Our Earthly Pleasures

Maxïmo Park

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 8, 2007)
• Original Release Date: May 8, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warp Records
• ASIN: B000MV9NC8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,042 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk
The second album from Newcastle's Maximo Park, Our Earthly Pleasures confirms its creators to be one of the UK's more idiosyncratic indie outfits--the sort of bookish, educated rockers for whom intelligence means something more than reading a book while you're having your photo taken. Not only does vocalist Paul Smith boast the sort of wit and wisdom to rhyme the words "hypothetical," "alphabetical," "theoretical," and "dialectical" ("A Fortnight's Time") without coming off as a pretentious try-hard, the songs Maximo pen zip along with a gleaming tunefulness and athletic agility that denies any obvious musical influence. Much here is concerned with collapsing relationships, although Smith takes a more circuitous route than most though the familiar territory of a love song: "Our Velocity" treats male-female communication as a cipher to be cracked, while the chiming "Books from Boxes" takes stock of a love affair of a relationship from its accumulated paper trail. Far from being introspective and self-absorbed, however, Our Earthly Pleasures is an energetic, vibrant affair, thanks in part to the work of Pixies producer Gil Norton, who thickens up Lukas Wooler's synth and hones the band dynamic to quiet/loud perfection. --Louis Pattison

Product Description
2007 sophomore album from this Britpop outfit. Produced by Gil Norton (Pixies/Foo Fighters) making it even more taut and muscular and boasts five huge radio singles (each featuring a video with a different director). 12 tracks including 'Girls Who Play Guitars', 'Books From Boxes' and the first single 'Our Velocity'.. Warp. 2007

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like the Who, the Jam ..., June 15, 2007

By	D. Define - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you like the Who, the Jam ... or even the Smiths in some respects, you should try this music.

I cannot stop listening to this CD, and I don't do that often. A stack of music comes and goes from my office every month. It's a big part of my job, but I cannot listen to much of it and do my work. Ironic, I know. The cover of this CD caught my attention ~ [side-note: it looks like the same photographer over the course of their previous releases]

This is not simple pop. The songs are crafted and well-written ~ they build and turn unexpectedly. Strong tracks to sample: Your Urge; Books From Boxes and the lead track, Girls Who Play Guitar.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars British indie pop brilliance, July 5, 2007

By	Brent Blevins (Nashville,Tn) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'ts hard to put your finger on Maximo Parks sound,it really grows on you the more you listen. The first cd was a little herky/jerky and lacked refined production value but Our Earthly Pleasures has a much smoother sound without detracting from it's origins. I would recommend to anyone who craves original sound along with intelligent and inspiring lyrics.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LISTEN, May 12, 2007

By	joe (Milwaukee) - See all my reviews

There will undoubtedly be people who loved the first album that will listen to this and feel lost in the sheet of sound that fills the middle of this one. I too wondered what happened to the brilliant changes of their first release. However, anyone who loves Maximo knows they deserve more than one good listen. And so that is my advice...LISTEN. Put on some good headphones, sit back, and listen to it unfold. After a few listens you'll hear it.