I Heard the Neighborhood was Bleeding

September 3, 2007

Saying that The Manchester Orchestra sounds raw, energetic and youthful would be an understatement. But then again, that might give the impression that this very young band doesn’t make music that has as much eloquence as it does unbridled passion, stepping in the footsteps of bands like Nada Surf, The Weakerthans, and Death Cab for Cutie (when they were still, y’know, really good). Manchester Orchestra’s head-turning sound has gotten them places that other young bands could only dream of. Starting with SXSW last year and a few mentions in PASTE Magazine last year, the band has steadily gained more national attention playing Lollapalooza, CMJ, and Bonaroo. In the next couple of weeks they will have added the Late Show with David Letterman (9/6) and Austin City Limits (9/14) to that list, and by the end of the year they will be able to claim Annuals and Kings of Leon as touring partners.

The band’s newest album was released just a couple months ago and is titled I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child. Each song on the album is a brilliant display of the bands constantly improving songwriting abilities. Andy Hull’s vocals are consistentally sharp reminding me of The Format at times and Youth Group at others, and the inclusion of keyboards and multiple layered guitars gives the songs a greater forcefulness and density. The first track on the album, “Wolves At Night”, is one of the best. The riff at the beginning is both heavy and immediately affecting, but it’s after all the guitar solos have ceased that you get a true look at the band’s melodic potential during the infectious ba-ba-ba outro. “The Neighborhood is Bleeding” is another highlight on the album, providing a simmering, anthemic chorus and intelligent lyrics.

This leads up to the introspective beauty of “I Can Feel Your Pain” and “Where You Have Been?”, a song that serves as the centerpiece of the album and as the passionate set closer during live shows. The second half of the album provides just as many great moments as the first half, starting with the explosive “I Can Barely Breathe” and then exhibiting all their different ranges, mixing bright expansive guitars with quieter acoustic moments, on the fantastic “Golden Ticket”. The album finishes strongly with their early single “Alice and Interiors” and dynamic slow-building album closer “Colly Strings” that finishes the album with an all out guitar jam. If you like the tracks below I highly recommend that you grab the album here for only 10 bucks.

MP3 The Manchester Orchestra – Wolves at Night
MP3 The Manchester Orchestra – The Neighborhood is Bleeding
MP3 The Manchester Orchestra – Golden Ticket

Official Site
Myspace

Posted by Taylor in Album Review