The Maine – Forever Halloween Deluxe Edition
Review by Jessica Klinner
“I know that this may be a whisper, but it’s the start of a voice,” lead singer John O’Callaghan sings on “Vanilla,” one of the new tracks that make up the deluxe edition of Forever Halloween. Over the years, O’Callaghan has developed quite a voice for The Maine and for their fans. His lyrics come across as if they have been taken from a page in his own personal journal, and maybe they are, but that’s something O’Callaghan will have to vouch for. The Maine’s lyrical and musical growth has brought them closer to their fans with each release. Their discography has become a musical journal of their experiences growing up and in turn, it has taken on the same role for their fans. So when they announced that they were releasing a deluxe edition of 2013’s Forever Halloween, I knew that we were all in for another round of musical memoirs. Here’s a rundown on the new tracks:
“So Criminal”- The Maine has a way of making you think a song will be very calm during the verses and then punching you in the face with rock and roll once the chorus rolls around. This exact thing happens on the first track of the deluxe edition. O’Callaghan has also gotten in the habit of adding in angsty screeches which add a darker element to their sound and give his vocals more variety.
“Vanilla”- The first thing I noticed about this song was the strong bass line in the verses. Normally, bass lines aren’t what directly jump out at you in a song, but it’s hard to ignore them on this track. Lyrically and musically, this is my favorite chorus The Maine has ever produced. This will definitely be hard to stop listening to on repeat for the next few months. O’Callaghan has upped his lyric game since the release of Pioneer. Is he the voice of a generation? Maybe not, but he’s definitely a voice for those lost and searching for more.
“Ugly On The Inside”- It is well known that O’Callaghan dabbles in the poetic arts, and fans have come to expect the lyrical quality of The Maine’s songs to come off like his poetry does. He doesn’t sugar coat anything, and that comes with growing up and facing real problems in the world. He doesn’t see the world through Can’t Stop Won’t Stop eyes anymore and it’s especially evident in this song. We all have that one person that pops into our mind while listening to this song. Go on, and admit it.
“Bliss”- There seems to be a trend with these deluxe edition songs, and that is simple verses with booming choruses. It adds a definition to the songs that makes it hard to stop listening. Once again, O’Callaghan hits it home with the lyrics. The chorus says, “Allow yourself to give into this bliss,” and that’s exactly what I plan to do when listening to this short collection of new songs until offered new ones to obsess over.
“Ice Cave”- We’ve finally made it! This song is possibly the most anticipated song ever released by The Maine. Fans have been asking for a recorded version of “Ice Cave” for what seems like years now, and they’ve finally been granted their wish. The song is bursting with energy and soul. It’s the most diverse track the band has ever produced, but it contains the spacey sound found in the track “Forever Halloween.” The music begins to fade out around the three-minute mark, but the song is far from over. O’Callaghan brings the song back with even more energy and a loud screeching yell. While the song takes a slower pace than the rest of the new songs, it packs a punch and delivers so much energy that you don’t ever want it to end.
The Maine always finds a way to outdo themselves, and that’s why it’s so easy to continue listening to their music. The five new songs tacked onto the end of Forever Halloween only add to the sultry flavor of the original track listing. Though the songs didn’t make it on the original album, they fit nicely on the deluxe edition and give fans a taste of what almost made the final cut. In the chorus of “Vanilla,” O’Callaghan sings, “I never wanna be called vanilla.” Well Mr. O’Callaghan, with these five new songs, I don’t think you will have to worry about ever being called vanilla again. The only complaint I have about these songs is that there are not more, but with the pace The Maine has been moving with their releases, I’m sure it won’t be too long before we are graced with more of their addictive tunes.
Overall Rating: 5/5
Recommended Tracks: “Vanilla,” “Ugly On The Inside,” and “Ice Cave”
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