New Music Review - ‘Stranger Days’ the album by Mako Road
The coolest album artwork ever! How good. Perfectly sums it up, really. Album art by Isabelle Beartrix!
Everyone’s favourite garage/indie band are back and are finally dropping their much anticipated hot 8-track album, Stranger Days! The album has been in the works for the past few years and I think it is absolutely worth a review. Broken down track by track, here are my personal opinions on the fresh hits! This album really shakes things up with their smoother new mixes and production styles that have changed since their last releases of EPs (prior to 2021).
3/4 of Mako Road playing at Powerstation in Auckland, November 2020. L-R Connor McErlich (guitar), Rhian Ward (guitar and vocals) and Robbie Day (drums).
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Connor Jaine (bass) playing at Auckland’s Powerstation, November 2020.
Mako Road consists of four members, all hailing from different parts of New Zealand, but coming together at the University of Canterbury, many moons ago. First up, we have Rhian Ward (Wardy) on vocals and guitar, Connor Jaine (CJ) on bass, Connor McErlich (Con) on guitar and Robbie Day (Bob) on drums. They’ve really become a household name over the past few years and having not had much (if any) radio time, they have gathered a pretty big following for just being the most genuine and talented lads, which makes me so stoked to see the successes coming their way. Enough about that, let’s get into the album review, shall we?!
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Robbie (back) and Rhian performing pre-covid at Auckland’s Spark Arena, March 2020.
Go to Bed:
This is such a fantastic track to start the album out with and most likely my favourite song off of Stranger Days. It is definitely deserving of being released as a single or better yet - winning an award of some sort in the future. It really has that garage-indie sound that you expect from them, but also with a hit of medium base ground surf-rock, if you will, as the song progresses. With lyrics such as “busy bee is building a hive, between your ears, behind your eyes” what a bloody standout line. I’m not entirely sure what it means, but who says every lyric of every song has to have some sort of story behind it?! It truly sets the tone of the album and the fact that the drums really intertwine with Rhian’s voice in this track, make it something extremely outstanding to my ears. I love it.
Surfing on Mars:
Now, you must know this song, surely! It starts off with Rhian repeating the words “we’re surfing, surfing, surfing…” and it is such a great segway into the song. The Mako Road lads have been performing this song at their gigs for years and to finally have it out in the open and have it properly recorded must be such a relief for them and very exciting, too. A very catchy song, you better believe you’ll be singing it for the rest “I’ve been stuck inside, a fractured frame of mind” - ooh, those lyrics though, someone turn down the heat of truth there, am I right? A fun track that isn’t too deep, but it also makes you want to go Surfing on Mars. Quite literally. Delicious. (Also funny note: when they sneakily released the album in November for a week, prior to the other album tour, Robbie asked what my favourite song was and I said Surfing on Mars and he said “that’s not a new song!” oops… Sorry, Bob!)
Helicopter:
Can you see the flashing lights? Does it take you back to a previous Mako Road show that you’ve been to? Helicopter literally will lift you off the ground and make you feel in a really fantastic mood, which is what we all want. This track will most definitely get you hooked on the summery strums of the guitar and fun-hitting chorus where it becomes more upbeat than the bridge. If you’re looking for listening heavily to the music rather than the lyrics, I would turn this one on as the elements of the instruments can really teach you a lot, especially if you are looking to learn some of their songs. Just make sure you tune into what is being played, rather than what is being sung if you are wanting to do that. Quite a fun wee vibe.Velvet Piñata:
The guys are truly hitting that indie-rock sound with Velvet Piñata. While it isn’t heavy rock, it’s a bloody good time and you can certainly hear the bass work in it, which is a brilliant thing to be able to hear when it can be sometimes hidden in the background (as previously mentioned in other reviews of new music). It certainly puts it all together and makes it a fun song to groove out to. This song will great to hear live and to see the elements coming together - would be a lot of fun in the moshpit when they are performing it, too.
Don’t Keep Me Waiting:
A real radio-pop hit, but that is not a negative by any means. I think that Don’t Keep Me Waiting will be a bigger hit with the younger listeners, not that they have an age limit on their music, however, I do feel that their target audience is more late teens/adults primarily with songs about drinking and such. I love that they keep it real and play around a bit with their music. Have you seen the music video for this? It is playful and quite hilarious. Taking it literally by showing that the boys are waiting while holding bananas while having a portrait painted, waiting for a date, waiting to catch a mouse… A true classic for this album!
Lost My Tongue:
Oosh. What can I say about this one! Though there aren’t a whole lot of lyrics as you will hear, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t quite explosive with the melodies played within the 4 minutes, 15 seconds. I am honestly OBSESSED with Lost My Tongue. It’s got a very funky beat to it. Do yourself a favour and just go chuck this on full blast, it’s better listened to loud, rather than quiet. Promise.
Stranger Days:
Okay, if you’ve seen the video and/or heard Stranger Days, you will know how extremely trippy this track makes you feel. From the absolute psychedelic mood to what you could only describe as colours dripping down a wall or being thrown onto a canvas, it is definitely a unique song which is not for the faint hearted, that is for sure! The song is best known for showing off the mixing and production, rather than the instruments or vocals, I feel. The song is kind of similar to Lost My Tongue, but at the same time has its unique differences, too. Loving the softness of the crash cymbals throughout the entirety of it - so cool.
Anywhere You’d Like to Go:
Guitar. Guitar and just more guitar. This song is made by the riffs and the true rock n roll vibe right from the beginning. Rhian’s voice certainly suits this type of vocal work. It starts with a semi-fast paced introduction and throughout the song, it gradually gets faster and faster, literally like you are trying to go for the fastest run of your life. Think Olympic running. If you’ve been to a show where the guys have performed this song, Connor introduces the song with “have you got your running shoes on?!” because you need them while blasting this one. I feel like this is going to be a fan favourite, especially for those who love the fast paced, rather than the slower songs that Mako Road have previously released. A great way to close out the hottest album of 2021! A huge rivalry between Anywhere You’d Like to Go and Go to Bed in regards to contending for my top spot off this album.
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So, Don’t Keep Me Waiting and go listen to Stranger Days on all good platforms NOW! You can also catch them on tour throughout New Zealand starting in August. For more information, check out my Instagram Mako Road Updates and their official website (listed below).
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Find Mako Road below -