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HEAVY MUSIC HISTORY: American Candy – The Maine

When THE MAINE took to Joshua Tree, California to record their fifth studio album American Candy, they knew that they wanted to switch up their approach. Escaping to a remote house in the desert and working with producer Colby Wedgeworth again for the first time since Pioneer, THE MAINE shifted their sound and their outlook to the brighter, groove infused album that is American Candy

Released on March 31 2015, American Candy found THE MAINE taking stock and starting somewhat fresh. Welcoming Alternative Press into the studio, THE MAINE reflected on the process that “The songs and the record are an homage to when we first started out, and I really feel like everything we’ve learned along the way has led up to this point.” All aspects of this album saw THE MAINE taking a new approach and starting a new era for the band. Lead singer John O’Callaghan reflected in an interview on their YouTube channel that this was “the first time I vocalised the end goal to the guys prior to showing them tunes.” A cohesive effort saw the group coming together with a new goal, to shift the band’s sound from their moodier aesthetic that previous album Forever Halloween had pushed to its limits, and instead embrace the more melodic and groove infused elements of their pop-punk roots. 

In part of this effort, John reflects in the same interview, “I write from a very pop oriented place to begin with, and I feel like with the past few records we’ve got pretty good at disguising that and dressing it up as rock songs.” A large part of this shift to embrace this came with their decision to work again with producer Colby Wedgeworth, who’s background in pop production added this desired groove to the album’s alt-rock. Ultimately, the groove was about more than just the sound though, as John explains in one of the mini making-of documentaries the band posted on their YouTube “I wanted to keep things mostly light and groovy, if for nothing else for my psyche. I needed to be better, I needed to feel better.” 

Unique to the experience of making the album was the house in Joshua Tree that THE MAINE hired. In part a financial decision to save money on a studio, and in part a desire to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, THE MAINE built their own temporary studio in a house that they hired. Drummer Pat Kirch reflects in his mini making of documentary episode that “This album was shaped by the house”, namely the drum parts being recorded by the house’s pool. This freedom to take chances and build an album organically found THE MAINE able to embrace a lighter sonic tone and a clearer mindset, soaked up in the sunshine and starlight of the Joshua Tree setting. 

No tracks embody this more than the album’s singles. The album rollout saw English Girls as the first single, a track that recounts an experience the band had whilst on tour in the UK. Speaking about the track, John reflects “the mood of that song describes the mood of the album.” With this groove infused light tone set, THE MAINE carried out the singles with Miles Away, and Same Suit, Different Tie. The former debuted at number 16 on the iTunes Alternative Chart, and the group released an acoustic version of the track alongside the album’s release on March 31 2015, and the 24 livestream they did to coincide with its release. The singles glisten with sun soaked escapism, with Same Suit, Different Tie standing amongst the album as a playful reminder for fans that no matter the shift in aesthetic, THE MAINE will always be THE MAINE.

This is not to say the album was to lose itself in saccharine. Its title was taken from an experience in Australia where the group stumbled upon a shop selling ‘American Candy.’ Exploring the strangeness of the phrase, John reflects in his mini making of documentary episode: “American candy is the junk they get you hooked on, anything without a heartbeat … it’s everything I don’t want to be a part of.” Amidst its grooves, the album also offers moments of sincerity and vulnerability on Un(Lost), 24 Floors and Diet Soda Society. Yet, overarching the entire album is an optimism and drive for togetherness in the face of these vulnerabilities, with Un(Lost) offering the mantra “control what you can confront what you can’t, and always remember how lucky you are to have yourself.” Closing track Another Night On Mars encapsulates the community that their music has meant to both the band and their fans, and it is this togetherness in its anthemic quality that found the track celebrated, closing the group’s Sweet Sixteen anniversary tour in 2024. 

Following the album’s release, THE MAINE embarked on a headlining North American tour throughout the following April and May. They were joined by REAL FRIENDS, KNUCKLE PUCK and THE TECHNICOLOURS, and whilst on the road uploaded a series of YouTube videos documenting their time on the road and playing the biggest venues of their careers. John reflects in the third that “this feels like the most energetic anyone has been about our band ever.” Giving back this energy, in the August and September the group embarked on their Free For All tour, on which they played ordinary areas like parking lots and radio stations free of charge for the fans. In 2016, the band embarked on a UK tour supporting MAYDAY PARADE, and spent the summer across the US on the Warped Tour. 

American Candy was received widely positively. Released through their own label 8123, the album debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 36. Alternative Press praised the album, claiming “there’s not one bad song on American Candyand nominating it for Album Of The Year at their 2016 Alternative Press Music Awards. It has also since been celebrated by the band with their 2019 Modern Nostalgia tour where they played it in full along side its follow up album Lovely Little Lonely. On March 17th 2025, the band announced they’d be embarking on a tour to celebrate the album’s 10th anniversary, playing the album in full across the US. 

American Candy marked a new era for THE MAINE. A brighter outlook and a fresh start, fuelled by an escape to the California desert. But is also marked a shift for their career: a turning point that found them looking back and building a new path as a group, embodied by the joining of arms and chanting “This one goes to my closest friends, the ones who make me feel less alien, I do not think I would be here if not for them.” 

American Candy - The Maine

American Candy was originally released on March 31st, 2015 via 8123 Records. 

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