven't been able to do that with an album for some time!
If you liked their previous album, A Certain Trigger, you will adore this. Lots of catchy, yet not nauseous, tunes and some truly beautiful lyrical work...
A must-buy of 2007, the soundtrack of your summer.
If you liked their previous album, A Certain Trigger, you will adore this. Lots of catchy, yet not nauseous, tunes and some truly beautiful lyrical work...
A must-buy of 2007, the soundtrack of your summer.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Marchespie
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Buying an album on the strength of having liked just one single from it (Books From Boxes) is always a risk. It doesn't always pay off, but Our Earthly Pleasures is even better and more consistent than the quality of that single suggested. Having not heard the band's first album, I came to this one with no preconceptions or prejudices about what I was going to hear. The first two tracks, Girls Who Play Guitars and Our Velocity are full-on pop-rock, entertaining and energetic. They are followed by Books From Boxes, which is a gem of a track - but in many ways it is what happens from here on that makes this such a great album. Each successive track has either a great melodic hook, fantastic rhythmic interplay between the instruments or genuinely affecting lyrics, and often all three in combination. Standout tracks are hard to identify as the standard is so high, but By The Monument and Parisian Skies are good places to start. Overall, though, this is one of those rare records that you can just put on and play all the way through without a single duff track, where nothing outstays its welcome and you are left wanting more. Its also great to hear intelligent lyrics sung with honesty and directness in the singer's native Geordie accent - no pretending to have come from California here. I could recommend this album to just about anyone.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By young man
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
This is a great second album, NME slated it, but it is really very good.
I guess it is just easier to slate something than praise it. The park have managed to follow up their last album wit something cool and classy, but that just doesn't sell magazines.
I guess it is just easier to slate something than praise it. The park have managed to follow up their last album wit something cool and classy, but that just doesn't sell magazines.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By juliet R
Format:Vinyl
This album was eagerly awaited by Maximo Park's fans,including myself,and it does not disappoint.I recently went to the band's promo show at the 100 Club and was enchanted by the new songs which feature on the album-
current favourite "Books From Boxes" looks to be their next summer single.
The band have produced a tighter,more sophisticated sound on this album, with Lukas Wooller's keyboards and Paul Smith's beguiling Geordie accent still evident,it cannot fail to please.Even on such deeply emotional songs as "Your Urge",which describes a visit to a brothel,there is an underlying charm and integrity. The song is not as seedy as it sounds!
Listen to this vinyl,it will ensnare you and make you think.
current favourite "Books From Boxes" looks to be their next summer single.
The band have produced a tighter,more sophisticated sound on this album, with Lukas Wooller's keyboards and Paul Smith's beguiling Geordie accent still evident,it cannot fail to please.Even on such deeply emotional songs as "Your Urge",which describes a visit to a brothel,there is an underlying charm and integrity. The song is not as seedy as it sounds!
Listen to this vinyl,it will ensnare you and make you think.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I just adore this album - but not at first. It was the same with 'A Certain Trigger' which I also found to be a 'bit of a grower', but quite soon came to love (& through constant playing made the rest of my family love too!)
I think Maximo Park excell in many areas but particularly in their songwriting. They have a unique way of often seeming to stitch two or even three different songs together (as on 'Our Velocity'). Because of this I think their songs continually surprise you and have so much to discover. There's a strong hook line in every one, but it took me about 5 listens to this album right the way through for them to get inside my head. Now I simply cannot stop playing it. So if you feel the same way after one or two listens, don't give up on it.
Stand out tracks for me are 'Our Velocity' which I just put on repeat, 'Books from Boxes' which is heart-rendingly beautiful and 'The Unshockable' but I am growing to love every single song, as I did with 'A Certain Trigger'.
I just don't think there is anyone to better Maximo Park in Britain today - if your musical interests veer towards Alternative/Indie stuff you will love it. The reviewer comparing them to Franz Ferdinand was right - they have a similar intellectual angle, with intriguing & clever lyrics waiting to be discovered and appreciated. Now, I must see them live....! And then await the 3rd album.
I think Maximo Park excell in many areas but particularly in their songwriting. They have a unique way of often seeming to stitch two or even three different songs together (as on 'Our Velocity'). Because of this I think their songs continually surprise you and have so much to discover. There's a strong hook line in every one, but it took me about 5 listens to this album right the way through for them to get inside my head. Now I simply cannot stop playing it. So if you feel the same way after one or two listens, don't give up on it.
Stand out tracks for me are 'Our Velocity' which I just put on repeat, 'Books from Boxes' which is heart-rendingly beautiful and 'The Unshockable' but I am growing to love every single song, as I did with 'A Certain Trigger'.
I just don't think there is anyone to better Maximo Park in Britain today - if your musical interests veer towards Alternative/Indie stuff you will love it. The reviewer comparing them to Franz Ferdinand was right - they have a similar intellectual angle, with intriguing & clever lyrics waiting to be discovered and appreciated. Now, I must see them live....! And then await the 3rd album.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
When first hearing the single 'Our Velocity' i went out and purchased the album because it was in my opinion one of the best tracks i had heard all year. There are a few songs on the album that are quality, my favorite being 'Books From Boxes' which is their 2nd single from the album. Like a lot of Indie band of late their second major album is not as good as their first album (Snow Patrol, Razorlight, Killers ect.) But with Maximo Park the success of 'A Certain Trigger' hyped up 'Our Earthly Pleasures' that bit too much, if this was their breakthough album everybody would be praising how good it is instead of comparing it to 'A Certain Trigger' and rating it down because it is just a fraction below the brilliance that is 'A Certain Trigger'.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By M. Roberts
Format:Audio CD
I am the first here to make this seemingly bold statement! i stand by my desicion, this album has more variation and is amazing for different occasions, not many albums can pull that off.
and i have to say not enough mention has been given to track 3 (books from boxes) this track is by the far the best in my opionion, its perfect for those summer bbqs yet still racey in parts and energetic like we kno so well from maximo park! amazing!
and i have to say not enough mention has been given to track 3 (books from boxes) this track is by the far the best in my opionion, its perfect for those summer bbqs yet still racey in parts and energetic like we kno so well from maximo park! amazing!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant lyrics, powerful delivery
The lead singer's voice is really rich and strong - obviously a really big, fit, guy with an active brain and a real grasp of lyrics. Read more
Published 14 months ago by D. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Biting, intelligent, high energy indie rock
Some said not as good as the previous but they clearly didn't listen; its a direct progression and improvement. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2010 by Alister King
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant follow-up to 'A certain trigger'
Could Maximo Park repeat the excellence of their first album. Yes, they can and yes they did.
Published on 27 Nov 2009 by Dom Dee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Only just discovered this gem
I am late discovering maximo Park, only really heard them properly for the first year while watching Glastonbury on tv and really enjoyed their set. Read more
Published on 2 Oct 2009 by Mark Shaw
2.0 out of 5 stars
mildly disappointing
I saw Maximo Park on the TV coverage of the Glastonbury Festival and thought they were brilliant. In my opinion 'Our Velocity' is their best song, which is why I opted to buy this... Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2009 by E. A. Banks
4.0 out of 5 stars
maximo park album
Good album. Arrived promptly although looked second hand when i purchased from new. had a scatched case and sticky bits over it.
Published on 5 May 2009 by N. Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Utterly Brilliant
First lets start with the jargon.
Lyrically mature, musically complex but accessible....OK?
Now the real stuff. Read more
Lyrically mature, musically complex but accessible....OK?
Now the real stuff. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2008 by Dr. J. D. Mitchell
5.0 out of 5 stars
biting, intelligent, high energy indie rock
some said not as good as the previous but they clearly didnt listen; its a direct progression and improvment. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2008 by Alister King
5.0 out of 5 stars
Maximo Park - Inaccurate preconceptions
I loath people who comment on Paul Smiths accent saying it is 'geordie'. It isn't 'geordie' at all, hes from near Middlesbrough and therefore labeling him in such a way is way of... Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2007 by R. J. Haswell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Your Earthly Pleasure
This is a brilliant second album from Maxïmo Park. Their sound has matured from their first album, and the size of the vinyl makes the album art look so much better than the CD.
Published on 11 Oct 2007 by Sam Halverson
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