Review 2: MJ Lederman - Manning Fireworks

#38 MJ Lenderman Manning Fireworks

MJ Lenderman is an artist I've never consciously listened to before and I'm entirely unaware of the genre or anything about this artists beyond the liner notes issued on Billboard's top 50 albums of 2024, which reads:

"Neil Young’s shadow lingers over the ascendant indie-rocker’s latest, from thunderous scuzz (“On My Knees”) to rootsy reflection (“Rip Torn”). But it’s Lenderman’s pen – which feels closer to another great, Silver Jews’ David Berman – that sets him apart from the legions who’ve tried for decades to channel the rock legend."

Indie rock? Check. Thunderous scuzz? Check. So let's get a first impression of a new artist.

1. Manning Fireworks

A lo fi acoustic number, some guitar string rattles. The vocals are far from pristine but fit the song well. This song reminds me more of a dirge played outside of a pentecostal tent ministry in the summer of 1973 rural Georgia. Tickets cost $1.50 and all the warm Coca-Cola you can drink.

2. Joker Lips

Slide guitar takes center stage duplicating the melody. Mainstream acoustic based song. Has a very 70's vibe. It's just okay.

3. Rudolph

CMT meets low-fi indie pop. The vocals here are lazy that could be plucked out of a 90's garage band from Boston. No auto-tune which is actually a plus. The guitars are polished where the vocals aren't. Lots of slide guitar. Feels like a song I'd see part of an indie film festival at college circa 1992. Guitar solo is nice and long. Most interesting song so far.

4. Wristwatch

A bit darker at the start. Intro is nice. There's that slide guitar again. The chorus is strong, the lyrics stand out: "And I’ve got a houseboat docked at the Himbo Dome. And a wristwatch that’s a pocket knife and a megaphone, and a wristwatch that tells me I’m on my own". What's a himbo dome? That's not an easy question, nevertheless, a stronger tune. Melancholy vibes. I like this one.

5. She's Leaving You

The most indie of the indie songs, yet still pop influences shine through. This very much reminds me of a few other artists songs like "The Acorn - Plateau Ramble" Short melody singing, nearly speaking the words by hitting the correct tone. Similar as well to maybe Andrew Bird? Guitar solo included, very rhythmic.

6. Rip Torn

Slightly out of tune acoustic. Another melancholy choice. The music reminds me of some early Ryan Adams songs, like "In My Time of Need" from Heartbreaker or perhaps "Winding Wheel". Quite a country/indie mix but not tickling my interest.

7. You Don't Know the Shape I'm In

A little more upbeat. T-80 drums but demure. Storytelling is in first person. Interesting lyrical usage and pauses between the verses. Not much else going on here - the song doesn't really go anywhere but lingers for appreciation. Various squeals and feedback used to entice the ear perhaps because it's difficult to differentiate this song with others that came before.

8. On My Knees

Much more rock start. Half open high-hat keeps the time. Meh. Not feeling this song at all.

9. Bark at the Moon

Different feel right off the bat. More of a 70's pop feel. I wished it went somewhere as a song and wasn't just a format to try out interesting samples and noises. Again, meh.

Overall thoughts:

The vocals get a little grating after a few songs. It seems like the vocals are always in the same range, same key. The melody seems nearly identical in each song. MJ is no singer but provides enough to carry the melody. Each song I think (and I could be wrong since I don't have perfect pitch) may be in a very close key, certainly the melody's are very similar from song to song. As well, each song is sung the exact same way. By the time I got to "On My Knees" my ear cannot detect much of a difference between song 3 and song 8. From a musicians perspective, listening to the entire album in one go (old skool) grates on me. I'm struggling to pick one song out from another. I get that there should be cohesion in an album. It's why artists who had a wide range of writing brought the stuff that matched the song to the band, then released solo albums or side projects for the stuff that didn't match the band. It's certainly got a vibe but one that I can only take in small doses. This album has very little passion, but what it does have is very consistent, a bit bland and very little spark. Stand out songs are "Wristwatch" and "She's Leaving You". It's like Lederman is more of a poet searching for a few notes to carry his prose, rather than a musician with a melody tell a story.

5/10