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“What is Mae?” is a question that was posed to the group since the beginning of their musical endeavors; technically speaking, Mae refers to a “multisensory aesthetic experience," a phrase coined by drummer Jacob Marshall while studying music at Old Dominion University. In layman’s terms, Mae is good. Well known for their brand of what some would call “power-pop," Mae’s uplifting melodies and soothing vocals have been the backbone of their success, and have created a strong following. The longevity sustained in the life of Mae is a rare case in an “indie pop” world flooded with one hit wonders and “come and go” artists, and the quality music that has flowed from the creative group is even rarer. Fans simply adored their previous venture, “The Everglow” and truth be told, “Singularity” does have a lot to live up to. “Singularity” marks a new beginning for the group, this being their debut record under their new home at Capitol Records.
Instrumental dynamics create a notable difference between “Singularity” and “The Everglow”. While the former was known for its keyboard-driven songs, “Singularity” cranks up the guitars and bass. Tracks such as “Brink of Disaster” and “Sometimes I Can’t Make It Alone” can be classified as anthems, and will definitely serve as new fan favorites. While guitars are more aggressive, when combined with the signature smooth vocals of Dave Elkin, they blend to create the perfect fusion of pop and rock. As always, production is top notch, and despite the switch from Tooth and Nail’s Aaron Sprinkle (Anberlin, Thousand Foot Krutch, Dead Poetic) to producer Howard Benson, Mae’s “sound” remains untarnished and true to their roots. Those who enjoyed the mellower tracks found on “The Everglow” need not worry, as “Singularity” does have its softer moments with “Release Me” and “On Top." On the downside, while “The Everglow” was epic, “Singularity” is merely good. Realizing this complaint isn’t with the album itself, but rather a failure to meet extremely high expectations, “Singularity” is far from a letdown. A few songs do seem to serve as “fillers," songs that fans would rather see released as B-Sides instead of actual album tracks.
In a nutshell, “Singularity” is a must have for any fan, and is sure to sell just as well, if not better than previous releases. Realizing bands' sounds evolve and change with time, one cannot be critical of the album solely based on “how good” the previous was. However, it does seem that Mae could probably have done even better. Regardless, it's another solid release for music enthusiasts to check out.
| Production | 9 | | Lyrics | 8 | | Message | 4 | | Overall Quality
8 |
Release Date: August 14, 2007
Label: Capitol Records
Track Listing
1. Brink of Disaster
2. Crazy 8's
3. Sometimes I Can't Make It Alone
4. Just Let Go
5. On Top
6. Waiting
7. Sic Semper Tyrannis
8. Release Me
9. Telescopes
10. Rocket
11. Home
12. Reflections
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