Concert Review: Maximo Park

Maximo Park
July 16, 2007
Double Door - Chicago
@@@@

I’m not sure how many things can count as “one of the best,” but without getting too analytical about it, Maximo Park are clearly one of the best of the current wave of Britpop bands. Their 2005 debut album, “A Certain Trigger” is one of my favorite albums of the last few years, and though their newest disc, “Our Earthly Pleasures” isn’t as great, it’s still quite enjoyable.

With their music being more angular and quirky than rousing and anthemic, their live performance proved to be similarly more enjoyable than spectacular. But they have a boatload of good songs, a few great ones and an affable lead singer in Paul Smith. Throw in two good opening bands – The Oohlas and Monsters Are Waiting, both female-fronted American bands I hadn’t previously heard of – and a place to sit at the Double Door, and I really have nothing to complain about. So I guess that makes for a @@@@ show.