Black & White (The Maine album)

Black & White is the second album by The Maine and was released on July 12, 2010.^[4] The album features singles "Inside of You" and "Growing Up". It debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 with 22,634 copies sold in its first week.^[5]

Black & White
Studio album by The Maine
Released	July 12, 2010 (2010-07-12)
Studio	Bay 7 Studios Sparky Dark Studio Valley Village
Genre	Pop rock[1]
Length	35:22
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Howard Benson
The Maine chronology
...And a Happy New Year (2008) Black & White (2010) Pioneer (2011)
Singles from Black & White
"Inside of You" Released: May 3, 2010[2] "Growing Up" Released: May 17, 2010[3]

Background and recording

In July 2009, it was announced that the group had recently signed to major label Warner Bros. Records.^[6]

Recorded in California with producer Howard Benson, Black & White sees The Maine stepping out of their comfort zone and creating a cohesive body of work that is an "album", in the most traditional sense of the word.^[7]

"We're trying to go for more of a raw feel – really just a free, loose record", singer John O'Callaghan explains. The album was inspired by the classic sounds of American rock-n-roll while also containing relatable themes that retain the sense of youthfulness and fun that is distinctly The Maine.^[8] Acoustic versions of the songs "Inside of You" and "Right Girl" can be found on YouTube as well as the deluxe version of the record.^[9]

Release

On the release date of the album, July 13, the band and their crew embarked on an entire 24-hour event which had been streamed live via their MySpace page, Ustream, and website.^[10] Everyone who viewed the event online had chances to win some prizes, see acoustic sets, and also receive calls from the band through their "Say Now" account. "Inside of You" was released on the band's website as a promotional single and later announced as the first official single off the album on May 3, 2010, shortly after it had been uploaded as a lyrics video on their official YouTube page. A music video for "Inside of You", directed by Mike Jones and Jim Sullos, was released on July 19, 2010.^[11] "Growing Up" was released on May 17, 2010 as the second single for the album.

"Right Girl" was released as the first promotional single from the album, peaking at number 25 on the Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales chart on the week of July 31, 2010.^[12] A music video for the song was released on November 24.^[13] In March, the group went on a tour of the UK.^[14] "Don't Stop Now" was released as a free download through the group's Facebook profile.^[15] A video for "Listen to Your Heart" premiered via PureVolume on July 1.^[16] Throughout July, the group released a multi-part documentary about the making of the album.^[17][18][19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk	4/10[20]
AllMusic	[21]
Alter the Press!	2/5[22]
Billboard	[23]
Melodic	[24]
The Cambridge Student	Unfavorable[25]
Ultimate Guitar	6.7/10[1]

Black & White received mixed to positive reviews. Tim Sendra of AllMusic stated that the album had "a more mature and measured approach." He complimented songs like "Fuel to the Fire" and "Right Girl", however was a lot more critical of the overall album stating, "the record and the band lack the kind of individuality that will really hook people. Black & White sounds more like a genetically engineered record than the organic work of a bunch of guys who really care about what they are doing."^[21] Billboard said, "Black & White, finds the five-piece indulging in guitar pop-driven love anthems, mixed with a splash of ’80s hair band flare."^[23] Sean Reid of Alter the Press! stated, "It's a record that has decent hooks and catchy lyrics but other then that, there isn't much to shout about."^[22] Kaj Roth of Melodic praised the tracks, "Inside of You", "Growing Up" and "Don't Stop Now" that shows "the best of the pop/rock."^[24]

The album won the Alternative Press "Album of the Year" award in 2010.^[26]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Don't Stop Now"	3:36
2.	"Right Girl"	3:36
3.	"Growing Up"	4:00
4.	"Fuel to the Fire"	3:11
5.	"Inside of You"	3:50
6.	"Every Road"	3:37
7.	"Listen to Your Heart"	3:15
8.	"Saving Grace"	3:53
9.	"Give It to Me"	2:42
10.	"Color"	3:41
Total length:		35:22

All lyrics are written by John O'Callaghan; all music is composed by The Maine

Bonus tracks

Deluxe edition (digital bonus songs)

No.	Title	Length
11.	"Right Girl (acoustic)"	3:42
12.	"Inside of You (acoustic)"	3:46
Total length:		42:51

European Edition

No.	Title	Length
11.	"Untangle Me (B-side)"	3:20
12.	"Free (home recording)"	3:22
13.	"Book of Me and You (home recording)"	3:01
14.	"Whoever She Is (home recording)"	4:01
Total length:		49:06

Personnel

Members

• John O'Callaghan - lead vocals, piano
• Jared Monaco – lead guitar
• Kennedy Brock – rhythm guitar, vocals
• Garrett Nickelsen – bass guitar
• Pat Kirch – drums, percussion

Production[27] Craig Aaronson – A&R Keith Armstrong – Mixing assistant Howard Benson – producer Martin Briley – composer Dana Calitri – composer Chris Concepcion – technical assistance David Bassett – composer Paul DeCarli – digital editing Hatsukazu "Hatch" Inagaki – engineer Nik Karpen – mixing assistant Tim Kirch – art conception Chris Lord-Alge – mixing Dirk Mai – art conception, photography

The Maine – art conception, composer, primary artist Zac Maloy – composer Jon Nicholson – drum technician Nina Ossoff – composer Donny Phillips – art conception, art direction, design Mike Plotnikoff – engineer Xavier Ramos – marketing Michito Sánchez – percussion Andrew Schubert - mixing Brad Townsend – mixing Marc VanGool – guitar, guitar technician Butch Walker – composer Gregg Wattenburg – composer Mark Weinburg – composer

Charts

Chart performance for Black & White

Chart (2010)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[28]	48
US Billboard 200[29]	16
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[30]	11
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[31]	6
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[32]	6

References

1. UG Team (July 26, 2010). "Black & White Review | The Maine | Compact Discs | Reviews". Ultimate Guitar Archive. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
2. "Inside of You - Single by The Maine". iTunes. Archived from the original on April 9, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
3. "Growing Up - Single by The Maine". iTunes. Archived from the original on April 9, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
4. "Black & White by The Maine". Apple Music. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
5. "First Avenue - The Maine". Retrieved December 7, 2021.
6. Wippsson, Johan (July 14, 2009). "The Maine to Release Deluxe Edition of Debut Album Can't Stop Won's Stop on iTunes Today!". Melodic. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
7. Johan Wippsson (July 13, 2010). "The Maine Release Black & White". Melodic. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
8. Johan Wippsson (May 19, 2010). "The Maine Release New Song And Announce Tour". Melodic. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
9. "Black & White (Deluxe) – The Maine". Amazon. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
10. Johan Wippsson (July 10, 2010). "The Maine Plan 24 Hour Live Streaming Event For Release". Melodic. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
11. "Video Premiere: The Maine, 'Inside of You'". Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
12. "The Maine Chart History – Rock Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
13. Karan, Tim (November 24, 2010). "Watch the Maine's new video for "Right Girl"". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
14. Fowler, Aaron (November 24, 2010). "The Maine announce UK dates for March 2011". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
15. Bird, Michele (May 11, 2011). "The Maine offer free download of "Don't Stop Now"". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
16. "The Maine to release "Listen To Your Heart" video". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. June 28, 2011. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
17. "The Maine begin releasing documentary". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. July 9, 2011. Archived from the original on August 12, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
18. Bird, Michele (July 15, 2011). "The Maine release two new documentary segments". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
19. Bird, Michele (July 23, 2011). "The Maine post two new documentary segments". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
20. Nassiff, Thomas. "The Maine – Black & White". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
21. Sendra, Tim. "Black & White - The Maine". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 29, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
22. Reid, Sean (July 13, 2010). "Album Review: The Maine - Black & White". Alter the Press!. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
23. "The Maine – Black & White". Billboard. August 13, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
24. Kaj Roth (December 27, 2010). "The Maine - Black & White". Melodic. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
25. Buttercase, Steve (May 22, 2011). "Album Review: The Maine – Black & White". The Cambridge Student. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
26. Alternative Press, Issue No. 271. February 2011. p. 64.
27. "Black & White - The Maine - AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
28. "Canadian Albums Chart - 22 July 2010". Jam! Canoe. Archived from the original on July 23, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
29. "The Maine Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
30. "The Maine Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
31. "The Maine Chart History (Digital Albums)".^{[dead link]} Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
32. "The Maine Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2013.

External links

• Black & White (deluxe) at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)