The Maine - XOXO: From Love and Anxiety In Real Time (July 9, 2021) Album • Page 26

Just finished. The record gets better as it goes along, but the second half is GREAT. The run from tracks 5-10 is unreal. High Forever and Lips were the only two I wasn't really that crazy on, but God, the last three tracks are fucking terrific.

 

Oh shit DPB is the JAM

 

I already know Anxiety in Real Time is going to be a new favorite Maine track for me. Absolutely fucking scratches the itch that The Maine did for me on LLL.

 

It’s INSANE what this band has done over the course of the last 12-15 years lol

 

They are capable of so much more too - at least based on where some of these songs go

 

When he says “I know” the first time…wowweeee and that guitar

 

Anxiety in Real Time makes me wanna cry. Lol. And I’m in a good mood.

 

Their career spans my entire military career. I know each album based on where I was at the time, what I was going through… literally no other band has been like that for me during this time of my life. I always said Finch was my favorite band, but I really think it may be this band at this time
In my life.

 

This is definitely more of LLL’s counterpart than YAO - that second half stretch is pretty close to perfect

 

It’s a pretty fast 32 minutes - holy shit - need a few bonus tracks or something lol

 

On that note, they've legit played several full songs on pillar that are demos that could easily fit on this album, pretty sure it sounds like they are already working on 9, this record has been done for 7+ months according to Pat

 

the backhalf of this album while high is on some other shiiiiiitttttt

 

The only tracks I’m not enamored with are the two “ballads” at the heart of the record. Not bad just there.

 

First impression is to rank this below Lovely, American Candy, and Pioneer, but above Can't Stop, Forever Halloween, and Black & White. I think I like it about as much as You Are OK for different reasons. The best songs from XOXO are better than the best songs from YAO, but I think YAO is a better album conceptually. I'll have to think about it.

 

I’m so far away from any real decision with that stuff lol

 

Shoulda called this whole thing DPB to go with LLL and YAO

 

I hope they push what they're going for on DPB with future releases. Would loooooove to see them break radio.

 

Do they have any production creds on this? Seems like they are really pushing that side of things (at least John from a few interviews/podcasts I’ve seen/heard)

 

DPB has John/The Maine listed as the producer. I haven’t checked the other tracks.

 

I definitely need to go to 8123 fest next year

 

This is so damn good. Wish I wouldn’t have burnt out the singles, but I blame the long rollout for that. I’m shocked at how much this keep band keeps maturing and trying out new sounds with each release. They’re sooooo close to a mainstream breakthrough. They’ve put in the work and did this on their terms. It’s so refreshing to a experience a piece of work like this for the first time.

Dirty, Pretty, Beautiful and Anxiety in Real Time are my immediate favorites. DPB better be a single!!

Bravo gentlemen. You did it yet again.

 

Been very clear for a while this would be a run at radio, and I gotta hand it to them for playing it as smart as they always do — Sticky has done well for them, and saving the other obvious singles for the actual album cycle rather than the rollout was the right move. High Forever and DPB will do numbers, and the band deserves it.

Bummed to say the record’s not for me though, haha. Aside from some impressive production moments and a lot of actually stunning guitar tones, I have a hard time seeing myself going back to this

 

It's an absolute jam right! Completely agree.

Actually wish more of the album was in this vein.

 

Sorry for the double post but I can already tell this will be coming out in 2nd place for me in The Maine's discography (to no one's surprise LLL is 1st). The middle half dips a bit for me but the start and end is

@Jason Tate curious what your thoughts on the album?

 

Agree with the popular opinion that the last 3 songs are absolutely brilliant. I just wish the whole record was a bit longer