CORPORATE LINE: This is the first commercial release of the rare, out of print 1999 EP which was only sold at the band’s shows and on their website; never in stores. Includes five previously unreleased bonus tracks unearthed from the original recording session. It’s the group’s first release for V2. Look for the new CD “Have Mercy” (their third) in January 2007. This EP also includes a vinyl die-cut sticker with information on how to preview tracks from the upcoming full-length.
THE GOOD:
“My Dear Persephone” – A very quirky song with a little Doors style organ and a hook that will have you tapping your feet. Highly addictive and showcases the band’s early writing talent.
THE AVERAGE:
“And Begin” – An instrumental that isn’t bad or good—it’s something that should have been ignored—but its obvious they didn’t have enough material to release an EP without it.
“I Say I Love You” – This showcases where The Mooney Suzuki was going. The guitars roar at the one minute mark and the hook is sparse but it’s there. It doesn’t come in epic form like “Alive & Amplified” although we can see the future is there.
“Tell Me Why” – Very reminiscent of The Beatles “The Word”.
THE BAD:
“Turn My Blue Sky Black” – Too much distortion—it ruins any chance the song had at being good.
FRANKLY: The Maximum Black EP showcases The Mooney Suzuki in the middle of finding themselves. Late in the album—specifically “Tell Me Why” and “This Lonely Land”—The Mooney Suzuki sound like a band that wants to be The Beatles. However most of the early tracks sound like their current style as a ‘70ish rock band. It’s interesting to see where they were and how far they’ve come.
+ Rae Gun
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