Speaking to Gigwise backstage at a muddy Glastonbury, Maximo Park have hit back at the critics who have knocked their second album ‘Our Earthly Pleasures.’

Despite getting a suitably glowing review on Gigwise, other publications have slated the album saying it is inferior to their debut.

However, the band say they are not letting it get to them. Frontman Paul Smith says: “I think some people have a preconceived idea about your band before they review your album and sure enough they subscribe to that. I mean we often get lumped with the Kaiser Chiefs and we’re nothing like that!

“There have been some valid criticisms, you think ‘I see why you thought that, but I don’t agree’, but when people have a go at what you look like in the review, you think ‘you’re not really listening to the music are you?’ or people compare you to bands you have no relation to.

“The one thing I’d say about this band is we’re different enough to polarise opinion.”

Guitarist Duncan Lloyd added: “We were talking to one or two bands today who have had their albums out recently and they’re like ‘I can’t believe so and so said this about it’, and I guess when you review an album you may listen to it once or twice, put it on the shelf and write a review.”

He finished: “Reviews are quick things and you can let it affect you. The most important thing for us is the music and how the fans react.” 

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