Review: Lovely Little Lonely

Written by Joe on April 6, 2017

Lovely Little Lonely – The Maine

Released April 7, 2017 – 8123

Make America Emo Again.

Since coming off touring for their fifth studio album, 2015’s American Candy, and in preparation for 2016’s Van’s Warped Tour, that has been The Maine’s slogan. That is what The Maine has set out to accomplish with Lovely Little Lonely and that is what they have done. The album is emotional, personal, and intimate.

Lovely Little Lonely is a departure, and a familiarity for the band. The catchy, carefree, almost poppy sounds of American Candy are gone, in fact the only songs barring any similarity are “24 Floors” and “(un) lost.” If you had to compare the album to any of the bands prior work, it sounds more like a continuation, evolution, and matured Forever Halloween. Even then, the album overall is the most unique, complete, and refined release the band has put out. This is an album true to The Maine, and a natural evolution in the direction they were meant to go. This is the album The Maine wanted to create all along, and is their best work.

Upon first listening to the album singles, “Bad Behavior,” “Black Butterflies & Déjà vu,” and “Do You Remember? (the other half of 23),” each song noticeably begins and ends suddenly. After listening to the album it’s apparent why. This album is fluid, and is an album that is meant to be listened to from beginning to end. All 12 tracks bleed and transition into each other perfectly, and the three title tracks “Lovely” “Little” “Lonely” are nicely placed between songs to transition the album beautifully. The title tracks are interludes, mostly instrumental, and feature distant vocals that overall give the listener the feeling of isolation. Leaving you to reflect not only on the album, but on your own life and emotions.

Personally, the most notable songs on the album are “Black Butterflies & Déjà vu,” “Taxi,” and “The Sound of Reverie.” The track numbering of these songs are 4, 5, and 8, nearly following one another sequentially. They best represent the message and story the album tells all on their own. “Black Butterflies & Déjà vu” talks about falling in love for the first time and the emotions and feelings that go along with it, “Taxi” paints an intimate moment of a couple in love in the ‘backseat of a taxi,’ and finally “The Sound of Reverie” highlights the importance of living in the moment and living life without regret.

It’s almost unfair the band’s world tour started about a week before the album release, and fans who went to the early shows won’t get to hear the most beautiful and intimate songs the band has ever written. With each release, the band holds themselves to a higher expectation, and their sixth studio album Lovely Little Lonely is an incredible accomplishment and milestone for the band. It is without a doubt their best work, and marks a new and exciting era for The Maine. Do not miss The Maine on the Lovely Little Lonely World Tour, go to a show, grab a copy of this beautiful album, and read KPSU’s review of The Maine’s show at Portland’s Wonder Ballroom.

Written by Joe Hernandez (@thisisbroseph // Host of KPSU’s All the Singles, Ladies)