MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks
A masterwork in silver linings.
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mark Jacob Lenderman’s third studio album is, if nothing else, further proof of the common notion that the funniest people are often brilliant, and very sad at heart. But it is, of course, much more than just that.
Lyrically, one of this album’s main strengths is the simplicity - the stories that it tells are very mundane and down to earth, making it really easy to connect with and recognize the situations being described, or even associate some of the characters with real-life people, if not the listener themselves.
Another major strength of “Manning Fireworks” is that, whilst a lot of the content is quite melancholic, it doesn’t wallow in this sadness - instead, it views it through the unique lens of Lenderman’s dry sense of humor and sharp wit. It has an almost satirical feel to it in the way the lyrics are delivered; the characters Lenderman describes go through a lot of self-destructive cycles, but always keep a humorous edge about them, making sure the album holds this fine balance and avoids coming off as pessimistic.
Lenderman’s vocals are gentle and have an inherent melancholy to them, adding authenticity and vividness to the stories he tells. The album also extensively features backing vocals from Karly Waltzman, singer of the band Wednesday, where Lenderman is the guitarist; Waltzman’s backing vocals are tender and sweet, creating a captivating harmony with Lenderman’s and adding an extra layer of musical nuance to the songs she appears on.
This album is also very impressive on an instrumental level. The performances, most of which are from Lenderman himself, are quite brilliant. This particularly applies to the guitar parts on the album: he shows off great skill, on riffs and especially solos. The composition of the songs on the album is diverse and engaging, and the production adds to this diversity - fluctuating between fuzzy, distorted parts and silky, smooth moments; these contrasts add greatly to how enthralling this record is.
The closing track, “Bark At The Moon”, leaves an entire seven minutes at the end after the song ends. But, rather than concluding with a long, self-indulgent instrumental, Lenderman chooses the unexpected, and fills the seven minutes with feedback and almost haunting noise. It’s bizarre, but weirdly beautiful, and a rather cathartic conclusion, allowing for the listener to sit back and mull over the project they’ve just listened to. And I, for one, am very grateful for this opportunity, because “Manning Fireworks” is a unique, beautiful record, which is very much worth reflecting on.
9.0/10