“We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” is the latest release by Maverick Smith, an outstanding American band based in Weirton, West Virginia. It’s their second piece of work in 2025, arriving after “For Streams,” a critically acclaimed full-length album released earlier this year that you should also check out as soon as possible. Carrying nine incredible compositions, this brand-new material showcases their signature moves empowered with many innovations in songwriting, composing, arranging, and performing. Lyrically, “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” explores themes such as love, relationships, various sentiments, moods, situations, and circumstances, so it’s a highly relatable collection of catchy, memorable, engaging songs that will immediately resonate with the broader auditorium. Sonically, Maverick Smith combines various approaches and many complementary music genres to illustrate luxuriant sonic imagery. Perhaps alternative rock comes to mind first, but you’ll unquestionably hear how some of the finest properties borrowed from indie rock, skater rock, pop-punk, and power pop found their way into this sonic equation. They use all these additional sonic ingredients as more than necessary enhancements, accentuations, decorations, and other details that undoubtedly elevate these tracks to an entirely new level while the band simultaneously remains loyal to the primary sonic direction. Their music shines with qualities that meet all the trends in modern music production yet there’s a subtle touch of nostalgia lurking around for an extra kick. You’ll hear resemblances with nineties alternative music and old-school dream pop yet Maverick Smith keeps their music as modern as it could be. Therefore, these experimentations with many different approaches, techniques, and complementary styles resulted in a fascinating alternative rock album that will appeal not only to the fans of the genre but anyone who appreciates tastefully assembled and flawlessly performed music.
This epic sonic journey commences with “Sinking Feeling,” a calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal introducing piece that vividly showcases what you might expect from the remainder of the album. Besides marvelous vocal harmonies and arrangements, the band skillfully implements beautiful chord progressions, keys, and string instruments, creating a lush backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. In the meantime, the rock-solid rhythm section based upon intricate basslines and excellent drumming patterns keeps everything in line with such precision and finesse. Such an incredible overture that promises a thrilling voyage through Maverick Smith’s expansive sonic universe. The band spices things up a little bit with “Feel It Sick,” a marvelous alternative rock song that channels some The Breeders, Weezer, and Veruca Salt vibes. Still, this composition carries so many signature moves, carefully assembled to satisfy even the pickiest listeners. The soulful, passionate, sincere, confident, emotive, powerful vocal performance elevates everything to new heights, commands attention, and guides the listening apparatus while heavily distorted riffs pervade from all possible sides. The interplay between rhythm and lead guitars makes this song even more appealing to the ears. You’ll notice how all those fuzzy chord progressions and riffs resonate on one side while the other shines with leads, themes, and accentuations. The rhythm section is also more detailed and dynamic, with all those beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics keeping the remainder of the band in line while dictating groove and pace. It’s nearly mindblowing how each composition carries an entirely different atmosphere yet it perfectly fits the album. “Opet Your Mind” exemplifies their dedication to the craft with all those string instrumentations marvelously suiting guitar works. Track like “Keep Me Up” brings classic Ramones sound, but is elevated to an entirely new level with more detailed instrumentations and swift rhythmic structure. The bass guitar rumbles beneath the guitar layers, offering more heaviness, clarity, and depth while acting as a binding element between those mentioned instrumentations and drums. It’s definitely one of the standout tracks that showcase Maverick Smith’s ability to write, compose, arrange, and produce songs in every music genre you could possibly imagine.
“Mary Lou” continues in the same style and pace. The song combines all those vital sonic ingredients borrowed from classic punk rock, rock ‘n’ roll, and power po, tastefully blended to perfection. From vocal harmonies and singalongs to incredible riffs, detailed basslines, and energetic beats, this composition carries so many qualities that you’ll need several listening sessions to grasp everything these experienced musicians implemented into it. “Imposter Syndrome” is another standout track, bringing back the finest blend of modern and retro alternative rock sound. The guitars sound jangly and angular yet there are generous servings of distortion lurking around. The bass guitar brings more warmness, perfectly fitting all those distorted chord progressions and riffs while profoundly detailed rhythmic sequences elevate everything to new heights. This track exemplifies Maverick Smith’s songwriting abilities, proving they’re breaking the rules and shapeshifting the boundaries of the genre to deliver a more layered, detailed, complex sound. “Digital Arcade” channels all those finest pop-punk, skater rock, and indie rock qualities through hypnotic, irresistible, addictive vocal harmonies and singalongs. The chorus is so addictive that you’ll repeatedly spin this song over and over again. The remainder of the band showcases their tremendous musical abilities through a comprehensive collection of regular and palm-muted riffs, synth leads, warm-sounding low-ends, and perfectly accentuated beats. The band closes this fascinating full-length album with “Too Smart Too Dumb” and “So What Who Cares,” two tracks that carry subtle yet vividly hearable folk-rock elements, wisely incorporated into the songs core. It’s an adequate closure of such a magnificent material where brilliant ideas and marvelous instrumentation collide harmoniously.
Maverick Smith created an alternative rock masterpiece. Their experience, knowledge, talent, and skills shine throughout every orchestration, segment, and composition. “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” is a comprehensive collection of soulful songs that tackle all the senses. It will immediately become one of the favorites in your record collection thanks to Maverick Smith’s ability to break all the rules, shapeshift the boundaries, and elevate alternative rock music to new heights. Therefore, you should immediately place this masterpiece on your music radar. “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” is available on all streaming platforms. Don’t miss it!
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