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Review by Laura Hamlett
May 01, 2009
http://www.playbackstl.com/content/view/8725/157/
The music's ethereal, uplifting, wandering, the words caught on the uplift of a breeze, carrying you along.
I know. You're sitting there scratching your head. Just who is Maclean? Have you heard of them? No, no...you don't think that you have.
But I'm going to do you a favor now and tell you that you must. Maclean is a band that instantly rewards listeners with its own brand of inviting, accessible indie pop. The music's ethereal, uplifting, wandering, the words caught on the uplift of a breeze, carrying you along. Can you see the meadow, the lush grass and waving flowers? Can you smell the air? Maclean will take you there.
Disc opener "See" is almost Bloc Party-ish in its intensity; drums keep a quick beat beneath strings and the syrupy smooth vocals of Denver Harris. You'll think of Doves maybe, of Chin Up Chin Up or +/-. Familiar yet refreshing, it's hard to compare.
The pace slows on the next two tracks, "When I Saw Her Twirl" and "Failure of the Positively Good Man." The former is adrift in a sea of strings and piano, and a gently loping beat beneath Harris's smooth delivery. There's almost a '70s throwback to the latter, and I mean that in the best possible way: it's smooth pop music, pure and oh, so simple.
A stripped-down piano introduces the next song. As Harris intones, "We can be much better people," you'll feel yourself beginning to embrace the idea of interconnectedness. Following a 30-second meandering keyboard lead-in to "Fee Fi Fo Fum," Harris pleads, "Tell me/ tell me that I'm not alone." Intricately layered instruments weave a foundation of percussion, guitar and keys, throwing the odd time signature into the mix to keep things really interesting.
The title track's a slow burner until the orchestra of instruments rises up, Harris's voice swelling above them. There's a folky edge to "Don't Forget," proving that layered indie-pop isn't all this quartet is capable of. This one, too, is a song of the outdoors, a song of swelling hearts drenched in gentle sunshine. Following the upbeat, WOXY-ready "Lighthouses Lighthouses Lighthouses," "Conversations" captures the magic in the mundane: "Everybody's up in the morning/ we're making breakfast for too many people/ I guess it's enough to go around/ just take your pick." Once again, an aching violin creates a beautiful bridge.
The upbeat and oddly named "Off My Mind/Everett" inspires toe-tapping before giving way to the meandering "Paper Courage." A guitar winds a nearly two-and-a-half-minute path toward discovery before allowing violins and then vocals to intercede. This one may conjure Margot & the Nuclear So and So's: thoughtful, gently delivered lines, creative instrumentation, control giving way to cacophony. Disc closer "Oh To Be" is a seven-minute epic which finds Harris promising, "It's getting harder, it's getting tough/ but all the searching ends tonight." A fitting sentiment, that, for this expedition we've just been on.
Exploration, self-discovery, unity, comfort: all of it's right here, captured in a digital file downloadable to your computer. Now that's what I call a technological breakthrough of the highest order. A | Laura Hamlett
RIYL: The Shins' indie pop, Bloc Party's mellower moments, Coldplay's soothing side
Review by Crislana Rafael
May 27, 2009
http://www.youthink.ca/yt/music/maclean-talker#ixzz0Yh5qKKRY
Maclean will get people talking.
When piecing together a song, an artist often places more emphasis on one of either two things: music or lyrics. However, Maclean’s latest release Talker successfully employs a balance between the two elements. While their Coldplay-like sound has gradually matured since their 2007 freshman album, Hang this on Your Wall, their lyrical storytelling has also come a long way. The endpoint is an album with a contemplative mellow sound sparking thought and lyrics that will surely ignite conversation.
Crislana’s fave track: Much Better People
Review by NewMusikPower
July 03, 2009
http://numusikpower.blogspot.com/2009/07/maclean-talker-2009.html
I was able to listen to a lot of new music during my vacation but i have to admit that this release from Vancouver, BC Canadian native band Maclean was always the album i was going back to. Talker is Macleans 2nd following their 2007 Hang This On Your Wall that was very well received.
On this latest effort our Canadians boys went all the way! From Interpol guitar sounds to Coldplay style ballads, this album is a true proof of their evolution as a band. Solid lyrics accompagnied by great music. This album is definetly the Top Canadian Indie release of the year, and most probably the best of 2009. Be the lookout for these guys in your neighborhood as i will for sure!
Review by Matthew
September 04, 2009
http://www.iheartmusic.net/serendipity/index.php?/archives/1669-Talk-about-and-listen-to-Talker.html
I know it's incredibly clichéd to complain about a band not being bigger than they are, but when it comes to Maclean, it seems like the most appropriate thing to say. After all, their most recent album, Talker, is incredibly good. Plain and simple, I can't think of many albums I've heard this year that are better put together, and while I can certainly understand that there are plenty of people out there who don't have a thing for catchy, accessible, radio-ready rock, I would have thought that there'd be substantially more people who do, just from a sheer numbers perspective. I mean, not to say Maclean necessarily sounds like either of these bands (or to comment on the relative quality of either act), but Coldplay has a lot more fans than, say, Wolf Parade
Of course, it probably doesn't help Maclean's cause that there are a million bands out there trying to hit the radio. Nor are they aided much by the fact they have the most horrendously bland name I've heard in awhile. But honestly, when I hear songs like "When I Saw Her Twirl" and "Paper Courage", none of that really matters. All that I care about is that the band knows how to write incredibly gorgeous, expansive epics that never sound empty or soulless, that frontman Denver Harris knows how to sing in a way which reflects that and, above all else, that Talker has twelve songs, not one of which is anything less than totally engaging.
Again, I understand that it's possible for people to not like this kind of music. Heck, I can't remember the last time I watched MuchMusic or listened to the radio, so I share in that instinct much of the time. But it boggles my mind that Maclean don't even show up on Hype Machine, because I'd have thought that an album as outstanding as theirs would get some kind of notice by someone at some point in the last seven months. But it hasn't, so all I can do is urge you to stop what you're doing (wait 'til this sentence is over, though) and go buy Talker. I guarantee you won't regret it.
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