It is already some six years ago since the Berlin-based artist Max Paul Maria released his last album Figurines. On 25th May 2022, he came back into the record stores with his new song collection, Paradigm Beach. Here is my album review.
Max Paul Maria – About The Artist
Max Paul Maria grew up in Freiburg in Southern Germany. His initial musical background has rather been in the punk and hardcore area. In the later 2000’s decade, he decided to move to Berlin and make music on the stages on the city. His music became more and more successful, leading to the 2013 debut album MIles & Gallons, which has been recorded in Lisbon, Portugal. He did punk music as well until the mid 2010’s. In 2016, Max Paul Maria released his second album Figurines.
Max Paul Maria – Paradigm Beach – Track by Track
The ten song album lasts 38 minutes.
1. The Big Vacation
the Big Vacation already sets some direction for the album: a touch of folk, a bit of rock and some Americana vibes… And… some more… It is really hard to define a genre for this album, this sound. Great voice and an opener, which stays in your mind after listening, indeed.
2. A Sport And A Pastime
A Sport And A Pasttime has likely been the key single release before the album has been published. The song has a nice, fluent style, is a bit stronger on the Americana and rock tunes. Good listen.
3. House Of Love
The guitars don’t need to for too thrilling and complicated sounds in this song, the House of Love is putting its spotlights on the storytelling indeed. The longer the song is running, the less shy it feels – and the more Max Paul Maria and his band also show nicer chords and riffs. Finally, the raspy voice stays the dominating element of the track, though.
4. Cops
Cops is moving the album strongly towards indie-rock sounds – you just cannot neglect a certain touch of punk music in this song as well. A track with a lot of social critics.
5. A Silken Thread
The press kit to the album states that the song sounds like it would have been written to Adele. I can’t really relate to that statement, but I really like the way Max Paul Maria makes use of the time he has to tell his stories in the second longest track of the album. Rocking, powerful statements break down to very quiet, almost melancholic moments. Good listen.
6. Sidi Ifni 1974
Not sure if Max Paul Maria is referencing to to Moroccan city or the graphics by Frank Stella here, the song feels a bit chaotic and works with a lot of melodic lines and instruments in parallel. Not my favorite track on the album.
7. Orphans
Orphans is a familiar sound to fans of the artist: Max Paul Maria released this song as part of his debut album. Nice song with a good vibe.
8. Paradigm Beach
The title track of the album is a nice straight rocker. I don’t hear the influences of Nirvana, to which the press kit is trying to point me. But finally, who cares? Straight-forward, good to listen to song.
9. Life Upon A Hill
Life Upon A Hill is the longest song of the album. The six minute experience starts rather slow and laid back, but later surprises with some rougher rock tracks. A touch of 1970’s rock, before the song steps back to rather quiet sounds. Nice forth and back.
10. American Friend
The American Friend has a flavor of British rock to me. A good was to say good-bye from this album. Very catchy song.
Max Paul Maria – Paradigm Beach – Spotify
Here is Paradigm Beach on Spotify:
Max Paul Maria – Paradigm Beach – My View
Overall, Paradigm Beach is a really nice German album, which is doing well in using very different melodic and musical elements. I had a really good time with these 38 minutes.
German Rock Music Reviews
Here are all my Media Reviews of rock music related to Germany:

Alex Diehl – Das ist keine Übung

Collapse Unter The Empire – Recurring

Joe Leila – Breathing EP

The Blackwhitecolorful – Brace for Impact

Madsen – Hollywood

Fury in the Slaughterhouse – Hope

Later Sons – Rise Up

Crown of Things – Louder Love

Milky Chance – Living In A Haze

Grenzenlos – AntiXtrem

Palila – Mind My Mind

Marathonmann – Maniac

Indecent Behavior – Therapy In Melody

Andreas Diehlmann Band – Long Way To Go

Sebel – Der Boxer

Tino Z – Bluesman

Storm Seeker – Nautic Force

Musa Dagh – No Future

Zartbitter – Hier und Jetzt

VIVA – Das ist die Wahrheit

Mael & Jonas – Rocket Science

Tanzwut – Silberne Hochzeit

The Legendary – Warlord

Donots – Heut ist ein guter Tag

Keimzeit Akustik Quintett – Schon gar nicht Proust

Sonic Wildhearts – Get It On

Sündflut – Basta! EP

Neufundland – Grind

Boppin’ B – Saxbomb

Wally – Alles halb so wild

Allee der Diktatoren – Dieses kleine bisschen Wut

Magical Heart – Heartsonic

Kill Strings – Limbo

Drei Meter Feldweg – Durak

Versus Goliath – Liebe & Chaos

LustfingeR – LustfingeR

She Bites – Super Hero

Heischneida – Heischneida II

April Art – P.O.K.E.R.F.A.C.E.

Kasalla – Rudeldiere

Karaboom – Follow Your Heart

Shameless – So Good, You Should….

Marius Müller-Westernhagen – Das eine Leben

Hi! Spencer – Memori EP

The Jeremy Days – Beauty In Broken

Der Sonne zu Nah – Schwerkraft

Tame The Abyss – They Vanished At Dawn! EP

Der To – Hand aufs Herz

Klaus Lage – Je wahrer die Liebe

Pictures – It’s OK

Herman Rarebell & The Hurricane Orchestra – Scorpion’s Songs Symphonic

Gampe – Tiny House Blues

Ian Tray Band – Electricity

Johannes Scheurich – Mehr Davon

Incredible Pack – Time For Decisions

Musa Dagh – Musa Dagh

Palila – Rock ‘n’ Roll Sadness

Dieter Hallervorden – 80 plus

Michael Heppes – Achtung Leben

Bodyguerra – Fire & Soul

Santiano – Wenn die Kälte Kommt

Wolfgang Petry – Auf das Leben

Peter Maffay – So Weit

LUKE – Break The Silence EP

Plastic Mars – Up To Our Necks

Existent – Kartenhaus EP

Jolina Carl – Mexican Overdrive

Razz – Might Delete Later EP

Paul Weber – Alles im Arsch EP

Karlie Apriori – Seelenpassagier EP

Richie Necker – New Songs and Untold Stories

Phil Solo – Harmonie

Kicker Dibs – Vagabund

Sing meinen Song – Das Tauschkonzert Vol. 8

Durch & Durch – Nice Aber Nutzlos

Robert John Hope – Plasticine Heart

Fury in the Slaughterhouse – now

Ben Zucker – Jetzt Erst Recht!

The Jeals – Rage Generation

Löwen am Nordpol – Löwen am Nordpol

Antiheld – Disturbia

Hämatom – Berlin

Wilderlife – Closer Tonight EP

Selig – Myriaden

Blutengel – Fountain of Destiny

Erik Cohen – Northern Soul

Nino de Angelo – Gesegnet und Verflucht

Gsindl – Gsindlsuperdinger

Jack McBannon – True Stories

Sonor Teutonicus – Morgenrot

Bucket Boys – Twentyfive

Michael Schenker Group – Immortal

Don Marco & Die Kleine Freiheit – Gehst Du Mit Mir Unter

Tusq – Rarities & Outtakes

Dirk Busch – Spuren (Lieder über das Leben)

Saltatio Mortis – Für Immer Frei

Beyond the Black – Horizons

Heinz Rudolf Kunze – Der Wahrheit die Ehre
Flyctory.com and Iceland
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Arny Margret – dinner alone EP

Arstidir – Blik

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Dadi Freyr – I Made An Album

Home is where the heart is – My Twelve Favorite Cities of the World

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Traveling on Iceland’s Ring Road (Day 6 – 4th May 2023) – Akureyri to Reykholt

Traveling on Iceland’s Ring Road (Day 5 – 3rd May 2023) – Husavik to Akureyri

Traveling on Iceland’s Ring Road (Day 4 – 2nd May 2023) – Egilstadir to Husavik

Traveling on Iceland’s Ring Road (Day 3 – 1st May 2023) – Hrafnavellir to Egilstadir

Traveling on Iceland’s Ring Road (Day 2 – 30th April 2023) – Hella to Hrafnavellir

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Gullfoss – Iceland’s Most Famous Waterfall? (Pictured Story)

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Mani Orrason – The World Is Big and You Will Never Find Me

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Car Rental Review – Procar Keflavik Airport (KEF) – Dacia Duster 4WD

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Sky Lagoon Reykjavic / Kopavogur
