Make Do and Mend

Make Do and Mend: Everything You Ever LovedEverything You Ever Loved (2012)
Rise Records

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: BryneBryne
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on June 22nd 2012Make Do And Mend's 2010 debut full-length End Measured Mile turned a lot of heads in both directions. While many (including this writer) praised it as a triumph from a young band realizing their potential, others mourned its existence, perceiving as a downgrade from their excellent Bodies of Water E.

Make Do And Mend's 2010 debut full-length End Measured Mile turned a lot of heads in both directions. While many (including this writer) praised it as a triumph from a young band realizing their potential, others mourned its existence, perceiving as a downgrade from their excellent Bodies of Water EP. Most of that guff was the result of a slightly more streamlined approach to modern post-hardcore. It's a puzzling argument, because those seeds have always been there, even going back to We're All Just Living; MDAM have quickly gotten comfortable in their own skin, and their sound more assured as a result. Their new album, Everything You Ever Loved, likely won't satiate fans pining for Bodies of Water II, but it's still a mostly solid effort--even if it's not a huge step up from End Measured Mile.

As stated less explicitly above, MDAM's take on post-hardcore has always been laced with accessibility. That doesn't change on this album. One noticeable shift on Everything You Ever Loved is away from heaviness. The intricacies of first and second tracks "Blur" and "Disassemble" are wildly different from the brute forces that were "Unknowingly Strong" and "Oak Square," trading dense power chords for more austere arrangements. In the case of "Disassemble," the band truly do more with less, and the style works, largely due to the guitar work of Mike O'Toole and James Carroll. The escalating intensity of "Count" highlights the band's progress as musicians as well, especially that of drummer Matt Carroll.

"St. Anne" and "Drown In It" venture into softer territory, with an orchestral backing. It's an interesting backdrop for a band that's so typically aggressive and a mostly successful experiment, even though these momentary directional shifts will probably turn off even more listeners. Same goes for the straight-up poppiness of "Stay in the Sun" and the balladesque distance of closer "Desert Lily." If anything, it's impossible to claim the band aren't trying new things.

Everything You Ever Loved isn't a perfect album, but it is a perfect snapshot of where Make Do And Mend are right now in their career. Gaining traction within and outside of the punk scene, and with a label like Rise backing them, it's likely they'll gain 10 new fans for every one alienated. They're probably okay with that.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Barmin (July 5, 2012)

Album of the year for me

sweetsugarpezz (June 22, 2012)

I can see this album being one that will grow on me, but after giving it 5 or so spins, I still haven't connected to this like the band's previous work. Everything up to Bodies of Water was spectacular and End Measured Mile was damn good in its own right. I can see what they are trying to do, and really I applaud any attempt to break the mold of previous work, however this just seems a bit to glossy and a bit forced in places. This is by no means a bad record and much better than most of the shit out there. Oh, and I hate to be that guy but the cover is weak, what is this Dashboard Confessional?

I may be in the minority here, but I just can't seem to help myself continue to compare these guys to Polar Bear Club. In my opinion, both bands started with such brute force and set bars so high with such stellar early work, each release just seemed to lose steam a bit more than the previous. That may sound harsh, but there is no doubt PBC's Clash Battle Guilt Pride doesn't rile me up like Redder, Better and Sometimes Things... much like this (up to this point) hasn't grabbed me like MDAM's earlier stuff.

With all that said, these guys are rad dudes and any success is greatly warranted. I just wish I saw them live a few more times in the intimate settings, now that I can imagine the larger venues they will be playing and most likely filling.

telegraphrocks (June 22, 2012)

I hated their last album, but still gave this one a shot.

... I hate this one just as much.

clcsqueejy04 (June 22, 2012)

I adored EMM. I don't think this album has as many solid tracks as EMM does, but all in all, after a couple listens or so, I began enjoying it immensely. However, after spinning it quite a few times more, I've kind of just stuck to listening to the tracks I really enjoy on it: Stay in the Sun, Hide Away, and Desert Lily. I still think it's a pretty good album though, and not straying much from the sound they'd already been developing.

Thumbs (June 22, 2012)

Really boring / bland.
Thumbs down.

llmp (June 22, 2012)

I loved Bodies of Water, but thought EMM was really weak. However, I'm really enjoying this album. It's still no Bodies of Water, but it's substantially better than EMM in just about every way but heaviness. And if I want that I'll go listen to something else.

overdefined (June 22, 2012)

"As good a marriage one's gonna get from 'Futures' and 'Caution' but better." As long as you consider those albums to be good and not bands past their prime and too streamlined.

hashbrowns (June 22, 2012)

I really enjoy "stay in the sun", for as poppy as it is.

fattony (June 22, 2012)

I'm enjoying this more than I thought I would based on those first tracks they put out.

EchosMyron (June 22, 2012)

This sounds more like Three Doors Down than anything related to punk.

carryon (June 22, 2012)

Great album! I give it a 9/10 and see it as one of the best albums this year! MDAM are on the rise, rapidly progressing as a band, which is exciting to witness. I view this album as a definite upgrade; there's improved songwriting, the musicianship is better, and the vocals are better. It's a dynamic and diverse album, incorporating a variety of elements. The songs are well put together and range from slow to mid tempo to a faster pace. It's not as "hard" or fast as some fans may prefer, but definitely still carries a ton of passion! Overall, it feels like a complete and well-arranged record........one that exceeded my expectations!

Blackjaw_ (June 22, 2012)

Good album, but not as good as their others. It has more hooks, but the lyrics are a huge step down in my opinion.

Betteroffskankin (June 22, 2012)

Incredibly powerful album.

inagreendase (June 22, 2012)

No way. This smokes everything they've done and it's just as passionate. Fantastic flow, still has urgency, a good bed of guitar tones... As good a marriage one's gonna get from 'Futures' and 'Caution' but better.

aubin (June 22, 2012)

Really good stuff. As the review says, not a huge change from the last album but I liked that one a lot too so I can't complain.

overdefined (June 22, 2012)

Who cares about labels? It doesn't mean what it did in the 80s or 90s. Get over it already.

insinceredave (June 22, 2012)

Good review, though I did feel the comment "Gaining traction within and outside of the punk scene, and with a label like Rise backing them, it’s likely they’ll gain 10 new fans for every one alienated. They’re probably okay with that." didn't fit the tone of the rest of the review. It came off a little petulant.

keithybobeefy (June 22, 2012)

I've heard two songs off of this (I think they promoted them here) and I really like them. I haven't heard the whole album (yeah, it's up for stream but whatever) but I'm pretty sure I'll buy it tomorrow. They are really good.

ak3punk (June 22, 2012)

I love it. Can't get enough. I wasn't sure what to expect when they were previewing tracks a few weeks prior to the release. Now that I can hear it as a whole I can say that I am without a doubt loving it.

renaldo69 (June 22, 2012)

this is a good band but they've done better. this isnt that bad though

lukabratzi (June 22, 2012)

it's no end measured mile but its pretty solid from the little I've listened to it.

MN_DrNick (June 22, 2012)

I'm really trying with this one. I really like the band, but this album just sounds/feels really uninspired and boring.