Madina Lake

I can't support those haircuts, but this music is undeniably good.

You know, sometimes you just have to look beyond looks and image to recognize good music. For a band that looks like the Bravery meets Flock of Seagulls, I would suspect many fans not interested in that sort of thing to overlook these guys completely, and for the most part that makes sense. I probably wouldn't have given them a first look if I didn't stumble across them at Bamboozle earlier this Summer. See, there was a bunch of downtime before Muse and MCR that day, which led to a bunch of aimless wandering trying to avoid having to listen to Cartel or Say Anything, and at one of the side stages we found this band I ended up really liking called Manchester Orchestra. I bought their CD and hoodie that I have been wearing and listening to a bunch all year. So once they were done, the band next to them immediately came on and it was these goofy fellas pictured above. I distinctly remember saying that I thought they sounded great, but looked so silly I couldn't take them seriously.

Well now, like 4 months later, I their name kept popping up, and I'd hear a song here or there that, of course, was pretty rad, so I finally tracked down their album. It's great! I've been listening to it for the last couple weeks and really dig it a lot. There is a microscopic line between emo-pop shit and success, and this record squarely falls on the side with MCR, Taking Back Sunday, Armor for Sleep and the rest of the good guys. Sure, it's big and obvious and really easy to fall into all those massive hooks, but sometimes (often times) that's exactly what I want to listen to.

Oh, by the way, did I mention this is a concept album?  OH YES. Just found this out while googling the band this AM. From wikipedia: (and I have no reason to question it's validity here...)

"Madina Lake is named after the fictional 1950's town from a story Matthew penned. The town is turned upside down when its most famous socialite, Adalia, mysteriously disappears."

Of course it is. I also learned that the two twins in the band took prize money from winning fear factor to record the first demos. So there's that too?

Listen, all the pieces fall into place for this to be a band that gets endlessly mocked if they are lucky enough to break out beyond their already somewhat sizable fanbase. The twist is they're significantly better than the rest of their bands from their genre. Hope that helps. They also seem like nice guys from this MTV2 interview, for whatever that's worth. Anybody who bitches about all the style over substance bands owe it to themselves kick that attitude in reverse and give these guys a shot.

Madina Lake - Here I Stand (mp3)

Madina Lake - Now or Never (mp3)

More at Myspace, etc.

Comments

[Matt]

How much did you get paid to write this? Madina Lake good? I don't even have enough energy to be sacrastic about these things anymore. Madina Lake lack anything of substance and are just a over fashioned emo/hardcore/hairmetal band. No need to elaborate.

p.s. I stop by this blog occasionally when i'm bored, but I think i'm going to give that up now.

[Jeff]

Exactly.

Yeah, I'm giving up on this blog. These guys have made a career out of ripping off MCR, which is pretty sad if you stop and think about it. Posting about Madina Lake is just about the lamest thing imaginable. Are you trying to pull a john galt here or have you really lost all semblance of taste?

[mel]

you clearly have no clue who they are
any of you.
theyve never ripped off anyone thir music is straight from the heart.
songs like morning sadness and me vs. the world about their mother that died in an automobile accident when they were young.
how is that ripping anyone off.
now or never and here i stand. classinc teenage anthems that come with every band.

i hope youre all not fall out boy fags.
but i wouldnt be surprised, you sure seem like it.
now talk about ripping people off?

madina lake is gonna be one of the biggest up and coming bands.
so watch out.

[...]

THATS RIGHT BIZATCHES!

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[Laurie]

Oh my god. I cannot believe how sad you haters are, coming on here and dissing the hell outta Madina Lake. Who are you to do that? If i hatred Madina Lake, i would've come on here at all! So why the fuck are you on here if you hate them and say they rip MCR off and that!? GET A LIFE YOU SAD ACTS!
I agree with that anon person.

[FaiRyatEmE]

You're just fucked up madina lake r gd even if u dont think so thats jus ur opinion so go bk 2 slitting ur wrists

wat the hell do u mean goofy theyre hot!!!!!!!!

[Taylor]

What the hell is wrong with their image? They're all pretty sexy if you ask me! And they really are an awesome band! its like a complete package. I prlly sound like an ass talking bout looks, but its true, looks matter in this world.

[sonia]

madina lake fuckin rock!!! they're one of the best bands ever! so don't rip anyone off, they're also one of the most real bands out there n genuinely (

[PIdgy]

wtf cant believ u wud even think of slatin such an awsum band as this.
I fuckin hate my chemical gayness but absolutly love this group they are so much better and without all that shit MCR go on about, what the fucks with the blackparade no meaning what so ever while their songs can actually be thought about and have a point

[PIdgy]

wtf cant believ u wud even think of slatin such an awsum band as this.
I fuckin hate my chemical gayness but absolutly love this group they are so much better and without all that shit MCR go on about, what the fucks with the blackparade no meaning what so ever while their songs can actually be thought about and have a point

[yasmin]

gurd web page

[rosie]

Hey, i was just wondering.. does anyone know how old the guys in Madina Lake are? im guessing in their early 20s but i dont have a clue. If anyone knows please tell me. Desperate to know. looking for info about their bdays everywhere but cant find anything. =[ Madina Lake rock my socks they are simply amazing!! Love them... fav song is Here I stand or One Last Kiss......XP

you guys are all fat fags madina lake is the best band eva

[Kajsa]

Okay, I get that you can get pretty pissed about all those who drag shit over Madina, (like they do not rip of MCR music, they totally do their own thing and if you listen to their music you'd notice they don't sound like MCR at all), but you don't need do drag down MCR through the dirt because of that 'cause they're also an amazing band... However, you who don't like Madina Lake, keep out of this place and take your business elsewhere

[Okey]

thank you

[www.r10.net küresel ısınmaya hayır seo yarışması]

Nice site

[meg]

What the hell? Who do you think you fuckers are? You can think what ever want about Madina Lake but if you think they ripped MCR off you dead wrong. Personaly i think there fucking awsome. And if you don't like them why waste your time reading or commenting this. Dum fucks.

[Halk gazetesi]

hIm very good

[Amy]

some of you hate ML..thats fine its up to you.
but with out these guys i would not be here today.
honestly im not some stupid idiot who runs around going "madina lake saved my life" just to get attention.
so you know..give these dudes a chance..

all of you who dis madina lake sud die you r fucking wrong that fucking rock and yeah stop wasting you r time just to come on here and dis then if yo udidn't like them then why bother going on this website they fucking rock!!!

[porno]

I cannot believe how sad you haters are, coming on here and dissing the hell outta Madina Lake. Who are you to do that? If i hatred Madina Lake, i would've come on here at all! So why the fuck are you on here if you hate them and say they rip MCR off and that!?

[louise hodgson]

iya i think u r conpletly boss i luv u lots when r u next in tour if u r can u come to liverpool please thanks if you do i'll be watching you lol luv you louise
p.s your fit

[vick]

i luv mad lake, theyr songs are great they are great live and i luv those hair styles! and whats wrong with mcr? if u dont like them dont bother coming on sites and slaggin them off, you dont have to like them!