Rock/Review Maverick Smith - We Make Fire, They Make Smoke

Maverick Smith is a genre-blending rock band known for their raw, live-recorded energy and a sound that defies easy classification. Blending indie and classic rock with orchestral textures, southern blues grit, and experimental edge, their music is built on authenticity, connection, and sonic exploration.

Maverick Smith's second full-length album, “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke,” is daring and thrilling; it defies simple classification and exhibits razor-sharp lyrics and a profound reverence for the unadulterated power of live performance. This album, which was released less than a year after their last endeavor, is a celebration of authenticity as well as a declaration of urgency.

Smith plunges right into a rainbow of alt-rock inspirations. It has the earworm hooks that would make The Posies proud, the heavy crunch of Wolfmother, the harmonic ambition of late-era Beach Boys, and the swagger and lyrical edge of Arctic Monkeys. However, the execution of this record is what really sets it apart, not simply the references. Every song is recorded live, letting the roughness, groove, and spontaneity show through without the glitz of artificial perfection.

Smith has a dedication to craft that feels almost rebellious in an age of artificial intelligence-generated rhythms and over-polished mixes, from the powerful opener to the more experimental, melodic turns that sprinkle the center of the record. “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” alludes to both disobedience and distinction—an artist establishing a realm where innovation is unhindered by fads.

This music is analog in both process and spirit, created by hand, instinct, and heart. Maverick Smith is constructing their own blaze rather than pursuing the sound of others. This is the real deal, so let the smoke rise.