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Rating: Maxïmo Park return to the music scene, a year after their successful debut "A Certain Trigger", with this "Missing Songs".
The album is not a work composed of unreleased tracks, but rather a collection of b-sides that were included in the singles released from the first album. Previously launched in Japan with a different track list, "Missing Songs" is intended almost exclusively for fans of the British group eager to own everything, absolutely everything, from the still slender discography of Smith and company.
On a stylistic-musical level, in fact, no new developments or surprises are found in the (still good) compositions of the British band. It should be noted, however, that the quality level, considering it's primarily material not included in "main" studio releases, is more than decent.
Already the first song, "A-19", opens with decisive and present guitars, exactly reflecting the typical Maxïmo Park composition style, even in the lyrics that, as always, betray the love of leader Paul Smith for literature (particularly Russian literature, according to him).
A beautiful and brief cover of John Lennon, "Isolation", originally included in the solo work of the ex-beatle "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band", stands out from the group, as does "Fear Of Falling", probably the best song left out from the two albums released so far. The verse and the melodic turn of the piece are beautiful, truly a waste not to have included it in an album of unreleased tracks.
"My Life In Reverse", placed between the two aforementioned numbers, seems to move away from the characteristic "nervous" style of Smith and company's compositions to reach more "linear" and reassuring shores (à la Snow Patrol, if you will). It continues with more rhythmic pieces in line with Smith's thoughts ("I Want You To Leave", "A Year Of Doubt") and more thoughtful and polished things ("Trial And Error") or even acoustic ("Stray Talk").
After "Hammer Horror", which anticipates the less immediate sounds contained in the recent "Our Earthly Pleasures", we find at the end three demo versions of "Apply Some Pressure", "Graffiti", and "Once, A Glimpse".
Published by the legendary Warp and produced by the talented Paul Epworth, "Missing Songs" is a valid and interesting work, recommended (as already mentioned) especially to those who closely follow the musical ventures of the British group.
Well done, Maxïmo Park.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 A19 (02:19)
A footbridge calls out, dull metal moans as we clamber over
Paint is repelled and bronze grips hard
I can't touch such an ugly surface
250 miles away, you need money to spread your wings
Each town must bear a name
A lasting testament to organization
Sobbing and Sighing
The scales are falling from your eyes
Green metal grows, towers toppling
They tore it down before I took my picture
A19, I can't settle down
The same attitude engulfs this country
My only aspirations were those held on an A4 printout
But those word weren't in my repertoire
You can't cling to a reputation
Sobbing and Sighing
The scales are falling from your eyes
Tossing and Turning
The truth should come as no surprise
A continent could fall tonight
And it would have no impact on our lives
It's okay to love the way that something looks
Just be sure beneath it something hooks
(repeat)
02 Isolation (01:14)
People say we've got it made.
Don't they know we're so afraid?
Isolation
We're afraid to be alone.
Everybody's got to get a home.
Isolation
Just a boy and a little girl.
Trying to change the whole wide world.
Isolation
The world is just a little town.
Everybody's trying to pull us down.
Isolation
I don't expect you to understand,
After you caused so much pain.
But then again,
you're not to blame,
you're just a human.
We're afraid of everyone.
We're afraid of the sun.
Isolation
They say we'll never dissapear.
The world may not have many years.
Isolation
04 Fear of Falling (02:36)
I, I hope that I can,
I think that I can,
I know that I can, reverse,
Reverse the damage,
The damage I've done to you
And I, I think I found you,
I know I saw you,
I think I found you, I think,
It's all you need,
And I wanted to look back at you
The tension snaps
Your love is good for me,
We never over-reached,
For fear of falling
I, I saw you enter, entertaining,
Repeating your difference,
A gap in time,
And you forgot your lines again
Wanting to know you,
But I'm always late,
And I had to give you back
You know that I lie,
Dead in the water,
A game of hide and seek
The tension snaps
Your love is good for me,
We never over-reached,
For fear of falling
Your love, you know that it's good for me,
We nearly over-reached,
My signal is failing
Your love, you know that it's good for me
The same old roads,
The same old bricks,
The same old faces that you hate
The same old roads,
The same old bricks,
The same old faces that you hate
06 A Year of Doubt (02:01)
I wait behind the factory gates for you
To finish off your shift
Irate because you're losing faith
Fortune is said to favour the brave
Are you bored or are you blind
Beware the contents of your mind
I wait to find a different race if so
Then will not compete
My pain is worth no more than yours
In time we give up on ourselves
Simple life is not an option
Try to define the word 'satisfaction'
I wait behind the factory gates for you
To finish off your shift
Solitary confinement never sounded so good
You said that you were speechless
And God I wish you were
Too late to gather in the sails
Commit I face a year of doubt
Stand up to what we both despise
Forlorn is that we find a friend
Never pya to be complacent
Nature will always choose a replacement
I wait behind the factory gates for you
To finish off your shift
Irate because you're losing faith
Fortune is said to favour the brave
Are you bored or are you blind
Beware the contents of your mind
I wait behind the factory gates for you
To finish off your shift
Solitary confinement never sounded so good
You said that you were speechless
And God I wish you were
I wait behind the factory gates for you
To finish off your shift
I wait behind the factory gates
08 Stray Talk (02:47)
It's dark but I don't want to find the light
And I can't close my eyes
The only one you really trust
Is the one who always lets you down
It's not my place to give advice
When all I've done was make mistakes
I didn't mean to tell you everything
And anyway, well it's too late in the day
Stray talk all alone
Swinging out of view
I'm flailing round the room
And I'm staring out at you
Don't burn your hand when you turn out the light
Your cheek is turning red
You always wake me with your warmth
And your arms wrapped around my neck
The broken silence lasts for seconds
And normal service is resumed
I didn't mean to tell you anything
And anyhow, well it's too soon for that now
Stray talk all alone
Swinging out of view
Well I'm flailing round the room
And I'm staring out at you
You sat there looking like a prize
So I went back on what I'd said
And now we're both left out to dry
Put out to sea and left to drift
We're drifting out to sea
We're drifting out to sea
You said the leaves are like that day
And now they're dead and charred
Stray talk all alone
Swinging in and out of view
Well I'm flailing round the room
And I'm staring out at you
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