MJ Lenderman’s reputation has grown exponentially over the past few years with his work as part of alt-rock band Wednesday, two acclaimed solo albums and a prime spot as a main collaborator with Waxahatchee on her latest album ‘Tigers Blood’. All this has led to people being very excited indeed for his third solo record, ‘Manning Fireworks’, and he knocks it out of the park on one of the finest rock albums you’ll hear all year.
The songwriting and gift for a memorable, resonant and often laugh-out-loud funny line is what makes Lenderman’s music so special. He’s adept at capturing just the right mood, whether it’s the yearning country of the opening title track or the languid breezy pop of ‘Joker Lips’ with its simple yet brutally effective chorus hook of "You know I love my TV, but all I really wanna see is you need me". We feel you, MJ.
The songs are burnished by arrangements that are sometimes soft and delicate, like ‘You Don’t Know The Shape I’m In’ or chunky and satisfying on ‘On My Knees’, and when he cuts loose with his brilliant guitar solos, it’s a slice of alt-rock heaven. The sound of a modern master at work.
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