Lovely swirly-sad power pop, rich Beatles-y harmonies and XTC-hooks and that superspecial something else that you can't -- yes, THAT'S it. Thank you.

13 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Modern Rock, POP: Beatles-pop



Details:
Fans/potential buyers: The album is mainly a compilation of tracks from The Maggies 3 other albums "Homesick" (1998), "Cryptic Valentine" (2000), and "Breakfast at Brelreck's" (2001). "Robot Stories" was their official label release on Garageband Records. All three of these other albums are available here now on CDBaby. Just a heads up! On with the bio.....

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What does it mean when members of the press call the Maggies Northampton, Massachusetts' best guitar-pop band? Well, more then you might think, actually.

Northampton is the center of a robust regional music scene that has produced such standout rock acts as Dinosaur Jr., Buffalo Tom, The Pixies, Sebadoh/Folk Implosion and the Scud Mountain Boys.

And such rock biggies as Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth), Chris Collingwood (Fountains Of Wayne) and Lloyd Cole have chosen to make this town their adopted home.

So, you see, to be called Northampton's best is a pretty nice distinction.

The Maggies have earned their reputation with a series of tape releases, a vinyl EP and three self-released CDs full of haunting pop that plays on the time-honored combo of gorgeous harmonies, chiming guitars, a powerful rhythm section, swirly synths and great songwriting.

Now a quartet comprising guitarist-vocalist-songwriter Philip Price, bassist/vocalist Adam Greenberg, guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Ken Maiuri and drummer Stuart Wright, the Maggies formed in 1994 in nearby Keene, New Hampshire.

The band moved to Northampton in 1996.

The Maggies' debut CD, Homesick (produced by Boston's Jon Lupfer at Q Division), was released in early 1998, drawing critical raves.

And in April 2000, the band released its sophomore effort, Cryptic Valentine (co-produced by the Maggies and Dave Chalfant), which has received stunning critical notice.

In 2001, the band released Breakfast at Brelreck's, an EP of 7 new songs.

A few notices: Donnie Moorehouse of the Springfield Union News calls Cryptic Valentine an album of 'perfect power pop.' Don Fluckinger of the Valley Advocate offers, 'Chock full of addictive hooks and ear-candy grooves, Cryptic Valentine reaffirms the Maggies' reign as Northampton's best pop band.' And the disc led Claudio Sossi of the Canadian pop web zine Shake It Up! to say 'Talent like this is, and should continue to be, hard to ignore. Cool stuff.'

Delusions of Adequacy says: 'this is a fine pop-rock album, with tons of hooks, infectious melodies, beautiful harmonies, and a lot of fun.'

Author/Fan Jonathan Lethem (Motherless Brooklyn) says: 'The Maggies are, hands down, the best creators of lyrical, chewy, tangy heartbreaking pop this side of REM and XTC. Maybe if they had a name with three capital letters they'd be famous by now. This new record is better than the last, clearer, more irresistably lucid and beautiful and catchy -- and the last record was my favorite of its year. Don't hesitate to jump on the bandwagon, friends.'