Maquee

Maquee is an album by Smile. It was released by Atlantic on July 18, 1995.

Maquee
Studio album by
Smile
ReleasedJuly 18, 1995
RecordedFebruary/March 1994
GenreAlternative rock, grunge
LabelAtlantic, Headhunter
Smile chronology
Resin
(1994)		 Maquee
(1995)		 Girls Crushes Boy
(1998)

Background

Smile had originally finished recording the album by September 1994,[1] and it was released under the San Diego-based label Headhunter. Their album caught the attention of Atlantic Records, and Smile was soon offered a contract. Upon signing with Atlantic, the trio quit their day jobs and began touring the country.[2] Alongside some of the tour was the band "Inch",[1] and Smile stayed on the road for nearly a year and a half promoting Maquee.[2] Lyrically, the album plays with themes of fatalism, revenge, and Gothicism.[2] The name of the album came from Reeder's best buddy from Barstow, who had the nickname "Maquee".[3]

Rosas wrote their first single, which was one of the first songs he ever wrote, called "Staring at the Sun" in 1990, stating that he "...wasn't aware enough of what I was doing to be able to make any keen observations on the world of pop culture. It was just looking at my friends and me".[3] It has been described as a "psychedelic plunge into retro rock and modern grunge" by Larry Flick of Billboard Magazine,[4] and it is noted for having a particularly "loud" sound.[4][5]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[6]
Los Angeles Times[7]

Maquee fared well with some reviewers,[5] while some felt that it fell short of what they believed the band was capable of making.[6] Ultimately, the album charted on College Music Journal's "Metal" chart in November 1995, but failed to appear afterwards.[8]

The single "Staring at the Sun" received airplay on the radio.[1]

Chart performance

Album
Chart (November 1995) Peak
position
CMJ Metal 23[8]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Rock Anthem for the Retarded Teenage Hipster Population"3:16
2."Staring at the Sun..."3:42
3."Spud Gun"2:30
4."Picture Made Past"4:54
5."Lemonade"3:16
6."Moosh"2:42
7."Jack Shrimp"2:26
8."Papaya Clearance Sale"3:05
9."She"5:19
10."Wallflower"2:41
11."Until(?)"5:52

Personnel
  • Scott Reeder • drums, backing vocals on "Picture Made Past" and lead vocals on "Moosh"
  • Mike Rosas • vocals, guitar
  • Aaron Sonnennberg • bass guitar and backing vocals on "Wallflower"

Additional personnel
  • Heather Anderson • backing vocals on "Until(?)"

References
  1. Borzillo, p. 18.
  2. Rosen, Alison M. (19 June 2003). "The Long Way Out: Smile decide to end it all". Orange County Weekly. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  3. Boehm, Mike (November 24, 1998). "Smile Downplays Manifesto Destiny". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  4. Flick, p. 93.
  5. Rugolo, J. Derek (January 22, 1996). "Top Ten Music Picks from 1995" (PDF). The Stony Brook Statesman. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  6. Raggett, Ned. "Maquee". All Music Guide. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  7. Boehm, Mike (October 21, 1994). "Pop Music Review Smile: Heavy on Attitude, but Fuzzy on Intentions". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  8. CMJ New Music Monthly, p. 46.

Sources
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