For those of you who haven’t already streamed it in full on the album’s website, this is an album review of Manchester Orchestra’s upcoming album Simple Math, released today.
If you’ve been wary about Manchester Orchestra’s follow-up to their sensational 2009 album Mean Everything to Nothing, fear not. If you love the band for Andy Hull’s hold-nothing-back emotion-filled vocals, the raging guitar breakdowns, swelling strings, and all-around finely crafted and dynamic style, you will not find this album lacking. For the most part, Simple Math takes the essence of Mean Everything to Nothing, boils it down, and molds it into a new shape on these ten tracks, with a few exceptions.
The album opens with “Deer.” It begins with minimal electronics leading into a basic guitar melody. The lyrics seem to be autobiographical, apologetic, and despondent. Each verse is about something else falling apart. “I acted like an asshole so I could keep my edge on you”, then “I acted like an asshole so my albums would never burn. I’m hungry now and scraps of dirty dirt.”
If “Deer” is an apology, “Mighty” is a “fuck you.” A shredding intro and demanding vocals from Hull, “Mighty” comes through kicking and screaming with noisy riffs over a string melody.
“Pensacola” is the first song of the album that sounds out of character for Manchester Orchestra. The melody intro bears a striking resemblance to a band I grew up with called Melee—incredibly upbeat, almost entirely in a major key, very dynamic, making use of some brass and a shout-chorus, and for the most part is completely optimistic. “I did it all for you.”
After the completely M.O.-style “April Fool” and “Pale Black Eye” comes the track recently premiered on their Facebook, “Virgins.” The haunting chorus of youngsters coupled with the minor keys creates a dark and eerie mood. “We build this house with our with our hands / and our time / and our blood.” This is certainly one of my favorites on the album.
The title track of the record, “Simple Math,” is the seductive rock ballad equivalent of an R&B “undress me” song. “Leave It Alone” slows down into a sincere and earnest guitar and orchestral track with the vibe of Mean Everything to Nothing’s “100 Dollars.” “Apprehension “ provides some classic piano-interspersed indie-rock and “Leaky Breaks” closes the album with a quiet sensibility and echoing vocals, letting the album trail off slowly with this 7+ minute track.
Simple Math has all the ingredients that you could expect from Manchester Orchestra and then some. Mixing up the formula a bit to provide some originality, “Deers” and “Virgins” are probably the most stunning on the record. If you’re a Manchester Orchestra fan, you’ll surely love this album and if you’re not, then maybe these ten tracks can change your mind.
Pick up Simple Math on Amazon.
www.themanchesterorchestra.com
Strange Mercy – St. Vincent (4AD)
Civilian – Wye Oak (Merge)
Nightlife – Phantogram (Indica Records/Fontana North)
Codes and Keys – Death Cab for Cutie (Atlantic)
This is Where We Are – Seryn (Velvet Blue Music / Spune)
BBDLP1 – Big Black Delta (Coming Home Records)
Paradise – Slow Club (Moshi Moshi)
Dig Up the Dead – Mansions (Burning House)
Blue Suicide – Coma Cinema (Wonder Beard Tapes / Fork and Spoon)
Tamer Animals – Other Lives (TBD Records)
Slow Club’s debut album Yeah, So is one of my top five favorite albums of 2010. The follow-up Paradise had a lot to prove. This album isn’t claiming to bring you to a “state of bliss,” as the name might suggest, but conjures mixed feelings about themes of love, loss, heartbreak, and occasionally sex.
