The Maine Surprise Drop A record

Alternatively titled “Dyed Black and Misc.”

Written by C. Tuel

And with a snap, The Maine have dropped a surprise record for fans from all eras of their music. In the spirit of the 8123 festival, it’s perfectly on time for fans to learn and sing back to them, with a listening party at the infamous parking garage in Arizona. And it leaves such sweetness with me, knowing that it’s just…happening. But the listen of it - just realizing that these are songs that were previously unreleased - my little archivist heart goes insane about it. There’s a “would’ve-been-could’ve-been” for each album. Each. Record. It's something to make everyone happy, and personally it’s made me ecstatic enough to write about it with a fire under me.

I find myself continuously looping eight fingers crossed ( dyed sand 2019 ). Knowing it’s from the You Are OK era of this band makes me incredibly, incredibly emotional. The Snapchat video that I took that will never see the light of day is of my first listen of it. As always just an archival bit to send to Han, but - “This is a You Are OK throwaway track, isn’t it?” “She would’ve fit so perfectly.” and that she is.

I find myself holding space with the teenager I used to be today. The one with their name in the ‘thank you’ section of the deluxe edition of the 2019 album, the one who bought the damn You Are OK wallet I still use today. The one who did a stick and poke of a parking garage number. (if you get it, you get it.)

The one who decided to conduct their first interview in college for an English project and eventually led to all this. I know that interview saved my grade, too.

Either way. It’s an incredibly interesting concept to do for a record. I need more bands to release their old demos and side concepts for albums. We’re appreciative, we promise.