Maxtone Four's debut recording, Go Steady, produced and recorded by Drew Johnson (the Drew Johnson Band, Formula Kid) at Angstrom Sound in Granite City, Illinois, is a throwback to rock records of yesteryear, a record that strips away the current musical trends of aggression, angst and whiny
navel-gazing, replacing them with solid, hook-filled, guitar-driven pop/rock. Songs about girls and sunny skies. St. Louis, Missouri based singer/songwriter Brian McClelland's jones for mixing 60's British invasion (Kinks, the Zombies), 80's new wave (the Cars, the Knack, Squeeze) and more recent indie guitar rock (Fountains of Wayne, Superdrag) has developed into a truly unique brand of songwriting, filling Maxtone Four's driving tunes with hooky, buzzy guitars and timeless pop melodies. And lyrics that won't make you wince.

Rounding out the lineup is an equally unique blend of musicians: Karl Dodson, formerly of quirk-folk-pop group Hotel Faux Pas (which also included McClelland), brings his own style of lead guitar wizardry, incorporating various effects that allow him to mimic a harmonium, xylophone or steel drum on stage at any given time. Bassist Chris Clark brings a fat, blues-based low end, mixing with Jeremy Miller's rock-solid drumming to create an unstoppable engine for Maxtone Four's roaring brand of pop.

from NotLame.com: "Skinny tie, indie power pop done in `double naught` style (it`s the 00`s, after all now)! Like Superdrag doing The Knack, yes! So many favorite pop sounds are all over this disc - Lovely, gorgeous vocals and band chants, exuberant blasts new wavey melodies flow in and fill every imaginable crack with pop perfection. Power pop salvation for fans of the new school Yes, this is a throwback to rock records of yesteryear, a record that strips away the current musical trends of aggression, angst and whiny navel-gazing, replacing them with solid, hook-filled, guitar-driven pop/rock. Songs about girls and sunny skies. St. Louis, Missouri based singer/songwriter Brian McClelland`s jones for mixing 60`s British invasion (Kinks, the Zombies), 80`s new wave (the Cars, theKnack, Squeeze) and more recent indie guitar rock (Fountains of Wayne, Superdrag) has developed into a truly unique brand of songwriting, filling Maxtone Four`s driving tunes with hooky, buzzy guitars and timeless pop melodies. And lyrics that won`t make you wince. And pop hooks that stick to the songs like fly paper. Extremely Highly Recommended, yup!"

from Playback St. Louis: "Go Steady marks the debut of the Maxtone Four, a band with elements of Hotel Faux Pas (Brian McClelland and Karl Dodson) along with Chris Clark and Jeremy Miller. McClelland has a good grasp on the way to write a pop lyric, and he almost never goes over the top with the obvious-a key ingredient in the best songs. Several of the songs on the album are infectious and deceiving. A song like "Pretty Sky" sounds light and poppy, but reveals a darker world just under its surface. At first I thought it was a simple love song, but then after (probably too much) analysis, I swear he was taking on false prophets or maybe the church. One of his sharper, wittier songs is "Making Up (yeah, yeah)," about shaking off the horrors of high school and, perhaps, seeking a little revenge as life evens out and we get older. How could you not love a song with a line like "I got a job selling vinyl/telling frat boys all sales are final"? The band produces a great sound with a sharp, poppy thrill that brings to mind the Kinks and XTC. McClelland has an acute sense of observations, and
he uses it with wit and a little venom to tell great stories. The album comes off as a subtle guide, with love songs that aren't really love songs and hipster cool that is natural. The M4 create a more complex landscape that expects you to think on you feet and get the joke-or risk being part of it."

from Indie-Music.com: "What a fun CD. I love bands that prove that pop music does not have to be mindless drivel. Maxtone Four writes music that is jangly fun and lyrics with a million details and the occasional streak of wicked humor. You gotta love a band that plays music that could easily fit on the soundtrack of "That Thing You Do" while singing lyrics that belong on the soundtrack of "Rock and Roll High School." The CD catches you from first track. Imagine Squeeze and the Kinks crashing
a concert by The Cars. Catchy and sweet, with dark undertones lurking in the message. If you don't want to go that deep, you can just enjoy chair-dancing to it. (Some of us aren't brave enough for a dance floor.) Those who dig deeper will be rewarded with sharp wit and memories that instantly connect."