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. Produced by Lenderman and Alex Farrar, the album features contributions from Lenderman's Wednesday bandmates Karly Hartzman, Xandy Chelmis and Ethan Baechtold.
| 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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| MJ Lenderman chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Manning Fireworks | ||||
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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| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 88/100[3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| The Guardian | [5] |
| Pitchfork | 8.7/10[6] |
| Rolling Stone | [7] |
| Slant | [8] |
| Beats Per Minute | 77%[9] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Manning Fireworks received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 88 out of 100 from 22 critic scores.[3]
In a review for AllMusic, Mark Deming declared that, "coupled with his scrappy guitar and the satisfyingly loose report of his band, [Lenderman] makes it all into something often moving and always compelling."[4] 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."[6] Rolling Stone's Jon Dolan called it an "indie-rock gem" with "ace" storytelling.[7] Steven Hyden in Uproxx was effusive, depicting it as an "especially precious commodity" in the modern age.[10] Damien Morris at the Guardian interpreted it as a "joyously weird" LP steeped in religion,[5] while PopMatters' Patrick Gill praised its witty lyricism and "exceptional" sonic sensibilities.[11]
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".[12] 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.[13] 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". John Amen of Beats Per Minute was slightly more ambivalent, writing, "While the mixes on Manning Fireworks are studiously crafted, Lenderman’s presence largely enrolling, and his guitar acumen undeniable, the set’s overall gestalt is naggingly emulative. Lenderman, as compelling as he can be, rarely transcends the influence of his forebears."[14]
Year-end lists
edit| Publication/critic | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOJO | 75 Best Albums of 2024 | 54 | [15] |
| Rough Trade UK | Albums of the Year 2024 | 24 | [16] |
| Uncut | 80 Best Albums of 2024 | 8 | [17] |
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
- 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)
- Alex Farrar – production, mixing, engineering (all tracks); Mellotron (track 2), piano (4, 5), drums (7)
- Lawson Anderson – assistant engineering (track 7)
- Greg Obis – mastering
- Matthew Reed – cover art
- Andrew James – cover art
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[18] | 177 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[19] | 19 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[20] | 29 |
| UK Country Albums (OCC)[21] | 3 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[22] | 9 |
| US Folk Albums (Billboard)[23] | 15 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[24] | 48 |
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 "Manning Fireworks by MJ Lenderman Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Deming, Mark (September 6, 2024). "Manning Fireworks - MJ Lenderman | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 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.
- ^ Amen, John (September 16, 2024). "Album Review: MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved September 16, 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.
- ^ Amen, John (September 16, 2024). "Album Review: MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ "MOJO's 75 Best Albums of 2024". albumoftheyear.org. November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ "Albums of the Year 2024". roughtrade.com. November 19, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (November 8, 2024). "List Season comes early with Uncut's Top 80 Albums of 2024". brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ "Americana/Folk Albums: Week of September 21, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ^ "Independent Albums: Week of September 21, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2024.