The Maine - Can't Stop, Won't Stop

Rating

single starsingle star

RIYL

The All American Rejects
Relient K
Hit The Lights
Rooney

Tracklist

1. Everything I Ask For
2. We All Roll Along
3. Girls Do What They Want
4. I Must Be Dreaming
5. Into Your Arms
6. Time To Go
7. This Is The End
8. Whoever She Is
9. Count ‘Em One, Two, Three
10. Kiss and Sell
11. You Left Me
12. We’ll All Be

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With the release of their debut EP in December of last year, The Maine created quite a stir among the tweens in tight jeans scene and displayed certain qualities that could just about put them ahead of the pack in the already oversaturated genre of pop punk. Half a year has passed; the pop punk handbook is faded and dog-eared, the same song has been written a thousand times over, synths are in, originality is out, and The Maine have lost all that made them attention worthy. Gone are the shimmery guitars, the indie-pop edge that gave them that little something extra, and we’re left with well produced yawnfests.

Perhaps prolonged exposure to all that’s sugary sweet has made me somewhat cynical but, disregarding the catchiness of tracks like “Girls Do What They Want” and “Everything I Ask For”, there really isn’t much that will make a listener want to return to this disc in a hurry. The majority of the album just lacks anything of substance, and follows a formula already done to death. The lyrics are even worse than on the EP: “I’ll state something rash / She had the most amazing... smile / I bet you didn’t expect that.” I kid you not, squire.

A pop album should have you reaching for repeat after almost every track, to relive the hook, but aside from the aforementioned “Girls Do What They Want” and a couple of others (and ‘couple’ is pushing it) the remainder have you wondering how long is left.

If not for the feel-good, acoustic singalong nature of “I Must Be Dreaming” and the shining light dalliance with folk on album closer “We’ll All Be”, which tries valiantly to lift the album but is far too late to the party, Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop would probably be a one listen and shelved deal. It breaks my technicolour heart to have to say it, but this release is but another drop in the pop ocean, and quite frankly, I’m tired of swimming.

--Alex Davies

Last updated: 09/29/2009 09:00PM

Comments

rustycage
08/01/2008
08:03AM
I agree, their EP was enjoyable, especially the Akon cover, but this is just boring, plus, I'm not 20 anymore and when a pop record reminds you of your age, well... it has something wrong in it.
Jose Terrero
08/01/2008
09:55AM
Location
New York
I hope they stop.


or at least get better.



Cold Showers for Stereology
http://coldshowersforstereology.blogspot.com/

ShaneMatthew
08/01/2008
10:37AM
Location
Lakeland, FL
this album is currently in my top 20 for 2008. serious.

[FONT=Trebuchet MS]i can no longer apologize for what i hold most dear and with humility i attempt to live my life with a sincerity that can bridge gaps

Originally Posted by siege_engine
I disagree with almost every review Shane Matthew has written.
[/FONT]

AbsentTruth
08/01/2008
11:09AM
Location
PA
I do like the EP more but I don't understand all the negativity floating around this album. I like it.



Mike Duchnowsky
08/01/2008
11:38AM
Age: 27
Location
West Haven, CT
OMG this is the best Cd to have come out in the last 10 years.
These guys just made a new music genera.
I only like these guys now, everything else fucking sucks.
I'm getting my "The Maine" tattoo next weekend.
I can't wait xox0x0x0x0xxoxoxo

The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.

Fundamental
08/01/2008
12:18PM
Age: 25
Location
Pueblo, CO
That seemed borderline sarcastic.
tim
08/01/2008
03:14PM
Age: 28
Location
Green Brook, NJ
this band sounds exactly like what you would get if you mixed relient k and starting line (2007+ tsl) in a blender. but it's good.
HEARTandSYNAPSE
08/01/2008
05:06PM
Location
Manchester, England
i cannot win with this site.

rustycage
08/01/2008
05:08PM
hahahaha

well,I agree with you this time.
Chris Conlan
08/01/2008
06:14PM
Age: 27
Location
Dubuque
Fan of the band, but this album didn't really do much for me. The songs they had on their MySpace page way before the EP came out is what the band should've stuck with.

Facebook / MySpace

View Chris Conlan's profile on LinkedIn

moat211
08/01/2008
07:03PM
Location
raleigh
I like your closing sentence of the review. Quite witty dear sir.
Mike Duchnowsky
08/01/2008
09:29PM
Age: 27
Location
West Haven, CT
tim
this band sounds exactly like what you would get if you mixed relient k and starting line (2007+ tsl) in a blender.

Yes and it's bad, Really bad.
This is going on my worst list of Cds in the 08.

The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.

monkeybars
08/03/2008
08:47AM
Age: 25
Location
Markham, ON
Another band where I don't need to wait for the music to load up on their MySpace page to know what they sound like.

P.S. This is what the alphabet would look like if you removed Q and R.

tim
08/07/2008
11:28AM
Age: 28
Location
Green Brook, NJ
i actually bought this cd. it makes its rounds in my cd player. it's not that bad.