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.
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 nakliyat
Posted by: nakliyat | February 07, 2008 at 07:33 AM
muhabbet,islami sohbet,chat
Posted by: Mubabbet,islami sohbet | February 07, 2008 at 10:24 AM
However, you who don't like Madina Lake, keep out of this place and take your business elsewhere
Posted by: sohbet | February 17, 2008 at 01:37 AM
guys grow up if this person likes madina lake then why is it your problem.
Its not like their prussian blue or anything
Posted by: kate | February 21, 2008 at 03:13 PM
i luv mad lake..
Posted by: rüya tabirleri | February 24, 2008 at 06:18 PM
omg! u cant support there hair cuts wtf. they have awesome hair.
and to all u people slaggin them off,
i just met these guys 3 weeks ago and they are the nicest guys eva!!!!
Madina Lake <3
Posted by: kathryn | March 18, 2008 at 07:12 AM
wow! These comment sections have more drama than a late nite soap opera. It's fun to read about how pissed people are when they read someone's dissing of their favorite band. Fanatical! I wonder what would happen if i dissed both ML and MCR.
ML AND MCR ARE BOTH FAGS!!!
(ha! ha!)
Posted by: papa ri | April 06, 2008 at 08:25 PM
omg!!! y does everyone keep saying that every great band is ripping MCR off??? it's an old record, play another 1 losers!!!
+ madina lake are awsome, u don't get 2 say shit about them u fags!
Posted by: | April 15, 2008 at 01:53 AM
gracias..
Komik videolar
Posted by: komik | April 20, 2008 at 09:34 AM
HI ITS DANIELLE FROM NEW JERSEY. YOUR BAND IS THE BEST AND I COME TO YOUR GUYS SHOWS EVEYTIME IN NEW JERSEY. I WAS THE GIRL THAT GAVE YOU MY FONR NUMBER AND IM SORRY IF I INSULTED YOU GUYS I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU HOW AWSOME YOU WERE. SOME GUY NAMED JEFF TOLD ME NOT TO THAT SORRY. *BUT YOU GUYS HAVE AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE. COME TO NEW JERSEY OR NEW YORK AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN I HAVE YOUR ALBUM AND WELL COME SEE YOU!! BE SAFE! BYE
Posted by: Danielle Ferrughelli | May 11, 2008 at 04:12 AM
HI ITS DANIELLE I AM READING SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND SOME PEOPLE ARE BEING ASSWHOLES DONT LISTEN TO THEM YOU GUYS ARE AWSOME YOU HAVE THE NBEST MUSIC . BE SAFE BYE
Posted by: DANIELLE FERRUGHELLI | May 11, 2008 at 04:14 AM
I Just Have to say Madina Lake is an Amazing Band, their Music is fun, Upbeat, and makes you just want to jump up and down !!!
Not Only Is their Music Amazing these guys are very nice ! I Have not been to a concert where they werent very sincere to all of their Fans !!!
These Guys Rock !!
Posted by: Nicole | May 15, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Thanks...great posts..
Posted by: Sesli Chat Sohbet | May 25, 2008 at 02:41 AM
Teknoloji
Posted by: | June 02, 2008 at 06:46 PM
thanks
Posted by: irc | June 08, 2008 at 01:43 PM
thanks man
Posted by: chat | June 13, 2008 at 10:37 AM
"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?"
whoever said that^^ has no brain.
I have been a my chemical romance fan since they began and believe me, madina lake are not ripping them off.
I have seen MCR and Madina lake and none of their looks, sound, on stage performance or even taste in music is anything alike.
You honestly should do some research and start realisng that bands in the same genre are going to have some of the same sounds.
My chemical romance are my life.
but madina lake are just as important and don't deserve any of that shit.
Posted by: Hope | July 26, 2008 at 07:23 PM
btw kathryn up there who called them fags.
your just desperate for the attetion of the fans.
now your the sad one
(:
Posted by: Hope | July 26, 2008 at 07:25 PM
Well Like Güzel Sözler Sita
Posted by: Güzel Sözler | August 24, 2008 at 12:31 PM
thanks you foor web site.
Posted by: güzel sözler | August 26, 2008 at 02:57 PM
dankuwel mineer goed web sites
Posted by: chat | August 26, 2008 at 02:58 PM
alles goed krijgen links
Posted by: sohbet | August 26, 2008 at 02:59 PM
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
Posted by: Güzel Sözler | August 26, 2008 at 03:00 PM
http://www.damarsozler.com 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
Posted by: Güzel Sözler | August 26, 2008 at 03:00 PM
ik heet onur. ik ben in turkije :)
Posted by: güzel sözler | August 26, 2008 at 03:00 PM