A band called The Maine is back. In their alluring new pop-rock single, “Sticky,” John O’Callaghan, Jared Monaco, Kennedy Brock, Pat Kirch, and Garrett Nickelsen are releasing new music for their fan family, 8123, after a year of canceled shows. Luckily, however, “Sticky” is just as true to the band’s adored, signature sound as their dedication is to the messages behind their music.
“Sticky” is the first release since the band’s 2019 album, You Are OK, and how the group continuously elevates their sound all while keeping it in the same sonic field their fans love so much is a testament to their commitment to growing artistry as well as who The Maine are. When once lead singer O’Callaghan would sing about “hoping for the right words,” this new single opens a door into the excitement of falling into a love so secure that he finally has the words to describe every good feeling born out of it.
“I’ve made mistakes / but you were not one,” he sings, “And I finally found those letters lost under my tongue.” Backed by tuneful, rhythmic guitars that are often present in The Maine’s fan-favorite songs, the track brings out light-hearted energy that makes it easy to envision how incredible their upcoming live shows will be. Fusing ’80s synth sounds with classic rock drums makes “Sticky” one of the most feel-good tracks released in pop-rock so far this year.
When You Are OK was released in 2019, the album sparked a movement among rock and pop-punk music fans. It encouraged audiences in very open and public ways to have conversations regarding mental health and the idea behind being truly OK. From messages on Pat Kirch’s drum heads that read, “You Are OK” to banner backdrops at shows with the phrase, “We will never be this young again,” The Maine’s music has always served as a reminder of how important it is to remember and appreciate every current moment, no matter the feeling.
In the same vein, the title of their upcoming album, XOXO: From Love and Anxiety in Real Time, further hints at their dedication to continuing these deeper conversations through their music, ones that they know 8123 will relate to and understand. As the album’s lead single, “Sticky” is just a peek into what’s coming next for the band — their trademark way of drawing listeners in with a catchy, danceable song before they pull the curtain back on their secret talent of disguising emotional, heart-wrenching honesty as wildly cathartic, memorable tracks. Always turning summers into the hopeful, fun season they’re meant to be, The Maine’s next album is set for release on July 9, 2021.
You can pre-order XOXO: From Love and Anxiety in Real Time now here.