Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Review: The Makers "Everybody Rise!" (2005)

Okay, here's the sort of "scoop" that blogs are supposedly known for... the first review of a record that comes out Aug. 23rd.

The Makers
have been playing rock'n'roll music for about a decade now and opinion always seems to be divided about them. When they were young juvenile delinquents playing rock that sounded like The Pretty Things gone punk, the hipsters couldn't stand 'em and the punkers asked if they were really as tough as legend had it. They are. When they started playing more glam sounding songs, they got a bit of attention from the mainstream rock press and the punks lost interest in them. Then, the "garage rock" scene broke open with bands like the Strokes and the Hives all over the radio, and the Makers were busy recording a very somber and slow glam rock masterpiece called Strangest Parade. Lots of people thought they'd blown it because they were one of a handful of bands that characterized "garage rock" in the early 90s (see also: The Devil Dogs, the New Bomb Turks, the Gories) and now bands that were heavily inspired by the Makers (and in the case of The Hives heavily inspired) were reaping the rewards that the boys themselves should have taken home. Then, they recorded a covers album of their older songs entitled Stripped, which may seem self-indulgent but actually works well because their early albums were recorded in no-fi. It's also a hell of a party album. Of course, I've heard lots of people claim that band is trying to recapture their old glory a bit too late and blah, blah, blah.

Of course, there's one thing that all the debates about the Makers' style miss out on- the band writes really fucking good songs. Whether or not you like the direction that a particular Makers album is going, you still have to notice that Donny can write a melody and Michael can really sing quite well. And, actually, that wasn't exactly evident when they were young punks. Every single song on Everybody Rise! is catchy as hell, and there's a surprising joy to the album that was needed after the more morose Rock Star God and Strangest Parade concept albums.

Matter of Degrees is probably the first single and an ode to loyalty. I suspect it's first to get across the fact that this will be a more stripped down album right off the bat.
Good as Gold starts off a bit weak and then hits you with a chorus replete with harmonies! In fact, there's a surprising amount of harmonizing on this record. Producer Jack Endino has called it "Pet Sounds on a budget", but it's a bit louder than that. Still, I don't think I would've expected this much harmonizing back when the Makers were recording albums like Howl.
Everybody Rise could probably be another single. The sing-along chorus actually does remind me of Brian Wilson. Pretty great song. When it really gets going, you realize that, once again, the band is doing exactly what they want on this album.
Run With Me Tonight sounds a bit like a late 60s love song, complete with ba-ba-ba harmonizing. I actually thought of Jan and Dean, which was another surprise. But, it works.
It Takes a Mighty Heart sounds a bit more like the rockers on Psychopathia Sexualis with a very strong gospel content. One can actually picture Mike Maker as the lewdest evangelist since Lux Interior in Hot Pool of Womaneed.
Sex is Evil (When Love is Dead) is another straight-ahead rocker, and could probably be the second single.
Ordinary Human Love sounds like a closing-time song, or even better, a Prince number. I've long said that their song "Texture of a Girl" is a great ballad and this one's pretty good too.
The Story of You and I is another surprisingly poppy number. The whole album sort of plays as the recovery from the Strangest Parade funeral. Don't get me wrong- I think that Strangest Parade was the band's masterpiece. But, it's a tough one. The band was dealing with the deaths of some people who were very close to them. I think the point of this record is that they made it through.
Tiger of the Night actually was a single already and fits the album pretty well. It's also become our cat Lola's theme song. Ti-ti-ta-ta- Tiger of the Night!
She Walks in Color has a great bass groove, which isn't always the highlight of a Makers song. Sort of odd considering the bass player writes the songs. The lyrics reflect the 60s psych influence. "And her heart has eyes/ And her eyes are skies."
Promises for Tomorrow sounds like it should be the closing song.

Goddamn, this is a great album! Why don't those stupid kids who buy every lousy Oasis album listen to this at least once? Why doesn't the radio play any one of these songs? ...Oh right, payola. Anyway, the Makers have got to be the most unappreciated band in America.

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