On You Are Ok, pop-rock band The Maine take a step in a new direction. After being a band for over 12 years, it can be difficult to explore new sounds, but the Arizona emo group have proven it possible by employing a string section to their seventh full length.
The album opens strongly with ‘Slip The Noose’, a song which according to frontman John O’Callaghan was deliberately not chosen as a single, as to give fans a completely new experience upon the first listen of the album. With its empowering message of self-acceptance and the first introduction to the orchestral elements, Slip The Noose sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the album.
After the extremely well-received singles ‘My Best Habit’ and ‘Numb Without You’ – both reached over a million streams within the first two weeks of release – the album takes it down a notch with the acoustic ‘Forevermore’, which showcases O’Callaghan’s emotive vocals accompanied by guitarist Jared Monaco. The album then picks up again with its eclectic mix of genres and stylistic choices, which are all held together by the question ‘are you ok?’ and the idea that even if you aren’t ok yet, you will be soon.
One stand-out song on the record is ‘Tears Won’t Cry (SHINJÜ)’, an energetic track which talks about forgetting about your problems and worries for a night (We’ll borrow happiness just for the night / where all our tears won’t cry / and nothing can hurt you).
You Are Ok finishes with the band’s longest track to date. Closing song ‘Flowers On The Grave’ is an impressive 9-minute long song with a lengthy instrumental that heavily features the string elements before repeating the albums recurring line ‘I was on the verge of breaking down / then you came around’.
On You Are OK, The Maine take their themes back to their more emo days of Forever Halloween, while taking a complete new turn sound-wise. The album shows off the band’s maturity over the years and is no doubt their most well-rounded and ambitious record to date.
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