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REVIEWS:
Grade: A
Holy shit this CD rocks! It's like a cross between Minus
the Bear, Shellac, Avail and Samiam. It's mostly upbeat,
but the drums can slow down and get all choppy (Shellac),
mostly it flows and the vocals remind me a lot of Minus
the Bear, only there's multiple vocals, and they're a
bit more screamy. The songs are still kinda pop songs
that remind me of Samiam, but there's a real dirty and
raw edge to them that is reminiscent of the first Avail
7". None of that may make sense, but the quality
of this cd from start to finish will do all the talking.
This is one of the best rock? Screamo? records I've heard
all year. (CS)
- Geek America
Each and every nugget of angular,
layered guitar rock from The Maginot Line is delivered
quite quickly. Paris Burning runs barely 38 minutes, but
a what a ride the band produces! Maginot Line, featuring
former members of Branch Manager and Corm, squeeze 11
smart, crisply played anthems into a record that is refreshingly
melodic while also highly energized. The band also displays
a wide array of styles. From the jangly guitar of "Working
Hard to Make a Bad Life Worse" and "Primate
Dynamic," to the incredible harmonies of "Eight
By Nine" and "Fuck Yeah," to the Fugazi-esque
noise of the closing "Turban for the Crown,"
this is a band in which each member perfectly complements
the other. The guitar playing and vocal dynamics of Rob
Anthony and Sean Lara are in perfect synchronicity with
the tremendous rhythm section of Dave Allen and drummer
Mark Stalzer.
- Jersey Beat
The album's title may have
something to do with the band's name, but in every way
the Maginot Line plays distinctly American rock. The verses
are generally strident and almost atonal. The choruses
are often multifaceted and utterly beautiful. I sure do
like the way these songs are built piece by piece before
exploding into splendor.
Indeed, it's that ultra-crafted
writing style that gets to me most. These songs are simple
joys to hear. And as much as it is obvious these guys
worked dreadfully hard writing and arranging these songs,
the energy level is quite high as well. There's no quit
here.
A lot of fun for me. There's
plenty of thought within these songs, but I'm exhilarated
by the athletic pacing and tight writing. It's very hard
to fuse those elements, but the Maginot Line makes it
sound simple.
- Aiding and Abbetting
Building on the same discordant
blocks that propel bands from Garrison to At The Drive
In to Fugazi to Dismemberment Plan, the Paris Burning
album is a keeper. Often the songs build up atonal clashing
chords & rhythms and climax with a melodic group vocal
orgasm, it is quite cathartic. Like a day covered in a
layer of clouds, snow & slush & then the sun breaks
through & hits you right in the eye with a blast of
warmth. I like it, and I like this band.
- GY, Torpedo Magazine
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