Electric, catchy, and energetic are just a few words that can be used to describe The Maine’s fifth studio album American Candy. It was released over a year ago and it’s still one of my favorite albums. I’ve been a supporter of The Maine for a long time and it seems as if with every album the band changes up their sound. American Candy met the needs of their already huge fan base and no doubt got some new fans on board. All ten of the tracks are uniquely different but it’s clear they all represent the band’s message of having fun and living life to the fullest. Each of the songs prove that this album was worth the wait.
“English Girls” was the first single from the album that the band released. With the controversial chorus “English girls they just like sex I couldn’t believe when he said I got news for you American boys do too” it is edgier than anything the band previously recorded. It shows how they’ve grown and matured as artists from the early 2011 release of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop.
The title track, “American Candy” is the core of what The Maine’s new sound is all about. Its underlying drum beat pulsates through the listener and surrounds them with sound. It’s the ideal tune to blast through the speakers of your car with the windows down on a brisk Fall day. Another stand out song is “Hair”. The lead singer, John O’Callaghan, has been known to grow his hair out on occasion but this song is actually an empowering anthem. It features the lyrics, “Grow your hair out, let your hair down, while you still can because it’ll fall out you’ll go bald like an old man.” It reminds us not to sweat the small stuff and have fun today because tomorrow is not guaranteed.
My personal favorite on the album is a track called (Un)Lost. It features the lyric, “I’m not looking to be found, I just want to feel (un)lost” which echoes what most teens and young adults today feel. With the struggle of trying to pick a major, take the right classes, and get a good job we just need to be reassured the steps we’re taking are the right ones for our future. This song definitely puts things into perspective that it’s okay to not know what you want to do. Everyone’s been there. Another one of my favorite lyrics from the song is “control what you can confront what you can’t.” It stresses how important it is to realize that we can’t control all aspects of our lives.
Although the guys in The Maine are not girls between the ages of seventeen and twenty-two like most of their listeners, they sure now how to relate to their growing fan base. If you’ve never listened to The Maine, you’re definitely missing out. American Candy is my favorite but it’s just one of their many amazing albums. I’m sure the first time you listen to any of their songs, you’ll be hooked.
