The Everglow
By: Mae
Reviewed by: Kendall Hirata
Record Label: Tooth and Nail
Release Date: March 29, 2005
Genre: Rock/Pop
Members:
Dave Elkins – Guitar/Vocals
Zach Gehring – Guitar
Mark Padgett – Bass
Jacob Marshall – Drums
Rob Sweitzer – Keys/Vocals
Background:
Mae, a band presiding from Virginia Beach, Virginia, broke out into the scene in February of 2003 under the growing label Tooth and Nail Records. Their first release under Tooth and Nail, “Destination: Beautiful”, was a success with over 70,000 copies sold as Mae toured with it. A little bit later, they released a second compilation of B-Sides and Demos properly named “Destination: B-Sides” which included the first single to the “The Everglow” called “Suspension”.
Many who have heard of Mae is known to love them for their heartfelt lyrics of love, lost of it, sadness, and deep emotions that their singer Dave Elkins writes of that makes everything work. Incorporating beautiful piano interludes and lines with light guitars and a rhythm section to keep things in place, Mae has a formula that works where many have failed. With the “Heart On the Line” formula, it works for this band as many can relate to the stories portrayed within their lyrics.
Now, with Mae’s newest album “The Everglow”, it takes the band a huge step forward in progressing as a band itself instead of individuality as portrayed in “Destination: Beautiful”. As a fan of Mae, I would not compare “The Everglow” to “Destination: Beautiful” in terms of music. As “Destination: Beautiful” focuses on ballads and softer songs, “The Everglow” goes more into more heavier territories but not too much as it will still sound nice and serene. “The Everglow” is actually a story within itself in which we follow a boy through his love life and his journey to “The Everglow”. It takes him through his dwelling on the past of his recent breakup, how he needs someone, his mistakes, and so on. I will try to explain the story; it is MY opinions so don’t take it seriously, as I am unsure as to whether it is correct or not. So without further adieu, let us begin our journey to “The Everglow”.
The Everglow By: Mae:
Prologue: Nothing much here, just an introduction to the album itself telling listeners to turn to the first page of the book that came with the CD (its actually the CD insert). Although I have to say the Piano part in this prologue is really nice and serene.
Rating: N/A
We’re So Far Away: An amazing piano ballad to start off the album just what Mae is known for. A must listen as it rivals ANY song that would use a piano in a song today. The singing Dave does in this song really has that feeling of sadness and sorrow that a lot of people can relate to who have fallen out of a relationship. The lyrics themselves are ones that I myself can relate to and a lot of people can too if they just listen to it. In this part, our character is thinking about whether the girl he was with knew what she was doing to him physically and mentally. At least we know now our character just broke up with his girlfriend and is trying to move on. “Remembering, everything about my world and when your came. Wondering if the change you’d bring means nothing else would be the same…”
Rating: 5/5
Someone Else’s Arms: This song really shows the change Mae went through in terms of sound, this is not song from “Destination: Beautiful” but one of their own sound. A heavy song with a really catchy intro that leads us into a beautiful, serene, and peaceful sounding song, but with an underlying scene of havoc within our character’s deepest sorrows. The lyrics are easy to decipher but with quite a deep meaning and catches the ears of the listeners with the repeat of chorus “I just want to wake up”. The bass and drums really keep the song together as the bass is heavy and is easily heard and actually adds to the song. Our character is sad now and wishes he could be in the arms of someone he can care for and one he can love basically.
Rating: 5/5
Suspension: Starts off with a simple piano intro and then the band comes in with yet another catchy guitar riff that gets our attention to this song. The bass is prominent in this song with staccato beats that keeps this song in beat. I love the guitar parts, they are not too heavy, but just enough to like it and make it a rock a song. Dave does a stellar job singing this song with the “oohs” and “ahhs”, but the thing that really stands out is the synthesized bridge and guitar riff that lies beneath it. Although, in my opinion it does not have the same power as “Someone Else’s Arms”, but it still holds its own. This part, I really don’t know what this part is about… Is it about them having sex for the first time? Is it about them when they met for the first time? When they said I love you for the first time? I don’t know but if anyone knows, post it, all I know is that our character is thinking about this certain incident and can’t stop thinking about it.
Rating: 4.5/5
This Is the Countdown: The guitar riff that starts off this song really does remind of a clock counting down the seconds before time runs out. A softer song than “Suspension” and “Someone Else’s Arms”, but still has a heavy chorus. The piano has a small part in this song playing during the verses; the bridge connects it all and tells more into the songs lyrics. Dave’s singing still has the tone of sadness like always, but it is fitting for this song. The song is basically about our characters relationship coming to an end, and he knew it was just a matter of time before it would end.
Rating: 4/5
Painless: A piano prominent song with a weird sounding chorus that I’m not too fond of. Not a big fan of the guitars and the riffs they play, as it is plain and bland, the piano is the saving grace to this song. Skippable track in my opinion, but that’s my opinion, it’s not bad but not as good as the previous four songs. The song is about our character drinking his sorrows away in hopes to forget his love and the pain the breakup is causing him.
Rating: 3/5
The Ocean: Another piano ballad with synthesized violins in the background. The bass and drums are in it and some guitars are inside of it. Not as good as the previous piano ballad “We’re So Far Away”, but still can hold its own as a song from “Destination: Beautiful”. The song doesn’t match the feel of the album, but nah its still a good song in my opinion, a good pickup from “Painless”, starts slow and soft but gets a little bit louder and goes softer at the end with the “oohs” and “aahs” again from Dave. However I think it goes on for a little too long for its own good. This song is about our character thinking about his previous relationship and how much he wants her back with him, “I need you here just like the ocean needs the waves”.
Rating: 4/5
Breakdown: Starts off with a nice drum and piano riff with the bass keeping beat. And is that the bass making that weird bending sound after the first verse and during the second verse? We don’t hear the guitars until much later but it’s not the electric guitars, it’s acoustic guitars underneath it all and a synthesized piano part now going on adding to the chaos. I love this song, beautifully written and put together; Dave’s vocals really bring it home. The story behind this song is about our character breaking down after the breakup, thinking about all the memorable moments in his relationship.
Rating: 5/5
Mistakes We Knew We Were Making: Starts off with a palm-muted picking part on the guitar, drums, and bass keeping the beat. Then the piano and violins come in the pre-chorus. The chorus is really neat as it makes you feel like you are flying/floating in the air, very enjoyable. The song may sound happy, but don’t let it fool you as the songs meaning is about a mistake the character has made. I think it is about the couple going to the hospital after they had sex, and apparently, the girl thinks she’s pregnant and is scared.
Rating: 5/5
Cover Me: Starts with dual vocals with Dave and a piano and guitar part, very soft like you know. And then the rest of the band comes in and it gets loud and distorted like. At first I didn’t like this song, but it’s a song that grows on you, as you have to actually listen to the different parts of the song and read the lyrics. I really have no clue what the song is about, but the breakdown at the end of the song is excellent, leads well in to the next song…
Rating: 4/5
The Everglow: Alright! We are back on track, very good tracks reminiscent of “Someone Else’s Arms” and “Suspension”. Starts with a soft palm-muted guitar part and the entire band comes in with a piano part and bass, and guitar riffs that will stick with you for a while. Love this song, it’s soft-hearted, upbeat and happy which portrays our character as he approaches the gates of the fabled place we have come to know as “The Everglow” where dreams come true and happiness is all within.
Rating: 5/5
Ready and Waiting To Fall: Crescendos into a guitar rhythm and sound that will be stuck in your head. And worse, the chorus does it to you too! Not like it’s a bad thing or anything, it’s just that good! It falls in and out into soft piano parts in the loud grungy chorus; Dave serves it up with excellent vocals to accompany an excellent song! Marimbas/Vibes are also inside this song, and it works very well too, the lyrics are very heartfelt too. Our character is actually able to move on, he is over his previous relationship and is remembering how fragile he was, but now he is stronger now and is ready to move on to different challenges.
“I could feel something different for the first time, heaven made sense and all the words rhymed. No chance of stopping it now, I’m taking it all. And now I’m caught in the air, it’s a good glide, pass it up, wouldn’t dare, what a wild ride. I remember being ready and waiting to fall just like I did tonight.”
Rating: 5/5
Anything: Starts with a guitar staccato intro and heavy chords, then it goes into a soft clean guitar part with some piano parts here and there. The chorus comes up heavy and in the background you can hear mallets/bells pounding which give it a very majestic feel to it. The feel is very upbeat and Dave’s vocals backup that fact with the mysterious sound of happiness, which I can’t quite put my finger on. An exceptionally good song with the same feel as “Someone Else’s Arms” and “Suspension”, etc. The song talks about how anyone can do anything and that love is just the same way, you shouldn’t give up on it just because you fall once. Inspiring song, it really helped me…
Rating: 5/5
The Sun and The Moon: A slow, soft piano movement with violins, quite a touching song, and the band comes in near the end with the guitar having a small solo. More instrumental than anything, but a good one I might add. It’s about reflecting back on memories and how you should never forget them, the good and bad…? Great closing track to a beautiful record, it fades into the epilogue and ends the record quite nicely.
Rating: 5/5
Epilogue: The same beautiful piano melody from the Prologue, I got to say, after listening to “The Sun and The Moon” then hearing the same haunting melody really got me a little choked up. It thanks you for listening and now, and bids you farewell. And that concludes our journey to “The Everglow”…
Rating: N/A
Closing:
All in all, Mae’s latest effort is one of those CD’s that you will listen to over and over and will leave you fulfilled but you want more. It’s a beautiful record; I recommend anyone who has fallen out of a relationship and need something to get them self to move on. It really helped me I have to say, and to this day I still listen to it and it reminds not to forget those happy moments I had and that at least we made the best of it while we were together. I myself personally am a hardcore/metal fan but surprisingly, I loved this record so much, I connected with it. Filled with Piano ballads, heavy songs, and heartfelt lyrics, this is one album no one should pass up. So do yourself a favor, experience “The Everglow” and let it show you that life is beautiful and love is beautiful no matter how much it hurts and when you find it, it will be totally worth it in the end! Thank you for reading this review, this is my first ever review and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed sharing this experience with you!
Pros:
- Beautiful piano ballads
- Heartfelt lyrics
- Catchy choruses and songs
- Guitar parts match and are deep
- Listener friendly, anyone can get into it
Cons:
- Weak middle part
- Story is kind of weak
- You want more
Definitely Check Out These Tracks!
-We’re So Far Away
-Someone Else’s Arms
-Breakdown
-Mistake We Knew We Were Making
-The Everglow
-Ready and Waiting To Fall
Overall Album Rating For “The Everglow”: 5/5
Dedications:
To Tricia Warashina, the times we had have been worth it, this is the record to our rise and fall. I have no regrets to our relationship and I thank you for everything you have done for me. Until we meet again… Goodbye and Goodnight…
10-4-04 to 4-15-05
