Maker – I-91

Do you know what the worst thing about Maker’s I-91 is? It’s the length. At four songs just over ten minutes in length, you’re left wanting more and I can’t help but wonder what they’ll be able to pull off with a full length.

However, we’re not at a full length yet. Right now all we have is an EP to contain ourselves with and luckily for us, the quality of the EP is top notch.

For you see, Maker is band that has delivered four great pop-punk tunes – and by pop-punk I mean the type of pop-punk that was around before the new crop of Hopeless Records and Fearless Recordsco-opted the term.  This is fast, tense stuff – mid-nineties pop-punk that is heavier on the punk than the pop, pulling in the odd gang vocals and sing-along chorus amidst catchy hooks and a steady bass drum kick.

I-91 embodies the best of what skate-punk and pop-punk has to offer. Catchy vocals that aren’t nasally, a fiery intensity embedded within the furious drumming, a New Found Glory influence on the title track and nostalgic lyrics about growing up and surviving with friends. There’s a Lifetime influence, a Transit similarity and Static Radio NJ pop sensibilities.  Many people seem to be throwing a Movielifecomparison around but it seems quicker than the average track from by former Long Island band; although, the vocals on Stand By Me definitely have a Vinnie Caruana aspect to them along with a dash of Tell All Your Friends era Adam Lazzara.

There may not be all that much new here, but it doesn’t need to be. They know what they’re doing and they’re doing it well. A feisty band that would surely be fun as hell to see live, Maker aren’t poised to become the next big thing but have instead created a four song EP that will be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone who listens to it. I just hope that their full length is a bit longer which will ultimately make them a bit more memorable as well.