Maverick Sabre - Lonely Are The Brave (Album Review)
Monday, 05 March 2012
Written by Katie Territt
Hackney born and Ireland raised Maverick Sabre is fast becoming a household name. Having started his career working with artists such as Professor Green and Chase & Status, and appearing on Later......with Jools Holland, Maverick released his debut single, 'Let Me Go' in late July 2011, charting at No.16 - that well played radio hit catapulting him into a pretty bright future.
2012 sees Maverick Sabre releasing his debut album, 'Lonely Are The Brave', and with a chart entry straight in at No.2 it looks like this could be a year of big things for the young vocalist. Touring with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Cee-Lo Green and Plan B have already gained him a loyal following, and with this collection of genre-skipping songs, Maverick Sabre will be collecting many more fans throughout his career.
Studded with soulful, gritty lyrics, the tidy production on 'Lonely Are The Brave' has made this a debut that keeps its heart whilst translating into a commercial pop album that isn't out of place next to a lot of today’s artists. Maverick strives towards honest lyrics and that shines through in tracks such as 'Memories'. There's a nod to the influence of Isaac Hayes which can be heard in the sampling of 'Ike’s Rap II' on debut single 'Let Me Go', whilst 'Open My Eyes' trips over itself with tumbling layered vocals. 'I Used To Have It All' is a heart-breaking call to arms for a clearly pessimistic generation and 'Shootin’ The Stars' screams the anger of the wronged in society, engaging with the sadness of lost optimism and dark futures.
'Lonely Are The Brave' is scattered with insights from a refreshingly aware and grounded lyricist – this is something that music needs: anger in perfect balance with intelligence and assurance. There is a slightly obvious desire to tie up the loose ends and reign in the roughness of earlier tracks, but the vintage, soulful feel of 'Lonely Are The Brave' is sure to propel it into popularity.
The penultimate track, a cover of Sam Cooke's 'A Change is Gonna Come' is absolutely stunning and real proof that this boy can sing. The power and scale of his voice absolutely takes your breath away and the juxtaposition of the timeless yet current voice is nothing short of goosebump-inducing. Not many artists can carry off such a beautiful performance consisting of purely vocals and piano, but Maverick Sabre has clearly perfected the art. It's a total change of pace after previous track 'Running Away', a rising pop tune with a relentlessly catchy bass-line and clapping percussion. The album closes on a short, live performance and gives an insight into what fans can expect from a Maverick Sabre gig - passion, soul, and raw talent.
Maverick Sabre may have been referred to more than once as a male Amy Winehouse - which isn't a bad thing at all - but he deserves praise in his own right. Clearly writing about his experiences and pulling sounds from his influences is the way forward as this is a fantastic debut album which can easily be called timeless, just like the vocals that soundtrack it. This boy has a very exciting future, and it's not often that a truly beautiful voice makes its way into the music industry. Lets hope he is around for a long time to come as I have a feeling we haven't even seen the best of his talent yet.
'Lonely Are The Brave' is available to buy and download now.
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2012 sees Maverick Sabre releasing his debut album, 'Lonely Are The Brave', and with a chart entry straight in at No.2 it looks like this could be a year of big things for the young vocalist. Touring with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Cee-Lo Green and Plan B have already gained him a loyal following, and with this collection of genre-skipping songs, Maverick Sabre will be collecting many more fans throughout his career..jpg)
