 The
Maybellines
"Chatfield Holiday" CD
Best
Friends Records
Genres: indie pop, twee pop, pop
Best Friends
PO Box 48214
Denver, CO 80204
Feb 10 - 16 2003 |
There
ain't nothin' happier than indie pop in this here world, and The
Maybellines aim to prove it. Using a simple combination of
guitar, bass, drums, and saccharine-sweet vocals, they've crafted Chatfield
Holiday into a cerebrum-massaging, sugar-coated delight. "Oregon," the album's first track, is a perfect example
of the Maybelline sound. A rolling guitar line is coupled
with smooth organ chords to form the backbone of the song, with
carefree girl/boy vocals in the foreground. The song is
undeniably happy, and its simple melody is more infectious than the
common cold.
"Drama Queen" is slightly more powerful, with a bit of
guitar distortion used to give it a more speedy, energetic sound -
kind of like what Elf Power did with "Everlasting
Scream." Fortunately, it's still just as catchy as the other
tunes, and adds a nice variety from the simple twee-esque sound of the
rest of the album. Meanwhile, "I Just Had The Best Time" also
diverts from the other songs' style. With a kind of bittersweet tone,
the track has a little bit of a sad tinge to it that lends the
collection a certain stylistic depth.
Altogether, The Maybellines have done a great job with Chatfield
Holiday. Happy and carefree, with influences ranging from Of
Montreal to Beulah, it should appeal to any indie pop fan,
but be careful - like sugar, large doses of The Maybellines can
leave an annoyingly sweet aftertaste in your mouth. Keep it at one dose a day and you'll be digging Chatfield Holiday
for ages.
85%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
10 songs, distributed by HHBTM, released
2002] |
