The Maine

^{Courtesy of The Maine}

The Maine’s Myspace

A few months and a MySpace page.

That’s all it took for The Maine to draw a crowd of 600 fans – and label executives – at their very first show. Although barely out of high school (two of the members graduated a year early to play with the band full-time), the Arizona-based pop-punk quintet signed with Fearless Records and released their debut EP less than a year after forming.

That EP, The Way We Talk, is a glorious 17-minute-long summertime soundtrack. Lead singer John O’Callaghan’s charming vocals make songs about failed relationships sound as sunny and fun-filled as a day at the beach. On the album’s title track, lyrics like “You’re as fake as the moans you make / And you’re as weak as the hearts you break” pair up with upbeat hooks to create a song that begs for rolled-down windows and turned-up speakers.

“If I Only Had The Heart” follows in the same vein, lamenting “that girl” as O’Callaghan sings “Please just forget me / When I’m out all alone on the east coast / And please don’t forgive me / When you’re home all alone and you need me most.” An electro synth beat and warped vocals set “Give Me Anything” apart from the rest of the band’s pop-inspired tracks, while a background of keyboard and tambourine spice up the album’s closing track, “The Town’s Been Talkin’.”

But what sealed the deal for me was the band’s dance-worthy, albeit G-rated, cover of Akon’s “I Wanna Love You,” which can be found on Punk Goes Crunk, a compliation of hip-hop songs performed by rock stars. After hearing the song on a friend’s MySpace and listening to it on repeat for an embarassingly long amount of time, I knew I wanted to love The Maine.

—By Asst Entertainment Editor Franchesca Winters

Cavil At Rest

^{Courtesy Cavil at Rest}

Cavil At Rest – “House on Stilts”
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Not every band could get away with opening a song (“House on Stilts”) with the distant sounds of a lamb bleating and a dog barking. But Cavil at Rest isn’t really a big fan of convention. The barnyard sounds aren’t the only thing in the group’s quirky bag of tricks.

The quintet also employs hand claps, interesting vocal maneuvers and a wide range of instrumentation to produce smooth tracks, warm as the band’s Southern California home, that float around your head pleasantly, even hours after you’ve stopped listening.

In the band’s bio, the members declare that they aim to produce “music to tap your mind while you tap your feet.” It’s safe to say that they’ve done a pretty good job with that goal. Songs from Cavil at Rest’s EP, Apples to Oranges, and album, Orion Way, certainly induce foot tapping and demand reflection, as the group’s lyrics are often enigmatic — what exactly is “Songbird, put your voice to mine” supposed to mean, anyway? — and always poignant.

They may have played some notable venues and shared the stage with big names like Jimmy Eat World, but diehard indie fans, take note: The group is so dedicated to maintaining their unique image and sound that they aren’t even signed to a record label. Instead, the group chooses to manage itself, thus remaining one of music’s best-kept secrets.

—By Entertainment Editor Ani Vrabel

Wolf Parade

^{Courtesy of Sub Pop Records}

Wolf Parade – “Call it a Ritual”
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With artists such as Wolfmother, Wolf Eyes, Sea Wolf, Wolf and Cub, Patrick Wolf, and recent hits “Wolf Like Me,” “What Would Wolves Do?” and “Raised by Wolves” by TV on the Radio, Les Savy Fav, and Voxtrot, respectively, wolves are running completely wild through the indie-rock community.

But none of the aforementioned bands bring the bite of immediate hooks and growl of raspy guitars like Wolf Parade does, pushing the electro-rock group to the front of the pack. The Canadian quintet marched onto the scene in 2005 with their debut album Apologies to the Queen Mary, and is set to return with the recently titled 9-track LP, At Mount Zoomer, in August.

Wolf Parade released the second track on the album, named “Call It a Ritual” early to their fans. The tune combines wonderfully explosive drums and intensely focused keyboards to create a harmony that sounds truly… ritualistic. The pre-chorus haunts you like an occult chant, with lyrics like: “You know, they will swing, swing their swords for show / while you turn your flower petals so slow.” Lead singer and composer of Wolf Parade, Spencer Krug, really howls throughout the song, half-singing, half-talking many of the lyrics to a strangely appealing effect.

“Call It a Ritual,” reminds listeners of the best parts of their first album, and promises equally catchy songs on their sophomore effort. The band plans to start a North American tour in early July to promote At Mount Zoomer. Their newest set lists are certain to be filled with epically electronic tunes the listener can really sink their canines into.

So come join the pack. Take a listen to “Call It a Ritual” and bring out the inner canis lupus in you.

by Asst. Entertainment Editor Geoff Schorkopf