The Menzingers - Hello Exile
I can't say enough how much I've anticipated this album. The pre-release songs; Anna, Strangers Forever, & America got me so damn excited. I have just been absolutely stoked for this to drop. If you're anything like me, you listen to podcasts with members of your favorite bands. Well, I spent a full gym session listening to Greg Barnett on Lead Singer Syndrome, turns out he has a degree in Political Science! Which makes the opening track: America (You're Freaking Me Out) so much more awesome. Let's dive in. This album immediately starts with an existential crisis (just like their last couple albums did; I Don't Wanna Be an Asshole Anymore, & Tellin' Lies.) Asking us what the hell we're going to do about it. It has one of the coolest guitar licks they have ever written leading us into the chorus. Secondly; Anna. The passion of the song comes seeping through the lyrics. They're perfectly written, every syllable lines up with the strumming of the guitar; the drums accent the guitar and bass perfectly. It's a simple song but one that will have you hitting repeat over and over (or if you're like me, playing it over and over again with Toy Soldiers before this album came out!) I'll pause here and let you listen: go ahead, take as long as you need to take. Ah, see what I did there? I'll move on, I have so much to tell ya! Track 3: High School Friend. Probably the most "Menzingers" song on the album, and don't cock an eye brow; you know exactly what I mean. Hometown vibes. Running from cops. Modern Punk Americana at it's best.
Last to know is the first track their drummer; Joe Godino, really stands out. For almost every other song they've released he stays right in the pocket, almost making you forget he's even there (in a good way!) But with Last to Know, he adds a couple extra taps on the hi-hat during the verse. It's calculated, it's smooth and it's a perfect way to get your ear to notice the drum fill at 2:35. Strangers forever is another straight forward Menzingers song. Carefully sculpted Americana heart break. Probably some of my favorite lyrics on the album. "Well I built a raft out of total desperation, Kidnapped by a pirate nation, Now somewhere out there I ramble and roar, You wouldn't recognize me anymore." The story line of this song is awesome; personal growth and the feeling of being lost at see and dodging the gaze of someone you once loved.
Finally! The title track. After The Party gave me high expectation for this track, and I was not disappointed at all. This is, I believe, The Menzingers at their absolute best. "A thousand years may come and go, we may never meet another soul." This track, like Anna, has the lyrics, the rhythm, the melody; everything, hitting exactly how it should. Even the simple lead guitar riff leaves nothing to the imagination. The slight emphasis on vocals closes this song and puts the exclamation point at the end of the A side.
Turning the record over; Portland. Godino has found that triplet again, but this time on the snare. A good beginning to the B side, and a great transition to Strain Your Memory. Another gold mine of lyricism and punk rock. I don't think I've mentioned yet how their vocals seem to have this subtle vibrato (which anyone who has listened to them for more than 1 song immediately recognizes.) That vibrato gives a sonic desperation to their songs. Honestly, it's how I'd imagine Kerouac singing. Desperate, subtle, completely emotive. Next, I Can't Stop Drinking; it's easily a fan favorite. I was disappointed when they didn't play it at Die Kantine in Cologne, Germany. But, they've found a new energy live, because they've built up a catalogue of absolute bangers to pull from for their live shows, like: London Drugs. It absolute killed live in Germany. The crowd was pumped, probably in the same way people from Philly are pumped to hear songs about things they know. So, I suppose I'll get over them not playing a slower track like; I Can't Stop Drinking.
The show closed out with an encore of After The Party, but the album closes with Farewell Youth. A song that feels like the whole album has been leading to. Hello Exile kind of flows back and forth between faster punk songs and slower ones, but seems to be slowing down as a whole. America/Anna/High School Friend into Last to know, into Strangers Forever then down to Hello Exile. Fastest, slower; Faster, a little slower. It seems to follow this pattern. And as the final track's title suggests, they're finally saying goodbye to adolescence. It's one of the slowest tracks on the album. While, After The Party felt like denial, anger and bargaining, "Oh shit, we're 30 wtf?" Hello Exile feels like depression and acceptance. The final stages of grief. But this track, like the rest of the album, is put together so damn well. It has subtle rises in vocals, not going too far out of their comfort zone but enough to let us know they can, but still keeping us absolutely enthralled via the lyrics, the mellow guitars, and the velvet drums. Damn this album has been fun to listen to. Hopefully, you dug it too. Farewell You(th).
Last to know is the first track their drummer; Joe Godino, really stands out. For almost every other song they've released he stays right in the pocket, almost making you forget he's even there (in a good way!) But with Last to Know, he adds a couple extra taps on the hi-hat during the verse. It's calculated, it's smooth and it's a perfect way to get your ear to notice the drum fill at 2:35. Strangers forever is another straight forward Menzingers song. Carefully sculpted Americana heart break. Probably some of my favorite lyrics on the album. "Well I built a raft out of total desperation, Kidnapped by a pirate nation, Now somewhere out there I ramble and roar, You wouldn't recognize me anymore." The story line of this song is awesome; personal growth and the feeling of being lost at see and dodging the gaze of someone you once loved.
Finally! The title track. After The Party gave me high expectation for this track, and I was not disappointed at all. This is, I believe, The Menzingers at their absolute best. "A thousand years may come and go, we may never meet another soul." This track, like Anna, has the lyrics, the rhythm, the melody; everything, hitting exactly how it should. Even the simple lead guitar riff leaves nothing to the imagination. The slight emphasis on vocals closes this song and puts the exclamation point at the end of the A side.
Turning the record over; Portland. Godino has found that triplet again, but this time on the snare. A good beginning to the B side, and a great transition to Strain Your Memory. Another gold mine of lyricism and punk rock. I don't think I've mentioned yet how their vocals seem to have this subtle vibrato (which anyone who has listened to them for more than 1 song immediately recognizes.) That vibrato gives a sonic desperation to their songs. Honestly, it's how I'd imagine Kerouac singing. Desperate, subtle, completely emotive. Next, I Can't Stop Drinking; it's easily a fan favorite. I was disappointed when they didn't play it at Die Kantine in Cologne, Germany. But, they've found a new energy live, because they've built up a catalogue of absolute bangers to pull from for their live shows, like: London Drugs. It absolute killed live in Germany. The crowd was pumped, probably in the same way people from Philly are pumped to hear songs about things they know. So, I suppose I'll get over them not playing a slower track like; I Can't Stop Drinking.
The show closed out with an encore of After The Party, but the album closes with Farewell Youth. A song that feels like the whole album has been leading to. Hello Exile kind of flows back and forth between faster punk songs and slower ones, but seems to be slowing down as a whole. America/Anna/High School Friend into Last to know, into Strangers Forever then down to Hello Exile. Fastest, slower; Faster, a little slower. It seems to follow this pattern. And as the final track's title suggests, they're finally saying goodbye to adolescence. It's one of the slowest tracks on the album. While, After The Party felt like denial, anger and bargaining, "Oh shit, we're 30 wtf?" Hello Exile feels like depression and acceptance. The final stages of grief. But this track, like the rest of the album, is put together so damn well. It has subtle rises in vocals, not going too far out of their comfort zone but enough to let us know they can, but still keeping us absolutely enthralled via the lyrics, the mellow guitars, and the velvet drums. Damn this album has been fun to listen to. Hopefully, you dug it too. Farewell You(th).
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