MAKER – “Mirrors”
MAKER might not openly admit that it’s strongly influenced by CRIME IN STEREO, but many of the beloved, defunct Long Island band’s hallmarks are all over Mirrors, particular those found on The Troubled Stateside. Beyond rapid-fire drumming and racing guitars, lies an impressive coagulation of harmonies and dual vocal interaction. MAKER’s melodic hardcore/punk sound is inviting, catchy, but colored with a gray glow… a seriousness that that hits with impact, and without the cynicism of a band trying too hard. I can’t get “For Every Mistake I’ve Never Made” out of my head. It’s one of repeat jobs where the song title gets burned succinctly into memory, and I’m sure kids are going to go nuts to that song live. Mirrors was recorded with Jay Maas at Getaway Studios, and the punchy, roaring production suits the band’s style, which at times makes me think of SET YOUR GOALS, with a jolt of East Coast sneer. Not too clean, not too jumpy, but just having an air of ‘let the boys play…’.
