A year ago today, I first download the album ‘I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child’ by Manchester Orchestra. Since then, they have become my favourite band, as I’m sure most of you already know. And for those unaware of this band: Where exactly have you been?
Lead by Andy Hull, who is just 22, Manchester Orchestra have been together for little over four years. And their third album ‘Mean Everything To Nothing’ lives up to the high expectations that they have previously set. The band’s previous material was pretty much based around Andy Hull and his guitar, but this time the whole band help shape and mold this album in to what it is. And subsequently there is a much thicker sound. The album is raw, exciting and more importantly real.
I’ve been attempting to build up support for the band since I first heard them a year ago. Telling anyone who would listen. I hope others have been doing the same. I’ll go crazy if this band doesn’t make it big because they genuinely deserve it more than the crap cluttering the charts nowadays. It’s hard to explain what makes a good band. And sure, Manchester Orchestra won’t be for everyone, but they are one of a few bands who I believe will blow up over the next couple of years.
Mean Everything To Nothing is a rock album, so if you liked the slower pace of the ‘I’m Like A Virgin’ then you might like Hull’s side project Right Away, Great Captain a bit more; on a whole the album is probably more easy to understand than their previous material and a little bit more radio friendly too, as Zane Lowe has demonstrated. The production on this album is almost flawless, it captures exactly how well the band play live, and that’s extremely well. I was blown away just how good they were when I saw them in April at the Barfly in Camden, and I’m looking forward to seeing them play again next month during their UK tour.
Listen to Manchester Orchestra on Spotify for free.
Listen to: Shake It Out, Everything To Nothing, I Can Barely Breathe, Wolves At Night, Slow To Learn.
Recommended if you like: Nirvana, Weezer, Foo Fighters, Brand New, Jimmy Eat World, Kings of Leon.
Make sure you catch them at the Reading and Leeds Festival in August if you are going.