Mean Everything To Nothing , the second album from Atlanta's Manchester Orchestra, is everything you want a rock record to be: raw, urgent, emotional, and 100 percent authentic. "There is nothing fake about this record," says frontman and lyricist Andy Hull. "There's not one fake sound on it. We recorded it live because we wanted it to sound like a band, and I think it does: live and loud!"
Inspired by the pounding, primal assault of Weezer's Pinkerton , Nirvana's In Utero , and Foo Fighters' The Colour and the Shape , this young band has created its own version of what a classic rock album should sound like, complete with fiercely beautiful melodies, shifting guitar and keyboard textures, loud/soft dynamics, and an urgency in each band member's performance, especially Hull's cathartic vocals.
The drama is magnified by the fact that the album's first six songs bleed into one another without stopping. The blistering opener "The Only One" immediately gives way to the propulsive "Shake It Out" and the torrential first single "I've Got Friends," followed by the anguished "Pride" and the menacing "In My Teeth," before slowing down on the darkly funny "100 Dollars." Then the album pauses and down-shifts into less relentless yet equally gripping territory on songs from "I Can Feel A Hot One" (which was featured on Gossip Girl last September), to the ruminative closer "The River."
The breakneck pace is both exhilarating and exhausting, which Hull says was intentional. "I like the fact that there isn't a chance during the first six songs to say anything if you're listening to it with somebody. It's seamless. We did that to emphasize that there are two halves to the album." The first half is a brooding tale of teenage angst and anger -- the confusion and disillusionment of growing up and becoming an adult. The second half is about redemption and an overall re-evaluation of the self. It's about Hull beginning to realize in his own words "that things are not ok, I am not ok, and there's a beauty in that -- a calming, a forgiveness," he says.
When are you guys ever going to come to Baltimore, Maryland? Your music has been the most played on my playlist lately. I met u at lollapalooza for a minute but I lost my autograph. It's all good tho hope to see you live again soon!
hey thanks x the add, just wanted to say hi from Tijuana, Mexico, and tell u guys i just love the energy and feel that u give to youre music, keep it up.
you guys have changed thousands of lives I'm sure, but to me you are more than an inspiration, you are a guiding light for my life, you guys have single handedly inspired to me to become a proud musician, Every song I write has all of my heart, and sometimes when I play them I stop breathing cause there is nothign left in my chest. So thank you guys, just for making the music you do, hope fully once my music page gets up you might check it out. Lotso love guys. - Caleb S.
hey dudes, just to say really love you guys, total influence on us, we've just uploaded 3 brand new songs, if you're into manchester orchestra you might like us, give us a wee shot let us know what you think! x
Nice strong voice, the drums & bass are damn tight! I love the guitar magic too Love the breaks in ‘Shake it out’ the tune is so catchy! Nice touch with the synths on The Only One really like this tune! Intro in ‘Pride’ man, Love it!!! Blew me away!!! Guys I love all your tunes!!! Loving the stuff, Great name too!!!
Hi! Thanks for being our friend! It would mean a lot if you'd check out our songs and leave us a comment. If we're doing our job you might even get a smile out of it. Comment how you feel!
Also, if you're in the Salt Lake City area let me know, we are trying to build a really strong local fanbase and always looking for people to jam with! Get with us early and we'll hook you up when we're huge...which will probably be in a week or two.
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