Jack's Silversun Orchestra

I know I’ve promised you fine people entries, so to keep up my end of the bargain I’m going to get caught up with this one. Post-graduation has been rough on my time with the job hunting and the unpacking, but I appreciate that you guys stick with me throughout my absentmindedness. So, let me get the ball rolling with a wonderful gift someone gave me as well as some small tidbits about two 5 star albums that have been out for a while, but still deserve praise and mention here.

First off, take a gander at this:

This lyrics booklet for Jack’s Mannequin’s The Glass Passenger was signed by one of my favorite artists currently making music, Andrew “Cancer Can Suck It” McMahon. I’ve been a huge follower of McMahon’s work ever since my friend Paulina lent me Something Corporate’s Leaving Through The Window way back in high school, and receiving this made me all giddy and weak in the knees. Suffice to say, the fact that this gifted pianist touched these pieces of paper is astounding.

An incredible amount of thanks goes out to my good friend Steven for not only handing me this great piece of fandom, but also getting McMahon to sign it. We were supposed to see Jack’s last fall at Slims and obligations at the newspaper kept me from joining him. The fact that he thought enough to get this for me was incredibly nice of him, and I'm eternally grateful. Thanks buddy!

With that said, let’s talk about some 5 star albums that I can’t get ENOUGH of.

Swoon- Silversun Pickups
I was a latecomer to the whole Silversun Pickups craze. Yeah, I jumped onto the bandwagon with “Lazy Eye,” but Carnavas always left me wanting something more from the band. I loved Chris Guanlao’s propulsive drumming, Nikki Monninger’s watery bass work, and Brian Aubert’s androgynous vocals, but the songs seemed very bare bones for the types of musical swells they were going for. So it’s on Swoon that the LA four piece seems to have read my mind and corrected the issue. With their use of crunchy-meets-ethereal guitar fuzz and striking strings, the Silversun Pickups put out a record that feels one part space opera and part shoegazer fantasy. From the droning rhythms of “It’s Nice To Know You Work Alone” to the tense heights of the string laden “Catch & Release,” it’s clear that Swoon is a record that’s diverse, while the band continues to refine the song craft qualities that won them fans with Carnavas. Elsewhere, the stratospheric digital overdrive of “There’s No Secrets This Year” proves the band can still rock with the speakers set at 11, just a bit more tempered this time around. All in all, this is a record that Silversun fans will, appropriately, swoon over.


Mean Everything To Nothing- Manchester Orchestra
Mean Everything To Nothing is, quite simply, Manchester Orchestra’s Pinkerton. If that attribution seems overzealous, it isn’t. Much like Weezer’s love-it-or-leave it opus, Mean Everything To Nothing comes on the coattails of a cult favorite (I’m Like A Virgin Losing A Child), is darker that its predecessor, and finds lead singer Andy Hull expelling his demons in an almost confessional-like fashion. Yet it’s the music really that really shines as Manchester Orchestra creates arrangements that are more dynamic and more confident than the ones found on their debut. From the stompy workout of “Pride” to the southern rock infused power pop of “The Only One,” Manchester Orchestra balances clean tones with warm rusty riffs. It comes together effortlessly, the songs building from swirling atmospherics to choppy, and thrilling climaxes. But the real star is Hull with his schizophrenic vocal delivery. His versatility is astonishing to hear as he pushes his voice to it’s raspy edges on “I’ve Got Friends” while saving enough smoothness for ballads like “I Can Feel A Hot One.” Ultimately, these qualities contribute to an album that has teeth, a record that balances the hooks with the soul searching. Hopefully, people will realize how much an album like this one, should truly mean to them.

So loyal readers, consider me caught up. Stay tuned for my last contribution to MIX IT UP Magazine and my review of Taking Back Sunday’s New Again in the coming week.