CD Reviews

Mae

Singularity | Capitol

By MIKAEL WOOD | August 7, 2007

2.5 Stars

Hard-touring heavyweights on the Christian emo scene, Virginia Beach–based Mae play catchy, pretty pop-rock perfect for kids whose parents won’t let them wear their Death Cab for Cutie T-shirts to Sunday school. Singularity is the band’s major-label debut after two big-selling indie discs, and though it certainly bears the evidence of a slick, big-budget production job by Howard Benson (the bubblegrunge baron behind Daughtry), the album’s streamlined guitar roar and precision-geared melodic hooks aren’t a real departure for Mae — these guys have sounded like pros since they started. That’s no knock: like Billy Corgan back before he wanted to be in Pantera, frontman Dave Elkins has a knack for pairing whiny sensitive-dude vocals with twisty-turny riffs that never seem to stop unfolding. With its micro-managed licks-within-licks, opener “Brink of Disaster” could be an outtake from Siamese Dream, whereas the deliciously strummy “Just Let Go” is a “Tonight, Tonight” for melancholy MySpace mavens.

Mae + As Tall as Lions + Dear and the Headlights | Middle East Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge | August 15 | 617. 864.EAST

Topics: CD Reviews , Billy Corgan, Death Cab for Cutie, Pantera, More

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