Devils & Angels

by Melee

Overview

A name like Melee -- with all its complicated diacritics, with its suggestion of violence -- suggests that this Orange County quartet is standard-issue modern punk, perhaps even being a band that tends toward the harder, brutal side of things. Names can be deceiving, however, since their 2007 major-label debut, Devils & Angels, is something entirely unexpected: a genuine pop album, one that's informed by new wave but winds up sounding like a good rock record from 1985. Much of this sounds learned second-hand from Ben Folds but Melee is notably lacking in Folds' perma-smirk. Even the cover of Hall & Oates' classic "You Make My Dreams" is done sans irony: unlike many punk covers, this is a celebration of song, not cheese. If Chris Cron, like many of his peers, has a voice that's a bit too thin to be memorably on its own accord, it works well with the band's exuberant feel and it delivers the hooks simply and cleanly. Plus, they have a way with hooks, particularly on the exhilarating "Frequently Baby (She's a Teenager Maniac)," which would be a smash at any time there was either pop radio or MTV. It may be the best moment here, but the rest of Devils & Angels proves that it's no fluke as it showcases the rare punk-pop band that places a greater emphasis on pop than punk to often addictive results. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	04/03/2007
Label:	Warner Bros.
UPC:	0093624331124
Rank:	108443

Tracks

1. Built to Last
2. Rhythm of Rain
3. Frequently Baby (She's a Teenage Maniac)
4. For a Lifetime
5. Drive Away
6. Can't Hold On
7. Imitation
8. Love Carries On
9. She's Gonna Find Me Here
10. Biggest Mistake
11. You Got
12. Stand Up
13. You Make My Dreams

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Melee   Primary Artist
Howard Benson   Keyboards
Ricky Sans   Guitar,Vocals
Chris Cron   Piano,Guitar,Vocals
Lenny Castro   Percussion
Ryan Malloy   Bass,Vocals
Jeremy Barnett   Vocals (Background)
Mike Nader   Drums,Vocals
Karen Cron   Vocals (Background)
Lina Kumon   Vocals (Background)
Phil X   Guitar
Holly Palmer   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Hatsukazu "Hatch" Inagaki   Audio Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Mark O'Donoughue   Audio Engineer,Mixing
Jamie Seyberth   Audio Engineer,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Howard Benson   Audio Production,Producer,Programming
Chris Cron   Arranger,Composer,Group Member
Sara Allen   Composer
Mike Plotnikoff   Engineer
Ryan Malloy   Arranger,Group Member
Mike Nader   Arranger,Group Member
Adam Schlesinger   Arranger,Pre-Production
Brian "Big Bass" Gardner   Mastering
Ricky Sans   Arranger,Composer,Group Member
Tim Palmer   Mixing
Jon Nicholson   Drum Technician
Daryl Hall   Composer
Derrick Santini   Photography
Frank Maddocks   Design,Creative Director
Cindi Peters   Mixing Coordinator
Craig Aaronson   A&R
John Oates   Composer
Paul DeCarli   Digital Editing
Marc VanGool   Guitar Technician