Manchester Orchestra – Simple Math (Favorite Gentlemen)
After two years of soul-searching and cathartic creation, Manchester Orchestra is back again with their third studio album, Simple Math. Keyboardist Chris Freeman stated in an interview that a new dynamic was created with this record, as “strings are predominant [in several songs] and it’s not really a guitar-driven song once you added those strings to it.” Singer/guitarist Andy Hull described the album as an emotional journey, which seems fitting since he reflected on some serious issues, including love, religion and death, during the record’s conception. It will be hard to fully appreciate the album unless you listen to it completely from start to finish, discovering how each track fits in with Manchester Orchestra’s self-exploration and growth. Similarly, you have to know where Manchester Orchestra has been as a band to see where they are going with Simple Math.
Manchester Orchestra – Simple Math (Favorite Gentlemen)
After two years of soul-searching and cathartic creation, Manchester Orchestra is back again with their third studio album, Simple Math. Keyboardist Chris Freeman stated in an interview that a new dynamic was created with this record, as “strings are predominant [in several songs] and it’s not really a guitar-driven song once you added those strings to it.” Singer/guitarist Andy Hull described the album as an emotional journey, which seems fitting since he reflected on some serious issues, including love, religion and death, during the record’s conception. It will be hard to fully appreciate the album unless you listen to it completely from start to finish, discovering how each track fits in with Manchester Orchestra’s self-exploration and growth. Similarly, you have to know where Manchester Orchestra has been as a band to see where they are going with Simple Math.
Musically and thematically, Simple Math makes sense as the next release in their catalog. Manchester Orchestra have established themselves in the underground indie rock scene, and now have the freedom to release more experimental music. That’s not to say they’ve strayed too far from the formula created with their first album; most songs still have Andy Hull’s emotionally strained voice, layers of harmonies and chugging muted guitars. Hull has described this album as a conversation between himself, his wife and God. He must be dealing with issues of abandonment and shame, because these themes, central to previous Manchester Orchestra albums, surface in the emotional sea of this record.
“Deer” opens Simple Math with a humming synthesizer and muted electric guitar. It’s a little slow for an opener, but quickly establishes the deeply personal feel of the album. Hull quietly sings, “Dear everyone I ever really knew / I acted like an asshole so I could keep my edge on you / Ended up abusing even those I thought I knew.” This apologetic anthem pulls you in and prepares you for Manchester Orchestra’s matured sound. The tempo is kicked up a notch with the next three tracks. While this album is notably short on hooks compared to the radio-friendly Mean Everything To Nothing, “Pensacola” is a much-needed jolt of energy and shows Manchester Orchestra can still create some wonderfully up-tempo songs. Hull wails the hauntingly memorable chorus, “My daughter she barely sleeps / she barely eats / she barely speaks.” The gang vocals in this song are notably unique in that rather than Hull layering his own voice, it sounds like a group of Manchester Orchestra’s friends crammed into the recording booth singing about “Alcohol, dirty malls, Pensacola, Florida bars.”
Months ago, Andy Hull claimed this album has an “apocalyptic feel” to it and proved to be spot on. The sweepingly orchestral “Virgin” is easily the standout track on Simple Math, as Manchester Orchestra takes their music to a new level. From the beginning, the distorted screams and faded singing of co-producer Dan Hannon’s children signal the gigantic mood shift. “Virgin” is an undeniably theatrical track–the eerie chorus and soft horns slowly creep up on you. Another closing round of gang vocals sing out, “We built this house with our hands and our time and our blood / we built this up in one day to fall down.”
For the rest of the album, we are in the trenches with Manchester Orchestra and there’s no turning back. Next up is the title track, which, when released two months ago, confused and intrigued fans (myself included). “Simple Math” proved to be a perfect sample of the powerful lyrics and high production value on this painfully personal record.
Manchester Orchestra has endless inspiration for these gut-wrenchingly sad songs, as track after track they explore deeply emotional and significant events in their lives. The deep catharsis continues on “Apprehension,” a dark song that deals with miscarriages. Hull poetically describes a poignant evening at a hospital with lines like, “God has never been afraid to fill our cups with more than they could hold / til they all overflow and we drown once and for all.”
The one possible shortcoming of Simple Math is the order of the songs. Manchester Orchestra has described this album as a “yin and a yang,” which is a fitting explanation since the dark, heavy tracks starkly contrast with brighter, melodic ones. While the last track, “Leaky Breaks,” is a solid song, it doesn’t leave me blown away. It seems to fall flat, especially after hearing other songs that are guaranteed to impress even the most cynical critic. After releasing albums with culminating songs that left listeners in awe of Manchester Orchestra’s creativity and musicality, the slow “Leaky Breaks” proves to be an anti-climatic finale to an otherwise solid record.
After releasing powerfully personal and creative albums that solidified Manchester Orchestra as heavy hitters in the indie-rock scene, Simple Math shows this band has continued growing both musically and emotionally. This band is playing with their sound as they bare their souls in an aptly orchestral album, silencing sticklers who have commented on the band’s name in regards to the lack of strings and overall instrumentation. Manchester Orchestra have stated that they are “more concerned with our fans than we are with the world accepting us as a great band. We’re starting to realize that maybe that’s not in our immediate future.” While dedication to fans is a hallmark of a successful and accomplished band, if worldwide recognition isn’t in Manchester Orchestra’s future after this album, I’m going to seriously start doubting the music industry.
