Innocuous But Unexciting
'Karaoke Plays' is not the most instantly infectious track on Maximo Park's second album, 'Our Earthly Pleasures'; infact it's a rather tame choice of singles with a mellow verse leading to a synth-swamped chorus that shimmers and fizzes with the excitement of the moment, but is over all too soon.
The cryptic lyrics are a treat as ever though, "Someone gets runs down, karaoke plays somewhere in the background, but there is no explanation what makes a grown man cry" croons Paul Smith, challenging us to put together his lyrical jigsaw. The guitarwork is understated but melodic, skipping through subtle riffs in the background while twinkling glockenspiel notes illuminate the vocals.