SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MAXÏMO PARK – STREAM OF LIFE

MAXÏMO PARK
STREAM OF LIFE
LOWER THIRD/[PIAS]

Perhaps the late 2000s greatest indie survivors, Maxïmo Park return with their eighth album, and if there are any lingering doubts about their remaining power, they dispel it pretty quickly with punchy, Britpop-style opener “Your Own Worst Enemy”, which is a rollicking start to the album. That’s followed by lead single “Favourite Songs”, which also demonstrates the band’s versatility – there are 80s power-pop influences all over this, but also hints of things as diverse as the jaunty rhythms of ska to keep things going.

The album rarely missteps, maintaining a solid level of quality throughout, although “The End Can Be As Good As The Start” stands out nicely, while “Armchair View” both breaks up some otherwise similar sounding songs and provides an introspective, moody tone that has characterized some of the band’s best work.

The album races by, and some credit for that must go to the production, as its clear, crisp sound makes it a pleasure to listen to, and in many ways, it feels like the last, loudest party of the summer before the coming of autumn.

Overall, Stream Of Life shows Maxïmo Park as a band definitely not running out of ideas just yet. The consistency of their work is admirable – almost as if preserved in aspic, they continue to carve out tuneful melodies paired with Paul Smith’s usual artistic, verbose wordplay. It’s a fine album that should keep the juggernaut running as they approach a quarter-century as a band.

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