Maximo Park Likes Girls Who Play Guitar

Maximo Park, a five piece set hailing from Newcastle, England are one of the more obscure alternative rock bands to finally emerge into the pop culture music scene. It seems as though this group has not gained much recognition through ten years of music making. Their members include Paul Smith, Duncan Lloyd, Lukas Wooller, Tom English and Archis Tiku. The band is currently on Warp Records label where they have produced three solid albums including A Certain Trigger, Our Earthly Pleasures and Quicken the Heart.

During their earlier years, the band could be found performing in smaller venues in Manchester while slowly gaining a fan base in England. Soon enough, and with much enthusiasm the band was off in producing their first album, A Certain Trigger. This album sold over 300,000 copies world wide with hits including: "Graffiti", "The Night I lost my Head" and "Acrobat." Their first album indeed proved to be a large success becoming popular in the States as well as foreign countries. To follow up with A Certain Trigger the band dived into working on the subsequent album, Our Earthly Pleasures. This album was released in April of 2007 and contained a more playfully eclectic feel with popular tracks like "Our Velocity" and "Girls Who Play Guitars". Personally, from listening to this album I can confidently say that I enjoy this the most. I have listened to a little bit of Trigger and a small amount of Quicken the Heart, however I find that Our Earthly Pleasures seems to have a more groovy feel.

Quicken the Heart was released in 2008 under the supervision of recording engineer and producer, Nick Launay. "The Kids are Sick Again" proves to be the popular song off the album followed by songs such as "Questing, Not Coasting" and "Calm". I would recommend either of these three albums to anyone interested in a more eclectic, underground alternative vibe. These British musicians know how to please the ears with catchy, simplistic lyrics accompanied by an intricate variety of guitar tones. Maximo Park is definitely a band that needs more recognition and could make it big. Oh, and they like girls who play guitar. That's a plus.