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It's just like being a kid again. The sound of a clean vinyl
record playing, and listening to the soothing voice of the narrator
tell you to open the booklet to page one, and to read along, and
to turn the page when you hear this sound… Not only that,
but the music that Mae makes is purely transcendent and
full of an innocent joy. You don't get that too often these days,
folks. In a world of rock music that is bent on the darker side
of human relationships and sounds, The Everglow is a purely
magical, wondrous journey. I do feel like a kid again, these songs
remind my subconscious of those amazing times of creative magic
that (hopefully) each of us experienced as a child… So let's
begin our journey.
"We're So Far Away" is a beautiful song based almost
entirely on piano that seems to jump out of the speakers and transport
the listener into a world of intricate depths of beauty. The first
time I listened to this record, I kept hitting repeat on this
track, I never wanted it to end. But alas… time marches on.
The guitars kick in on "Someone Else's Arms", turning
the record towards a more modern rock feel, but maintaining that
same wholesome feel-good feeling. The upbeat rock continues unabated,
and "Painless" introduces the listener to the guitarists
Edge-like delay abilities that gently underscore a driving
piano line and guitar chord-heavy chorus (like The Origin
would do). The song floats despite the heaviness of sound and
lyrical content. "Breakdown" centers once again on the
piano, creating a more upbeat, less distracted Ben Folds
vibe. The song makes all the others before it seem like they were
merely introductions to get to the really amazing music. "'It's
Magic', she says to me/ my hand to her waist as she approaches
sweetly/ it's enough when I see that look in her eyes/ it's enough
for me to paralyze." "Mistakes We Knew We Were Making"
is an epic rock song, along the lines of what Queen could
have been if they were thirty years younger. Indie rock kicks
into high gear on "Cover Me", a poppy and light song
with very cool harmony vocals. "The Everglow" is the
ultimate song to fall in love with, and to fall in love to. The
album wraps up in sublime fashion, ending on a truly love-inspiring
note. "The Sun And The Moon" is a perfect wrap-up, the
perfect final cadence for an album that simply shines with hope
and love.
No matter what this music is doing, or where the lyrics are taking
one's mind, the wonder of The Everglow remains that childlike
magic that the songs inspire inside one's heart. And, of course,
following instructions, one simply must follow along in the booklet
whilst the songs are playing. The illustrations are wonderful,
and make listening to the album a truly pleasurable experience.
I don't know where this band came from, but I don't ever want
to be without this amazing happy feeling ever again. If there
were more modern rock that could evoke feelings like this, the
world would be a much more reasonable place, and filled with much
more love. Thank you, Mae, whoever you are.
"Painted Skies/ I've seen so many that can not compare
to your ocean eyes."
-Embo Blake
Track Listing:
1. Prologue
2. We're So Far Away
3. Someone Else's Arms
4. Suspension
5. This Is The Countdown
6. Painless
7. The Ocean
8. Breakdown
9. Mistakes We Knew We Were Making
10. Cover Me
11. The Everglow
12. Ready And Waiting To Fall
13. Anything
14. The Sun And The Moon
15. Epilogue
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