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Mêlée

Everyday Behavior (2004)
Subcity Records

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

Published on February 4th 2005

I really wouldn’t mind if pop like this took over the airwaves. On its debut album, Everyday Behavior, Mêlée creates a familiar sound that is instantly recognizable, but nearly impossible to classify. It is composed of a variety of piano-driven pop and California rock, but is most adept at just creating catchy melodies.

The album begins with a couple of generic rock pieces, but really starts to take off when the keyboards make their entrance on “Perfect Mess.” From there on, all instrumentation is pure ear candy with other standout tracks in “The Curse” and “Routines.” While the music is generally very solid with some snappy time signature switches and bouncy piano lines, the lyrics found on the album aren’t as inspired. Cringe-worthy lines like “She was the girl who finally came along / into my life and became a mystery / Can you be real enough / so I can hold your hand? / Hold you tight, close my eyes / and everything will be alright” found on “Sleeping Through Autumn” make appearances throughout the album.

While nothing special, the lyrics act merely as a vehicle to wedge hooks into your brain. The chorus to “Perfect Mess” is a good example with “This perfect mess / has everybody waiting for you to come be part of our world” being repeated to the point that it you’ll be singing it under your breath for days. What I find myself comparing it to is another 2004 release, from Audio Karate. Their Lady Melody had similar clean production and hooks galore. Don’t get me wrong, they’re two very different bands, but the clean pop-rock sound is consistent in both releases.

Aside from a slow start and some trite lyrics, Mêlée does a lot right on this album, especially for a debut from such a young group of guys. They're a quality pick-up by Sub-City that will surely put out some excellent albums in the future, especially when the songwriting matures a bit.

MP3s
The War
Perfect Mess

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GlassPipeMurder (September 21, 2005)

This band is horrible, and even worse live.

meleesperfectmess (March 26, 2005)

I love Melee! they are a really good band i and i saw them in consert. They are all really kool about people asking them for artigrafs and stuff. Not to Mentione they are hot.

Anonymous (February 7, 2005)

ill have to agree, the cover art isn't too bad, especially on the nice thick digipack. i give it a thumbs up

Anonymous (February 7, 2005)

To be honest, I like the cover art.

Crookedsuperhero (February 7, 2005)

"last time i checked, this site was called PUNK news?"

I've just verified that it is indeed still called punk news, sadly without the capitalisation you so cleverly used to put your stupid point across.

Anonymous (February 6, 2005)

One of the worst album covers ever!!!

Anonymous (February 6, 2005)

nice alternative to something corporate when i'm in the mood for some emo-pop stuff like that.

Anonymous (February 5, 2005)

These guys are pretty good, but they're awful live.

sethcohen (February 4, 2005)

And how old do you think the people who make the "I thought this was punk news" comments are?
12, maybe 13

hey_sailor (February 4, 2005)

"last time i checked, this site was called PUNK news?"

Does anyone have a count of how many times a post similar to this one have been posted?

Anonymous (February 4, 2005)

I think that's the last song that you're talking about. My favorite line outside of the "she was the girl who finally came along...." is... "I am here and you are there at separate ends". If the lyrics were better, I could give it an 8 or so, but they were just too distracting sometimes.

-elliot

Anonymous (February 4, 2005)

I was riding in the car with a friend to campus the other day when she popped in this cd. I swear I thought it was Bily Joel or some shit. I think someone called this indie pop on a previous comment. Sorry buddy, this is some straight up schlock cheese rock for 13 year old girls. Im all for piano and sweeping ballads, but this is complete bland light rock shit.

The best song is when the wimp lead singer is getting all emotional while the casio synth strings kick in. "Yeeeeeahhhh, you, right where you are, right where you are!" Horrible!

Anonymous (February 4, 2005)

Who else is pissed at Hopeless for not staying consistent with good punk rock releases? Yes, these guys are good musicians, but this is not punk rock in any sense of the word. Besides the fact that they're doing what they want, what is punk about this band?

notfeelingcreative (February 4, 2005)

God help me, I agree with Jones!! Definatley not into wussy power pop, but this is decent wuss pop!

stevejonestherealbones (February 4, 2005)

i feel like such a fag when i listen to this cd.

i give it a nine though.

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Cos (February 4, 2005)

Christ, don't be so rigid in your taste. Like we need more Sex Pistols/GBH clones like Casualties or Cheap Sex. And someone tell "A Global Threat" that there is NOTHING global or threatening about their music

--Cos

Anonymous (February 4, 2005)

I like this cd and I think the band is great, but who else can't stand their live show?

Anonymous (February 4, 2005)

last time i checked, this site was called PUNK news?

It's an indie rock/pop band on a punk label.

Anonymous (February 4, 2005)

last time i checked, this site was called PUNK news?

Anonymous (February 4, 2005)

This album is great, but the piano version of The War, as pointed out by Scott and others, is fucking breathtaking. It's on the In Honor comp.

Anonymous (February 4, 2005)

it's very nice to see a band of TALENTED musicians make a name for themselves.

Cos (February 4, 2005)

California, here we come, right back where we started from...

OC, represent. Sorry shits