Given to the Wild - the Maccabees (Album) review

I have to admit, it took some deliberation before I decided to make Given to the Wild my first album review of 2012. It is somewhat indicative of my poor decision making methods that this deliberation was done without even listening to the album. If I had, I would have had no problem with making this my first review. This album is good. It might be really good. No, wait. It might be brilliant.

I'm sorry, I am getting ahead of myself, it isn't really brilliant. I should explain. The Maccabees are reasonably good at capturing the sound which is popularising itself at the time. With Colour It In they gave us, along with Pigeon Detectives, The Cribs, The Wombats and many others, shallow, immediately gratifying indie rock. The kind that eventually grates and sounds like its being sung by someone trying really hard to sing like someone else. Wall of Arms did not stray to far from this but maintained a slight folky feel throughout, because that was when people were starting to really like slightly folky things. Given to the Wild doesn't see them stop imitating, but given what people are starting to really like now (Wild Beasts, Antlers, The Horrors, etc) it is reinforced with considerable depth and maturity.


The album starts with an understated intro and immediately makes you think that these guys have learnt something from last year's successes. They have thrown asunder the catchy effort-laden and vocal focused sound of their previous submissions and produced something with a subtle blend of elements and plenty of atmosphere. Guitars don't bounce you around, but direct with authority while vocals fuse with gentle lifts and impressive crescendos. There are exceptions, Pelican and Went Away (tracks 8 and 9) deserve to be chucked in with the rest of 2007's irritants. Give it a minute, however, and you will find that the remaining tracks see them introducing a few new influences. Go is alright but Unknow sounds a bit like a good U2 song sung by Jonsi before becoming startlingly ambitious and anthemic. Unfortunately it ends with Grew Up With Midnight which feels like they got tired, gave up and decided to just be Bon Iver and make no attempt at hiding it.

Verdict: I think I will go back to really good, worth the disappointments and a surprisingly strong start to the year from these guys. 
7.1/10

The Maccabees official website
The Maccabees on YouTube