With their reputation for unrelenting authenticity forged in the indie rock crucible, Maverick Smith has emerged as a fast-rising beacon of innovation in the music world. Songs, penned by Sean Boynes, ring with intricate structure combined with technical prowess. Their first album, “With Friends and Imperfections,” not only garnered them much critical acclaim but was called “legendary and genius” by WKIM Los Angeles while also securing their reputation as one of the more dominant forces in modern rock. Having over 6k monthly listeners on Spotify, the band has built an international presence among fans and radio stations ranging from Brazil to Japan, continuing to break new ground.
Their new release “Christmas” is a far-out reimagining of holiday music that courses with the insurgent spirit of indie rock. The centerpiece of the EP, “Coal for Christmas,” is a total masterclass in musical subversion. From its opening bars, the track marks itself apart thanks to a guitar melody that’s at once intricate and visceral. The instrumentation weaves together in a far-from-simple tapestry: delicate piano lines that provide a rhythmical counterpoint to gritty, overdriven guitar work that feels more punk rock than Christmas standard. This is furthered by the real star of the show: vocal delivery in a husky, slightly ragged timbre that injects genuine emotional complexity into what could have been a simple novelty track.
“Kid at Christmas” is the dramatic tonal shift, pure, unadulterated joy taken up a notch with an intoxicating energy that’s impossible to resist. The musical sensibility of the band shows in the arrangement of this track, the song making use of syncopated drum patterns courtesy of Jim Courtney that prevent the track from falling into some predictable festive routine.
The musical palette here is particularly full; think the melodic exuberance of power pop head-on with the technical intricacies of progressive rock. Lush string arrangements add depth and refinement, turning what could have been a fairly regular tune for the holiday into a nuanced musical statement.
This reimagining of “Jingle Bells” cements the band’s status as musical innovators. This is not a mere rock-infused cover. It deconstructs and rebuilds one of your staple holiday standards. The song rips away the typical jovial veneer of the song and replaces it with a high-octane arrangement pulsating with the urgent energy of punk rock.
That is what makes this EP great: its underlying mission. With the help of the Harmony Health Foundation, Maverick Smith makes this musical project much more, a social statement, so to speak. Music just becomes the medium for a great message, showing how art can entertain and advocate all at once.
The EP succeeds in refusing to treat holiday music as monolithic and sentimental. Instead, Christmas is a complex emotional space scattered with instances of joy, melancholy, and always nuanced. Each track is a separate and carefully constructed narrative invitation to a more sophisticated understanding of the seasonal experience.
I just can’t help but evangelize Maverick Smith’s incredible holiday release. There’s something magical about how they’ve captured the spirit of Christmas while completely reinventing the sound. I have “Christmas” on repeat, and so should you. Stream this EP now; go to Spotify or your favorite streaming platform and listen to Maverick Smith’s Christmas EP.