-
Must Listen
Review by Bruna Cucolo
Recommended songs: “Half A Spark,” “Die To Fall” and “It’s Not Over”
To the 8123 Family, it’s time to celebrate because your favorite band has released their newest album. On Friday, April 10, the five-piece Arizona-based band The Maine put out their 10th studio album titled Joy Next Door and it will, in fact, bring joy to its listeners. Three singles were released to streaming services ahead of the album’s debut, and they’ve gotten the utmost positive feedback. Imagine the reaction of the album in its entirety. Get ready to feel different emotions, maybe set the phone down and feel fully human with this one.
Get right into it: an acoustic guitar intro as this record’s opener. “Green” is soft, yet the anticipation for more is there. Soon enough the beat picks up a bit and as the song keeps playing, the rest of the band joins in for it. It’s moving in a “Yes, I’m so ready for this album” kind of way, you know you’re in for a treat. It’s a great start to the record with its ease into it without giving everything away quite yet — there is so much more to come.
By the chorus of the second track, “Alone For A Year,” the thought of this becoming your summer album crosses your mind. It’s fun and vibey and the listener is eager for more. Keep listening, as The Maine’s rock sound in this is a unique one; it’s so distinctive to the band. Their roots may slightly be incorporated into this record, whether intentionally or not, as it’s slightly heard here and there in some ways. This shows they’re still the same band as before, but there’s a lot of new sound from them, too. But keep on listening, Joy Next Door is a journey through some thoughts and feelings.
Talk about a band’s growth not only as members of a band throughout their career, but with their sound as a group, which has already been incredible. There are so many elements in Joy Next Door that really catch the listener’s attention, from the instrumentals alone to the lyricism and beyond. Take a listen now for an exhilarating experience. As the weather gets warmer, try listening again outside on a late warm night; it may be just what you need for some joy within. Create new moments with Joy Next Door over and over again, starting now.
