REVIEW: Mayday Parade drops fourth ‘Monster’ album
Oct. 8 marked a much-anticipated day for me and my music listening career. The new Mayday Parade album, “Monsters in the Closet,” was released, and I have always considered myself a big Mayday Parade fan.
Almost three years ago, I changed my Facebook profile picture to a pic of me with Mayday drummer Jake Bundrick. My profile pic hasn’t changed for almost 3 years. I even wore one of my Mayday concert T-shirts on Tuesday to celebrate the occasion.
“Monsters in the Closet” is Mayday Parade’s fourth full-length album. Their first album, “A Lesson in Romantics,” hit the world in 2007. Like I said, I love Mayday, and it was this album that won my heart. This may sound dramatic, but I can honestly say “Romantics” changed my life. I listened to it again and again and again. If my high school life had a soundtrack, it would be a mix of this album and their second album, “Anywhere But Here.”
All that being said, I have to admit I was a little worried about “Monsters.” I think every fan of a recording artist is always concerned the next album will not be the same lovable sound they have enjoyed from the previous albums. So far, I have felt Mayday has delivered.
Unfortunately though, I can’t say I was super impressed with “Monsters in the Closet.” At the same time, I wasn’t super disappointed by it either. I just think they did not deliver what I know they are capable of.
The biggest disappointment of the album is the opening track “Ghosts.” I understand that bands mature over time and their music matures with them, but “Ghosts” seemed more like a few steps backwards. I saw a comment on Facebook that someone made about this song. He said something to the effect of “Mayday Parade has been listening to too much Fun. and they should stop trying to sound like something they are not.” Fun. isn’t necessarily what I think of when I listen to this track, but to me it definitely feels like they were trying too hard. The sub-par harmonies in the intro are almost unbearable, but as the song progresses, it gets better.
Luckily, the album is the same way. It seemed to me that with each track, the album gets better and better. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. Lead singer Derek Sanders’ signature vocals always seem to grab me by the heart strings. I dare you not to fall victim to his serenading voice in the track “Even Robots Need Blankets.” Throughout the album – except for in “Ghosts” – Derek is backed up fantastically by the rest of the band.
I think the track that really is true Mayday Parade on this album is “Sorry, Not Sorry.” It is a sappy song about an episode of heartbreak with heart-wrenching lyrics. Again, vocals are fantastic, and it is backed up by a solid beat and a killer guitar riff. The band almost always drops into a magnificent bridge that just captivates the listener even more. The next track on the record, “Nothing You Can Live Without, Nothing You Can Do About” fits this description as well.
I enjoyed a few more slower tracks on this album, such as “Even Robots Need Blankets,” “Hold onto Me” and “Angels.” I couldn’t say they are of the caliber of some of Mayday’s previous slow hits like “Miserable at Best” and “Three Cheers for Five Years,” but they are very enjoyable.
I really do like this album, but I feel like it is my least-favorite to be released by Mayday Parade. That being said, I am sure that as I listen to it more and more, I will fall more and more in love with it.
My final grade for now is A-. It just doesn’t feel right to me to ever give Mayday Parade anything other than an A. So, fellow Mayday lovers, I hope you enjoy.