Manning Fireworks is the fourth solo album by American musician MJ Lenderman. The album was released on September 6, 2024, through Anti- and Epitaph Records.
| Manning Fireworks | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 6, 2024 | |||
| Studio | Drop of Sun Studios (Asheville, North Carolina) | |||
| Length | 38:51 | |||
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| Producer |
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| MJ Lenderman chronology | ||||
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Background
editManning Fireworks was announced on June 24, 2024, accompanied by the single release of "She's Leaving You".[1] Lenderman recorded the album at Drop of Sun Studios in his home town of Asheville, North Carolina. A press release refers to the record as an insight into Lenderman's "frank observations on the intersection of wit and sadness" that transfers "punchlines" and "rusted-wire guitar solos" from previous works and presents a "new sincerity" and perspective through "his warped lens".[2]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Guardian |   [3] |
| Pitchfork | 8.7/10[4] |
| Rolling Stone | [5] |
| Slant | [6] |
Pitchfork awarded the record its Best New Music designation, with Jeremy D. Larson describing the record "witty and sincere, the mark of a songwriter finding his voice."[4] Rolling Stone's Jon Dolan called it an "indie-rock gem" with "ace" storytelling.[5] Steven Hyden in Uproxx was effusive, depicting it as an "especially precious commodity" in the modern age.[7] Damien Morris at the Guardian interpreted it as a "joyously weird" LP steeped in religion,[3] while PopMatters' Patrick Gill praised its witty lyricism and "exceptional" sonic sensibilities.[8]
In an interview with NME, writer Jordan Bassett opined that the album "often amounts to a study in thwarted masculinity" and the expression of Lenderman's "hate-watch" of "macho influencers".[9] A premature evaluation conducted by Stereogum writer Danielle Chelosky already called Manning Fireworks "one of the best albums of the year" and the fall equivalent of Brat by Charli XCX.[10] Jeremy Winograd of Slant thought Manning Fireworks was "something of a solitary affair", praising the "vitality and enthusiasm" that comes through in his guitar work. Winograd concluded that if the album is the product of "all those nights playing Guitar Hero" then there's hoping that "Lenderman never leaves his room".
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by MJ Lenderman.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Manning Fireworks" | 2:59 |
| 2. | "Joker Lips" | 3:01 |
| 3. | "Rudolph" | 3:31 |
| 4. | "Wristwatch" | 3:42 |
| 5. | "She's Leaving You" | 4:38 |
| 6. | "Rip Torn" | 3:32 |
| 7. | "You Don't Know the Shape I'm In" | 3:36 |
| 8. | "On My Knees" | 3:52 |
| 9. | "Bark at the Moon" | 10:00 |
| Total length: | 38:51 | |
Personnel
edit- MJ Lenderman – vocals, bass guitar, drums, guitar, organ, production
- Alex Farrar – production, mixing, engineering (all tracks); Mellotron (track 2), piano (4, 5), drums (7)
- Greg Obis – mastering
- Karly Hartzman – vocals (tracks 1, 4–7, 9)
- Landon George – bass guitar (tracks 1, 6, 7), fiddle (1, 6), trombone (1, 9)
- Xandy Chelmis – pedal steel guitar (tracks 3, 4), background vocals (3)
- Ethan Baechtold – piano (track 6)
- Shane McCord – clarinet (tracks 7, 9)
- Colin Miller – slide guitar (track 7)
- Adam McDaniel – bass clarinet (track 9)
References
edit- ^ Corcoran, Nina (June 24, 2024). "MJ Lenderman Announces New Album Manning Fireworks, Shares Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (June 24, 2024). "MJ Lenderman Announces New Album Manning Fireworks, Drops First Single". Variety. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Morris, Damien (September 6, 2024). "MJ Lenderman: Manning Fireworks review – joyously weird alt-Americana". the Guardian. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Larson, Jeremy D. (September 6, 2024). "MJ Lenderman: Manning Fireworks". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Dolan, Jon (September 4, 2024). "MJ Lenderman Delivers a Sad-Guy Indie-Rock Gem With 'Manning Fireworks'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ Winograd, Jeremy (September 2, 2024). "MJ Lenderman Manning Fireworks Review: An Artist Enjoying His Own Company". Slant. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ Hyden, Steven (September 4, 2024). "In praise of the best indie rock album of 2024". UPROXX. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ Gill, Patrick (September 4, 2024). "MJ Lenderman Continues Upward Trajectory with Manning Fireworks". PopMatters. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ Bassett, Jordan (August 28, 2024). "MJ Lenderman on resisting the hype: "There's a danger in believing your own myth"". NME. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ Chelosky, Danielle (August 29, 2024). "Premature Evaluation: MJ Lenderman Manning Fireworks". Stereogum. Retrieved September 3, 2024.