Welcome back to Takeover Tuesday, where each week, Billboard taps chart-topping artists and tastemakers to compile their very own playlist exclusive to Billboard‘s Spotify account. We give the artists free rein to base the list on whatever subject they choose. The only rule? Make it as creative and unique to them as possible.
In their 12 years as a band, The Maine have taken their sound from pop-driven rock to guitar-heavy alt-rock. The edgier vibe is arguably most apparent in The Maine’s latest album, You Are Ok, which the group just dropped on March 29.
The 10-song set continues the band’s relentless spirit lyrically, introducing anthemic ’80s-inspired reverbs and ’90s rock melodies in many of the tracks. As indicated by the band’s Takeover Tuesday playlist — dedicated to the songs and artists that influenced You Are Ok — those are the eras that most had an impact on The Maine as they were writing and recording their latest LP.
The playlist features familiar tracks by Tears For Fears (“Break It Down Again”), George Harrison (“Isn’t It a Pity”), ELO (“Livin’ Thing”) and The Cure (“A Forest”), as well as deep cuts like Radiohead’s “Myxomatosis” and David Bowie’s “Bombers.” The Maine were also influenced by some songs from the early 2000s, including Joni Mitchell’s 2001 single “Both Sides Now” and Spoon’s 2001 Girls Can Tell cut “The Recluse.”
No matter the era, The Maine suggest that the vibes of these tunes were super important to the You Are Ok creation process. “These tunes influenced the album — not necessarily in a ‘let’s write this song,’ but in a ‘let’s make stuff that makes us feel like this’ kinda way,” the band share in a statement. “The list could really go on and on, but these are some of the choice cuts that made us feel that special type of way.”
Check out You Are Ok here, and the songs that influenced the album below.