Manchester Orchestra started recording their album last month, and it’s about 80% done. Check out a tweet from Andy Hull below after the jump.
Manchester Orchestra performed a new song called “The Ocean” live at a recent show in California. Check it out below!
The Monthly Summary
Week I
Week II
Week III
Albums Out This Month
Week I
Week II
Week III
Record Store Day / Week IV
The Weekly Tour Round-Up
Spring-Summer
Interviews
Pentimento
Reviews
Allison Weiss - Say What You Mean
Fall Out Boy - Save Rock And Roll
Manchester Orchestra, Frightened Rabbit, Grouplove - Split 12”
Iron & Wine - Ghost On Ghost
Light Years - Parking Lots EP
The Plain White T’s - Should’ve Gone To Bed
Single Reviews
The Wonder Years - “Dismantling Summer”
Perspectives
Mod Sun, The Trippy Hippy
Discussions
Our Must Have Vinyl Grabs
The Best Album Closers
BandsOnBands
The Braces on Elvis Costello
Playlists
Escape The Fate
Contributor Blogs
Rough Drafts With Ben Liebsch
Contests
Stars In Stereo - Merch Giveaway [Ends on April 24th]
Just Surrender - NYC Bowery Electric Tickets [Ends on April 24th]
Streams
On My Honor - “I Never Deserve The Things I Need”
Video Premieres
Escape The Fate - “You’re Insane” Behind The Scenes
NK - “Kings” Music Video Teaser
Behind The Booths
Peace’d Out
Let It Happen
Podcasts
100 Words Or Less: Jeremy Bolm (Touché Amoré)
Showcase
Cross Town Train
Dads
Of Fortune & Fame
Gallery
Spring Fever Tour
The Gaslight Anthem, Kenny Fletcher, Matt Mays
Bad Religion, The Bronx, Polar Bear Club
Sponsored Tours
It’s A Spring Fling [05/24]
BoySetsFire, No Trigger, Pentimento, Light Years, Maker [05/24-05/26]
Songs Of The South Fest [07/20-07/21]
*This review was composed by Marc Gary Gray and edited by Erik van Rheenen
Andy Hull is an exceptional songwriter, and what separates him from many of his just “good” peers is his ability to write in such a wide breadth of styles and levels of aggressiveness without losing any amount of proficiency or sincerity. In collaborating separately with Frightened Rabbit and Grouplove on this release, one can juxtapose the variety of music that Hull is adept at creating (not to undermine the obvious contributions of the collaborating bands and Mr. Hull’s bandmates in Manchester Orchestra).
The Manchester/Frightened Rabbit track, titled “Architect,” is actually a collaborative effort between only the primary songwriters of the respective bands (and a song completed without the two ever meeting one another in person). Almost impossibly, the song manages to be both sparse and lush. The sparseness comes from the skeletal instrumentation and lack of percussion, while the relentless fingerpicked acoustic guitar riff provides the momentum and drive that often lack from a guitar-and-voice-only approach.
As for the vocals, well…I know I can be prone to hyperbolic statements, but the vocals on this track are breathtaking. Scott Hutchison’s throaty, consistent delivery meshes perfectly with Hull’s nasal, loud-to-quiet delivery until each individual singer is nearly indistinguishable. The melodies and harmonies are sad and evocative without being mopey or obvious, and the song doesn’t linger, ending in a tidy four minutes. The most impressive part of this track is its balance: between the two songwriters, between the aforementioned fullness and sparseness, and between poetic ambiguity versus meaninglessness in regards to lyrics, “Architect” manages to walk the proverbial tightrope.
As implied in the introductory paragraph, the other song in question is something different entirely. Opposed to the two-man show that was “Architect,” “Make It to Me” is a boisterous little ditty, complete with note-dragging synth riffs, a variety of vocalists, and a perfect combination of Manchester’s indie rock prowess and Grouplove’s dance-infused goodness.
Record Store Day arrives on this Saturday, April 20th. And though our wallets may not be ready, our hearts certainly are. There are a great amount of releases coming out this year for the music holiday (around 400), and we wanted to start a Discussion/Preview on the records that PropertyOfZack members are looking forward to most. Check out our list below and feel free to reblog with some of your most anticipated Record Store Day releases!
Manchester Orchestra | Frightened Rabbit / Manchester Orchestra | Grouplove - Split
To say we were excited when Andy Hull tipped us off about this release a few months back would be an understatement. A split featuring Manchester Orchestra, Frightened Rabbit, and Grouplove? Well that’d be some serious shit right there. Wait. A split that features collaborative songs from MO/Frightened Rabbit and MO/Grouplove? Now that’s something else all together. This is going to be a true collector’s piece for Manchester, Frabbit, and Grouplove fans alike. Plus, we’ve heard the songs. They’re great. - Zack Zarrillo
New Found Glory - Mania 12”
When the pop-punk mainstays recorded a cover of “Blitzkrieg Bop” as a bonus track for 2011’s Radiosurgery, most fans wrote it off as a fun one-off of a classic punk anthem. We were wrong. Jordan Pundik and crew went throwback for this year’s Record Store Day, releasing a limited edition 12” Ramones cover EP called Mania. If you ever wanted to jam to a more poppy, less punk-y “The KKK Took My Baby Away” or “Rockaway Beach,” now’s your chance. The EP quashes all worry of a rumored NFG hiatus, and will be a fun little stopgap between Radiosurgery and whatever new tunes come next. - Erik van Rheenen
Their/They’re/There - Their/They’re/There 12”
Grammar nerds and fans of twinkly guitars, pensive lyrics, and prog-rockish melodies, rejoice. Evan Weiss, Matthew Frank, and Mike Kinsella’s super-group is finally releasing its self-titled debut EP for Record Store Day. Coming out on Polyvinyl Records, if the two songs we’ve had the chance to hear (poppy-progressive hybrid “Concession Speech Writer” and riff-heavy, tongue-in-cheek named “Their/They’re/Therapy”) are any indication, this is a true-blue Kinsella sort of record. This might be the most talented trio to form a super-group be all the tunes we get from these guys. - Erik van Rheenen
Now, Now - Neighbors Deluxe LP
Now, Now (then Every Children) stirred up initial interest with its debut release, Cars. Fans waited and waited for their follow-up, which came in the form of a shortened moniker and a digital partnership with No Sleep Records. It was an EP called Neighbors. The EP will finally be seeing physical treatment on Record Store Day this year with special die-cut artwork and the Neighbors remixes as an added perk — not that fans needed one. This was an excellent release that showed the band’s full potential, and it’s a RSD exclusive that every Now, Now fan needs to try to hunt down. - Zack Zarrillo
Laura Jane Grace: My First Year As A Woman
Laura Jane Grace was featured in a very lengthy, and surprisingly well-written, story by Cosmo. If you have any interest on the transition from Tom Gabel to Laura Jane, we recommend you read the article.
Morrissey Tears Margaret Thatcher Apart In Obituary
Love him or hate him, Morrissey has a special skill for the art of the takedown. There’s nothing classier than taking someone down on their death bed.
Manchester Orchestra, FRabbit, Grouplove RSD Stream
We’ve been waiting to hear what the Manchester Orchestra/Frightened Rabbit / Manchester Orchestra/Grouplove collab would sound like for a few months now, and it was worth the wait. Make sure to grab one of these splits on Record Store Day if you can.
Mixtapes, You Blew It!, Light Years, Modern Baseball Tour
Who says all this summer’s fun will be had at Warped Tour? Mixtapes, You Blew It!, Light Years, Modern Baseball, and Last Call will be attempting to prove otherwise. Catch the tour this June and July.
Sound And Fury Lineup, Date Announcement
The weekend has been chosen, so have the first bands.
Man Overboard Stream “Open Season” Ft. Geoff Rickly
Man Overboard released the second song off of Heart Attack. The song also happens to feature Geoff Rickly, better known as the frontman of Thursday.
States Launch Kickstarter; Ask For $18K
States are newly independent once again following a brief stint with Tooth & Nail Records. The band is asking for $18,000 to self-produce, mix, and release their second album. Too many Kickstarters, or too many Kickstarters?
Manchester Orchestra are streaming their Record Store Day split with Frightened Rabbit and Grouplove. Listen to it below by clicking “Read More!”
Manchester Orchestra will begin recording their fourth album today. Check out a tweet from the band below by clicking “Read More.”
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Manchester Orchestra, Frightened Rabbit, Grouplove RSD Split Details
POZ Interview: Kevin Devine + Andy Hull
The Story So Far Post Message On Early Album Leak
The band has acknowledged that their sophomore LP leaked a month early and has a message for fans regarding it.
Coheed And Cambria Have Shirt Banned By Disney For Curse Word
Disney and House Of Blues take their image very seriously, which results in bands with “swear words” on their merch designs getting into a bit of trouble
We Are The In Crowd Cancel Three Shows Due To Illness
We Are The In Crowd have now been forced to cancel five shows due to Tay Jardine’s strep throat. The band would love to play, but are concerned that Jardine could ruin her vocal chords and singing abilities if she strains herself too hard.
New Found Glory Ramones Cover LP RSD Release
We’ll be getting a full LP’s worth of Ramones covers from New Found this Record Store Day.
Manchester Orchestra, Frightened Rabbit, Grouplove RSD Split Details
The bands have revealed the artwork and track listing, which features collab-efforts from Manchester and Frightened and Grouplove and Manchester. It should be a fun release.
Jimmy Eat World Record Store Day Release Coming
Jimmy Eat World are thanking fan’s patience in waiting for a new album with a Record Store Day 7” that will feature a new song and a Radiohead cover.
Andrew McMahon Solo EP Name, Track Listing
We’re one step closer to a new EP from Andrew McMahon. A release date has not been confirmed, but it should be before his solo tour this spring.
The Bronx Replace Against Me! On Bad Religion Tour
People seem let down by this one.
Manchester Orchestra have officially announced their Record Store Day split with Frightened Rabbit and Grouplove. Check out artwork, track listing, and quotes from the band below by clicking “Read More.”
Related Stories:
POZ Interview: Kevin Devine + Andy Hull
Cassadee Pope Getting Her Own Reality TV Show
Ms. Pope is getting a reality television show on the country music channel. Because she is a country artist. Now, if we take a look back at an “Albums That Changed My Life” feature that Ms. Cassadee Pope did, we’ll see that there is not one mention of a country album on their, just emo and girl rockers.
Fall Out Boy On The Misinterpretation Of “Hiatus”
Dictionary definition of “hiatus”: A break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc.
blink-182 definition of “hiatus”: We’re actually broken up and hate each other and have no plans to ever work with each other again.
What Fall Out Boy were on for the past three years: A dictionary definition of hiatus.
Randy Blythe Found Not Guilty On Manslaughter Charges
The Lamb Of God frontman has finally been acquitted of all charges brought against him in the Czech Republic about a manslaughter case.
POZ Interview: Kevin Devine + Andy Hull
We don’t typically link to content in the Morning Recap, but there was a ton of new information presented in our new interview with Kevin and Andy. For starters, Manchester Orchestra will be releasing a 3-way Record Store Day split with Frightened Rabbit and Grouplove. Check the rest out in the interview.
As I Lay Dying Frontman Starts Death Metal Band
Death metal for non-death metal kids.
Heroes For Hire Claim Frontman Wasn’t Fit To Be In Band
Heroes For Hire swapped frontmen, and fans went into shock from it. The band has now clarified the situation stating that their previous frontman was no longer fit to be in the band due to alcoholic tendencies.
Josh Farro (ex-Paramore) Releasing New Music Soon
There seems to be an overwhelming lack of excitement for this, as fans may have truly moved on from any interest Farro could hope to muster up three years following his Paramore departure.
blink-182 ‘TOYPAJ’ Vinyl Pre-order Details
Mark your calendars.
Kevin Devine and Andy Hull treat PropertyOfZack better than we could ever ask for, and they always give us incredible interviews. I was able to catch up with the duo at Bad Books’ Philadelphia, PA tour stop for one of POZ’s best interviews of all time. Kevin, Andy, and I discussed Bad Books’ new found cohesiveness and success, all the details you could ask for for Kevin’s Kickstarter campaign and two upcoming albums, Manchester Orchestra’s reboot with a new split and album, and so much more. We couldn’t be more excited about the interview and all the great details within it, so check out all of it below!
So this tour is going really well, it seems. This is the fourth tour for Bad Books right?
Andy Hull: Yeah. We did a few short ones so yeah, four.
How many was it, like a thousand in Ohio?
AH: Yeah its nuts, I think we could have done that easily in New York from what we were told; in New York and Philly and Boston as well. Yeah totally nuts. The reception is really cool. Nobody’s asking for anything other than Bad Books tunes. People are actually enjoying the songs.
You can play a full set now, that’s awesome. No filler.
AH: There’s still plenty of bullshit, but yeah.
Kevin Devine: It feels like the balance is… there is one. It’s definitely more… the bullshit is an accent, as opposed to potentially being the main thing.
AH: Half if not more than half of the show…
I know that for the first record, or even for those first shows, there was always talk of, “This is really cool, but it still feels separated between two parties, rather than one band.”
AH: Dude it is so much different now. It feels like a real thing. It feels exactly like a real band. We’re all developing identities. It’s really cool because it’s going to be sweet to see what happens with the next record now that we have an identity. We all have things that we do in the band now. Rather than, “You do this. You play this.” There are members that are doing things. We can only go up from here.
KD: I think an interesting thing about how that live experience can translate into that next record too is that in carving out those identities, I feel like even though it’s a band it’s been something of a studio project for us in the studio. Like me and you [AH] end up doing a lot.
AH: Yes.
KD: And I feel like it’s nice to have that as an option. But I also think what this enables us to do in the comfort level we’re reaching here is that the next record can be more like a rock band playing songs; rather than building songs in the studio.
There’s been some satellite radio play too, right?
KD: Amazing response there. Like the number one song the last couple weeks on there.
AH: Yeah, nuts.
Especially because it’s four months out since the release.
KD: Yeah four and a half or so.
AH: There’s two different ways a record can go, you know? You could put a shitload of promotion behind it and then have a really big first week and then everything will trail off, or you can try to do it organically where it will continue to grow and just steady as it goes. It feels like that’s what’s happening with this record. It’s starting to connect more and more the longer it’s been out. It’s cool.
I assume you guys are going to be really busy this year. If the record’s doing well and tours are doing better than well, is that something that you now want to try to carve out more time for Bad Books?
KD: Yeah we were having that conversation last night. Like how it’s kind of…
AH: Short answer, yes we do want to. It’s just about making that decision. And hopefully finding some sort of time for it. It’s a timing thing really. I would love to do it more though, especially since it’s going better.
Have you found that with this touring and the band being more cohesive, that you actually have wanted to do a record sooner rather than later?
KD: We haven’t really talked about that yet. We’ve talked a little bit about doing it, but not about a timeline for it. Because I don’t really know, realistically, what that would look like.
AH: That’s the thing is when we could do it. But yeah, I certianly am in my head, being on this tour like, “Yeah we should be writing and we should go in immediately and go make another record.”
It’s a good problem to have.
KD: Yeah. It’s a luxury problem; it’s awesome.
In terms of Bad Books as a separate entity, do you think there are people now that are just Bad Books fans?
KD: I kind of do. Or I kind of feel like there are people who are more… there are definitely people who like it of it’s own merit. And I think that maybe there are some who even like it more than they like either of our things. Probably not the majority. The majority is probably still kids that are coming from Manchester’s world and my world. But I think it’s built itself into it’s own formidable entity. It’s totally amazing, yeah.
AH: It helps a lot that the second record is just such a… in my opinion, stronger album than the first record. The first record is kind of your perfect stereotypical first album for a band. It’s rough and a lot of loose ends. It’s going in all directions, we hadn’t really found out who we are. I’m stoked that we started with something that, you know, I’d saw was a three star record. I’d say this one is a four star record. Now we’re going to try to make a five star record.
Will Bad Books be going to rest for now until there is more time?
KD: Yeah I guess we’ll figure out what happens.
AH: Hopefully going to try to play as many festivals as we can and get some… We’re down to work. And honestly working with Kevin is a lot easier than working on my own. Not that I’m working on my own with Manchester, but just being the sole front guy, it’s just half the work. It feels nice.
KD: It’s totally noticable. It’s lovely. I feel like Bad Books tour is like… It’s still in a van and a trailer and all that stuff, but the fact that it’s other people doing this stuff sometimes, I’m like, “This is sick. Just hanging out while someone sells the merch… that’s amazing!”
Are we cool to talk about prospecitve projects?
KD: I really wish you wouldn’t… Yeah I don’t care.
AH: What do you mean?
KD: Like Manchester and me.
AH: Oh yeah.
KD: But I have to answer all of the Manchester questions and he has to answer all the the…
AH: That would be cool.
Manchester Orchestra have begun pre-production on their new record. POZ will be posting a new interview with the band tomorrow with many more details, but check out a tweet for now below by clicking “Read More.”
- Warped Tour announced the Acoustic Basement lineup.
- Fall Out Boy are releasing their new record a month early.
- For Today were robbed of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gear.
- The Wonder Years finished recording their new record.
- fun. won two Grammy awards.
- Manchester Orchestra parted ways with their bassist.
- Touché Amoré began writing new music for an LP.
- Travis Barker will be playing Warped Tour as Psycho White.
- Fall Out Boy are headlining Skate And Surf.
- Andrew McMahon was forced to cancel his dates with fun.
- Transit, Seahaven, and Young Statues announced a tour.
- The Postal Service released a new song after ten years.
- Taking Back Sunday began writing new music.
- Jonny Craig is asking for $20,000 to record a new EP.
- Andy Hull and Scott Hutchinson are working together on a project.
- Mark Trombino is opening up a donut shop.
- Streetlight Manifesto were finally given an album release date.
Manchester Orchestra, Frightened Rabbit Frontman Working On New Project
Andy Hull is a busy, busy man. The MO/FR frontman based project right now may only consist of a song or two, but could end up being a full-length project. We will be hearing something as soon as Record Store Day.
Kevin Devine To Record Both LPs In April/May; Aiming For Fall Releases
Kevin Devine is also a busy, busy man. Devine will be recording in both LA and New York this April and May for his 7th and 8th records, which have been backed via Kickstarter. The best part is undoubtedly that we’ll be seeing both records released this fall.
Fall Out Boy Sell 162K Singles; Debut Top 3 On Billboard
This is an impressive number. An onslaught of Fall Out Boy’s fans clearly supported the band upon the release of their new single, but it will be interesting to see if the song can make it on the radio or not. If so, the band will be back in the driver’s seat for the rest of 2013.
We Are The Union Call It Quits
We Are The Union are going on hiatus after years and years of being a band. No drama, just time to hang up the hat.
Frank Turner Confirms US ‘Tape Deck Heart’ Release Date
Frank Turner’s new LP has been an interesting topic of discussion for some POZ team members. The record will be released in the US in late-April worldwide, but Turner has not let a word out about a label in the US. Epitaph does not seem to be releasing this bad boy, but we are not sure who is.
Modern Baseball Part Of 4-Way Topshelf Records Split
Happy Valentines Day. Modern Baseball are releasing a four-way digital split today via Topshelf for charity.
Real Friends Launch ‘Everyone That Dragged You Here’ 12”; New Documentary
Real Friends have put together a few of their past releases in addition to several exclusive songs in a new vinyl release via our friends at Black Numbers. The band has also released a documentary to accompany the pressing.
