MANILA, Philippines?Light and polished to an almost too glossy sheen, Mle?s ?Devils & Angels? is a frothy confection of an album that?s as mainstream as anything can be, without being completely generic.
The group?s second full-length album and first major label release from the not-yet-famous-but-working-at-it foursome from Orange County is the band?s first foray into introducing their music to a more international audience.
Lead vocals
Mle is composed of Chris Cron (lead vocals, piano and guitar), Ricky Sans (lead guitar and vocals), Ryan Malloy (bass and vocals), and Mike Nader (drums and vocals).
Formed in 1999, while they were still teens, their hook-laden, easily accessible blend of punk, pop and rock quickly conquered the local scene. It wasn?t long before they got signed up by Sub City, a division of the punk-producing Hopeless Records.
In 2003, Sub City released their EP, ?Against the Tide,? and their first full-length, ?Everyday Behavior,? a year later. By 2005, Warner Music came knocking on Mle?s indie door?resulting in the release of ?Devils & Angels.?
Compared to their previous releases, their major-label debut has had more hours of production poured into it, giving the lineup that shiny, seamless corporate feel that makes almost any kind of music easy to swallow?but strips it of what makes it different!
With the new album, it?s easy to dismiss Mle as just another pleasant-sounding band whose best feature is their marketability. That wouldn?t be completely fair, however, since even though they don?t stand out from the crowd all the time, they sometimes do.
At first listen, there doesn?t seem to be anything particularly non-generic about the bright pop-punk numbers that make up the album?s 13-song playlist. If you listen more actively, however, you?ll find that the disc contains a few tracks that rise above the ordinary and redeem the entire album.
These Orange County boys know a hook when they hear one?and they also have a good ear for melody. Their latest collection is a well-balanced mix of piano-driven ballads, interspersed with upbeat mid-tempo pop and catchy rock-laced numbers.
Most, if not all of their songs are easy to sing along with?a fact that is doubtless part of what makes them appealing to their generally youthful audience. A tight production and lyrics that talk about things that most middle-class teens and twentysomethings can identify with?growing up, love, etc.?guarantee sales.
Memorable tracks
One of the more memorable tracks is the opening song, ?Built to Last,? a ballad with a catchy chorus. Another is the bubbly ?Frequently Baby (She?s a Teenage Maniac),? a fun number that doesn?t pretend to be more than what it is. The bonus track?a lively, earnest cover of Hall & Oates? ?You Make My Dreams??also stands out.
It?s not exactly music for grownups, but Mle?s ?Devils & Angels? makes for painless listening. Once in a while, it can even make you sing along.
