Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

Mae - Destination: B-Sides (Cover Artwork)

Mae

Destination: B-Sides (2004)
Tooth & Nail Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: greg0rb
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on January 21st 2005

Destination: Stopgap release. To quote the band and their Tooth & Nail bio: "'It’s been about one and a half years since Destination: Beautiful, so we felt that it would be awesome to give our fans something new while they await our new album,' explains Mae keyboardist Rob Sweitzer of the project.”

How do you put out a B-sides album when you only have one proper studio album to draw from? Well, I guess you beef it up with alternate takes and live tracks. As I understand it (correct me if I’m wrong), a B-side is typically a song that was recorded in the same studio session as an album, but left off the album for one reason or another, typically to be the “B-side” to a vinyl single’s “A-side”. Now, I don’t own their album Destination: Beautiful, but from the research I’ve done, it seems that only three tracks on Destination: B-Sides are actually B-sides from the previous album, with only one other unreleased track, which is live. The rest are remixes and acoustic and live versions of album songs. This release even has the two identical final tracks as their previous, and the song “This Time is the Last Time” appears twice here as well as “Sun,” so basically the band has released each of these songs in three different forms in their brief existence. I can’t think of anything this bad since Face to Face with “Disconnected!” (Remember that? Heh. Great song, though.)

Despite the silly concept of this release, let’s examine the actual songs here, shall we? “This Time Is The Last Time (Remix)” opens the disc and is pretty enjoyable with bumpin’ bass and drums and some cool effects. “Futuro” is live and not previously released; it also happens to be one of my favorites here, from its dancy beats to its atmospheric feel to its smooth synth lines. It also happens to be instrumental. Maybe it was nice to have a track without the painfully harmless and breathy voice of Dave Elkin.

I was very impressed by the piano intro on “Sun (Live).” Sure it’s piano, but saying “that guy can shred” would be appropriate. I have a feeling the intro was elongated live, because the track goes for over two minutes with just piano before the band comes in. The vocals are flat in parts throughout the song, but it’s live so I can forgive a bit.

As for the by-definition B-sides, “Suspension” is a driving rocker, more rocking, I feel, than the other tracks I have heard off Beautiful, those being “Summertime” and “Embers And Envelopes.” Hearing this album full of alternate versions left me wondering what the band actually sounds like, but for those of you who don’t know, they are what I will call maybe a “happy emo band,” for they are not overly depressing and they don’t hit as many of the genre’s clichés, but they are also very non-threatening and mainstream-sounding. They could fit in easily next to Dave Matthews on any mix; nevertheless, I liked that particular song. “Tisbury Lane” is lighter with just guitar and vocals for 2 ½ minutes, but stays light even when the band joins; a ballad. “Awakening” is another ballad, like something off Ben Fold’s solo stuff, that being piano-based with some acoustic guitar. I was not as big a fan of those slower two B-sides.

Does this band have die-hard fans yet? If so, I guess buy this. If you’re not one of them don’t bother. I think Mae stands for Multisensory Aesthetic Experience, at least that’s their copyright name. Funny stuff.

Login to rate this album

Please login or register to post comments.

What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Anonymous (May 7, 2006)

i rise against punk fools.

Anonymous (March 27, 2005)

people, please be realistic here. its ok but its not that good. they even repeat 2 songs twice which was a terrible move. this album is fun at first but has such a short shelf life. dont get carried away dishing out 5 star reviews because that seriously jeopodises your integrity. T

Anonymous (March 1, 2005)

To appreciate Mae, you must know music. I will admit that their producer is incredible, but this band has real talent as well. This album, although a questionable concept, is good. "Futuro" is instrumental with some weird sounds coming out of there, but it delivers a catchy line nonetheless. Although "This Time is the Last Time" is overdone, at least the remix sounds completely different from the recorded and live versions. And listen to "Tisbury Lane." Whether you like the song or not, you can't deny that the bass in that song is badass. So all the haters out there need to chill. If you don't like catchy music that sounds like emo-pop, if you will, then don't listen to it. But don't hate either. Isn't there enough of that around the world? Let's not bring it into the music scene too.

Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

screw all of you. just because you have no love for Mae you don't have to leave crappy comments about how "emo" they are. they're a good christian band trying to make it so stop putting them down. not only that they're freaking awesome live so screw you.

Anonymous (February 8, 2005)

Good release, like it a lot..

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

I really wasn't aware that they were even big enough to be "rated" at all...

Anonymous (January 24, 2005)

this is probably the most overrated band in music.

Anonymous (January 23, 2005)

"i speak for every1....hahahaha"

with spelling like that, no you don't

Anonymous (January 23, 2005)

Dude, all emo is B-sides. Fuck that....H-sides....

Anonymous (January 23, 2005)

" May music that actually says something, like propagandhi."

i speak for every1....hahahaha

Anonymous (January 22, 2005)

This is the biggest pile of crap i have seen in a long time. This band thinks they are the beatles or something. Was a "b sides" album really necessary guys? Heres a concept, how about instead of thinking of 300 different ways that the bald keyboard player can tinker with all of his electronic crap-rock toys, you work on new material and give the fans something besides rehashed horse dung. Or better yet, just stop. Please just stop the insanity. May music that actually says something, like propagandhi.

Anonymous (January 22, 2005)

Don't know anything about Mae, but damn that new Grant Olney record on Asian Man is the shit.

greg0rb (January 22, 2005)

P.S. - guy a couple down who is anonymous, I did not diss disconnected... if you read past that sentence I said it was a great song. I meant "bad" in that it was kinda bad face to face put the song on three different releases.

I was expecting to get more comments about old Face to Face. god, i loved them back in the day!
-Greg

sethcohen (January 22, 2005)

"I didn't know they were big enough to warrant a b-sides cd."

I guess they figured they need to strike while the iron's hot, because they figure if they put it out now, while they are enjoying massive popularity in high schools and church youth groups nationwide, then they will have 100,000 kids to buy this at least. But if they wait like 4 months, and the children who visit Absolutepunk accuse them of selling out the "scene" because they are too popular (though I guess being metioned on there makes a band popular almost instantly because all those people will buy it on the spot) then they will sell it only to like 35,000 kids. This is just as stupid as taking CD's that are a year old and redoing them with videos and shit on them so only the people who get into the band later on can reap those benefits.

kenjamin (January 22, 2005)

haha Hawthorne Heights has the most ridiculous lyrics. I sing along to that Victory commercial all the time. My friends still in Highschool tell me that this mall metal/emo shit is getting out of hand. Looks like I got out just in time.

jamespastepunk (January 22, 2005)

I didn't know they were big enough to warrant a b-sides cd.

Anonymous (January 22, 2005)

score is for the odds that i got ghonarea last night.

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

Fuck you and dissing disconnected. You're lame.

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

Bad, but still better than the Ramones.

-Chinatown

sethcohen (January 21, 2005)

I mean what in the hell is up with every girl liking this kind of music being so goddam fat. Is it because they think boys who write such deep lyrics can look past the fact that their guts hang past their vaginas, or do they just think they maybe they can feel their pain and relate.

sethcohen (January 21, 2005)

If not Atreyu maybe Hawthorne Heights on the fourth?

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

"remember when mae was good?

me either."

That made my day.

kenjamin (January 21, 2005)

i was walking to the store today and i saw four morbidly obese girls coming my way. Their hoodies with Linkin Park, Slipknot, and good charlotte respectively. I didn't catch the fourth girl but I'm guessing Atreyu?

sethcohen (January 21, 2005)

Speaking of Richmond and Mae, one time I was in Richmond for some reason, and I was kind of meandering around over by Plan 9 and these guys were playing like an accoustic instore there. The average age was 15, the average weight was 190lbs, and the only reason it wasn't well over 200 is because there were 4 bulemic boys there. And by the way, those were the only boys there. I have never seen so many fat girls in my life, especially fat girls who had raided the kids section at Gadzooks, not Hot Topic, but Gadzooks, this shit was way cheesier than something you'd find at Hot Topic and that seems to be impossible. If I were in a band and I was drawing fan of said demographic then I'd hang up my spurs.

notfeelingcreative (January 21, 2005)

No strike anywhere review? Anyhow, Mae is not my cop o' tea!

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

yeah, i wonder what possesed them to release a "b-sides" album, but really thier full-legnth is a good listen. Not groundbreaking by any means, but nice to chill out to once in awhile.

sickboi (January 21, 2005)

You gotta admit though, Alleykatz is a pretty good venue. Cheap booze, lotsa room and even the Souls still play there.

Then again, I can remember seeing thr Souls, Less than Jake and DKM at Twisters.

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

By the way, maybe it was just me, but I was really struggling to read through that last paragraph. It's pretty ugly.

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

I really dislike being in Richmond, since the punkscene seems to be 3 venues with a shitty rotation of shitty emometalcore or whatever it's called now, and Race The Sun, which is shit on shit, but it's so much better than living in some of those more rural places in Veeaye.

sickboi (January 21, 2005)

Oh, that's Southwest....I guess this would be like Rocky Mount or some shit...

sickboi (January 21, 2005)

Southeast VA?!?!?!?!?

Like what, fucking Cumberland?

i-type-poorly (January 21, 2005)

boo-urns to this

sethcohen (January 21, 2005)

"This score for the disgrace mae has brought upon southeastern virginia."

You're still better than southwestern Virginia. I think I would kill myself if I grew up somewhere like Galax

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

This one of the few emo-indie bands that are very good. Their last album was perfect and their new album is gonna be one of the best of the year

Benjasaurus (January 21, 2005)

This score for the disgrace mae has brought upon southeastern virginia.

stevejonestherealbones (January 21, 2005)

I cant believe AP called these guys "edgy"

i also cant believe these guys think they play "rock" music.

if i know one thing, its that these guys definately dont rock

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

This score is for Mae's live show.

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

Not too bad. Makes me wanna shake my bon-bon. (Yeah, I'm still living la vida loca)

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

remember when mae was good?

me either.

gladimnotemo (January 21, 2005)

"the “B-side” to a vinyl single’s “A-side”."

I bet this band will never ever release a vinyl record in their lives.

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

its alright. not too great.

swingline (January 21, 2005)

weak

inagreendase (January 21, 2005)

how can you review this if you admittedly have not even heard their actual album?

Hey, someone's gotta bite the bullet. Besides, it's refreshing to not have a bias sometimes.

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

how can you review this if you admittedly have not even heard their actual album?

it's a dumb idea but i still love this band.