Reviews
Musoscribe
Bill Kopp’s Music Blog 2010 Odds and Ends New CD Reviews
December 23, 2010
Maeflies — Dinkytown Highway (self-released).
This is more mainstream country with a gently rocking edge, which is to say it’s mainstream country. Expert playing by a real band (as opposed to faceless sessioners) and a capable female lead vocalist (who’s undeniably a bit of eye candy) raises this above similar efforts. Fans of Fleetwood Mac, Shania Twain or even later-period Bob Seger will find plenty to like here.
Rootstime
Belgium Radio – Freddie Calis
www.rootstime.be
(translated from Dutch to English)
December 21, 2010
The Maeflies is a quintet from Minnesota. Desolate town in the north of the U.S. somewhere in the Great Lakes. They have an NBA team and that’s been the most boring years of the competition. Now, the basketball team is becoming exciting and the music scene there as well. In 2006 they released their debut album “Sometimes Goodbye” from a discussion of which is found in the archives of our website.
The group name is already clear when you know the singer and front woman of the group answers to the name Mae Rukavina. And when I see pictures on the cover is clear why the four men circling around her like flies. Besides her beautiful body, she is blessed with a beautiful voice fits the music they make.
Their music can be described as mostly up-tempo rock with a great little bit of country and other roots good brewed. It is the typical music for all “cruising on the highway” through the car speakers pop. The sound of the group is strong and tends sometimes to a Shania Twain sound but just below the bombastic standard.
This album contains 12 songs. 11 songs of his own making and they close with a surprising cover. They will start with the title song already firmly in the boxes immediately pops. The pace does not sag with a poppy “Anyway” that you can belt out fast and very radio friendly. In this sung alternately by the ordinary micro Mae and harmonica mic. In these songs, like the entire album, the guitar is dominant. But fortunately they are not limited solely to the electric guitar. There is also banjo, mandolin, slide and pedal to hear.
On some songs, one of the men the main melody on his behalf. In the atypical slow, acoustic “In My Life” gives the best results. But in the bar you would like to stage this group of songs like “King Of Nothing”, “The Ledge” or strong “Can’t Touch The Brake” hear them play.
But towards the end of the slab reduces the attention because the songs are all rather traditional in construction. Although they are strong finish with “Been So Long” in which the handsome second voice to the song a new level. They do end up with a clever cover of “The Weary Kind” by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett. This release may accompany the original standing.
Those looking for a group that unpretentious, fluent in catchy tunes to this Maeflies to the right place. Go and listen for yourself.
This review is from Amazon
GOODBYE SOMETIMES © 2006 Release
This disk is a great example of why Indie music can be so much fun: A little rough around the edges, but the album is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. The overall vibe reminds me of the Jayhawks, with steel guitars adding country touches to clean, well-crafted folk rock. Other artists that come to mind are Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty. As a matter of fact, one could swear that “Why Does Love Go?”, a catchy track with Byrds-like guitar elements, features guest vocals by Mr. Petty, himself.
The thing that stands out the most for me is the songwriting: Basically every song on the album is very well written, with instantly memorable melodies and beautiful, uncluttered arrangements. The tunes manage to sound familiar and fresh at the same time – what else can you ask for from Indie songwriting? The only complaint: Why haven’t these guys come out with another album?
