Maritime
We, the Vehicles

THE REVIEW

The second album by Maritime has been released. I decided I would write the review, even if I didn't like it. Then I decided I liked the album. Finally, I listened to the album. The cover of a CD is an important thing, in these times of rampant file-sharing like ours. So this album, even before pressing play, starts off well. Even better if you think about where these people have played. No need to mention names: you all know them, all those who (by now) during college days regretted not being (yet) American college students, preferably from Milwaukee, to better enjoy the gift of the Promise Ring. Ok, a mention—I can't keep it to myself—for Cap'N Jazz improvising live "Take On Me"... yes, the common thread that holds these disjointed lines together is the affection for the guys, don't ask me to be impartial.

The songs: there are 13 of them, and they alternate between exciting moments and others where, sure, you wait until the end for a justification; moments of emotion and others of pure pop joy. I'll start with the last one because "Call Me Home" strikes me with its sweetness, a simple guitar riff that invites you to close your eyes for a while. "Calm," the opener, strikes me less, as it is so "Maritime" that it ends up being just a bit predictable. Maybe it's a merit, not living in the past, a new identity is needed. And it's a pop identity, no doubt about it. Just listen to "Turning Up The Oxygene" to understand it, to enjoy the electronic inserts that remind me more of the best local Max than Grandaddy. And those guitars soaked in effects. And that little chorus that worms its way into your brain. Wow. Next is the track that gives the album its name, and there must be a reason for it: a fantastic alternation of musically sparse parts—just a crystal-clear but essential guitar—and exuberant parts, moments of sublime power pop, without forgetting, in the end, to always be maritime. Just a moment, then straight into the offbeat rhythm of "Parade Of Punk Rock T-shirts," which the title alone takes five years off my life, so I arrive in one breath to "Protein And Poison" that is almost wave. A moment of serenity please, I would like to close the circle with "Call Me Home."

The moment lasts four minutes...