Manchester Orchestra - A Black Mile to the Surface (July 28, 2017) Album • Page 61

@Drew Beringer put it really well. This album has everything you love about this band but sounds completely different than their other work. That is really hard to do.

 

We've done a disservice in using "overproduced" for a decade to imply things that are basically meaningless and ambiguous. It may be the term I dislike how it's ended up being used the most.

 

Sorry I can't stop gushing over how much I loved it. I got chills like 10 times lol

 

Just imagine how quickly music would be released if fucking vinyl never made a come back...

 

Got a picture with Andy too! Ha

 

No. The production adds a lot to it. This is one you want to really pay attention and listen to.

 

Sorry we didn't get to meet up! Glad you enjoyed the record as well

 

More of a colly strings a song that just keeps building and the end is well earned

 

http://i.imgur.com/MSpE99u.gif

 

Oh no worries! I ended getting in a little after it started since the line was so long and it seemed too difficult to try and find anyone lol.

But yeah, I thought it was great! The event itself, too. Would attend for other artists for sure.

 

Here are my song by song thoughts if anyone is interested. I may have mixed up a few parts as I only heard the record two times but I think I got them. The two I mix up are moth and lead bc they are both so good ha.

The maze- song starts slow and gradually builds. Has a different sound for sure not sure how I would explain it, but a slower 3/4 feel. Vocal harmonies grow and grow on the song as it builds, three part harmonies and they sound incredible. There is some sort of whispering at the end that sounds Really good but it's a great transition into the gold and really sets he tone for the album.

The gold- I think you know this song :)

The moth- this is the most "classic Manchester song" super rhythmic and vocally it builds. Structure really interesting def not verse chorus. There's a part where the song absolutely bangs really hard and the vocals get really intense. There are these Sotocatto bits that capture what the band does live really well. I think this is the song where they do a cool time hit with a fast 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2. Really really really loved this song.

Lead, sd- honestly this 3 song run is insanely good bc this one is just as good. This one gets really heavy as well but pulls back more in the verses in a really cool way. Super dynamic, again this one was really really good. The chord progression in the beginning sounds a bit like choose you but it changes completelt shortly after.

The alien/ you know this one

The sunshine- this It the albums interlude. Short 2 minute song that just grooves hard and feels good. The vocal harmonies are cool on this one but it's short and more of an interlude/prelude to the grocery.

The grocery- this is my favorite song. Whole song feels like it's building to something really soecial. Andy hits some insane notes in the outro. This one also has really heavy parts and ends pretty loud and heavy.

The wolf- another favorite. The vocal rhythms on this are fantastic. They play against the bands rhythm section really well. The end is the heaviest moment on the album it gets pretty dissonant and intense.

The mistake- this is one of the most interesting songs I've heard by them. This song has a bunch of moments where it teases that it's going to get heavy and then it goes immediately back down. Some really catchy melodic hooks on this one as well.

The parts- this one really surprised me... I expected to be disappointed bc the story was so obvious and whatnot... I was not. Beautiful production, beautiful guitar tones. Andy does so many little things with his voice that makes you just say "wow"

The silence- may be my favorite as well. Song just builds and builds and builds. First verse is a low octave melody but in the second he jumps up. The end finishes with a really loud part and andy belting his lungs out.

 

Struggling to stay away on the train back to jersey, totally worth it

 

That's the one thing that worried me was the "over produced" part. The song clips I heard of Sunshine and Wolf add to The Gold and a little of the Alien. It feels like the songs are very busy and epic. Which I'm sure will sound amazing. I just know their older hits like Pride, I Can feel a hot one, Colly Strings, etc. All seem pretty traditional and focused where as these seem like they will have tons of layers to them.

Still excited and will judge with the full album and love The Gold and enjoy the alien.

 

I will gladly take "over-produced" over the mess of production that was Cope

 

The layers come and go but honestly, it was less like that than I thought it would be. It strips back often and when it gets louder they add the layers but it works really well. For me it's really tastefully done. It's much more of a rock record than I thought it would be

 

Andy just looks so happy, and that makes me happy.

 

He was glowing. Could tell he was incredibly proud of this one (not to say he wasn't for every other album they've made, but yeah).

 

One thing I think people on here will appreciate about this album is that it isn't a lot of verse chorus verse chorus bridge chorus. Which people didn't like about cope, there are a lot of parts to every song and they all transition into one another really well. And you'll get a chorus with A minimal
Approach and then you'll get a chorus with a ton of vocals or something, it's really intersting and well done. I can't wait for everyone else to hear this, bc all I want to do now is listen to the record again.

 

Thanks for this teebs! Gah, so excited. I RSVPed to go not remembering I had work :(. So jealous and this has only built my anticipation.

 

I cannot possibly tell you how jealous I am of the people who were at the listening event. I can't believe us common folk still have to wait ANOTHER MONTH for this album to drop.

Also, what was the band doing while the songs were playing? Just walking around? Chillin? That has to be such an uncomfortable/insecure situation for the band to play a record for the first time in front of fans and just be standing right in front of everyone not knowing how people will react.

 

So the main listening of the record was done in sound proof rooms in a more private situation. The band was hanging out in a downstairs area where the album was being played but much quieter. That part of the event was more of just a meet and greet sort of thing. Band didn't seek uncomfortable at all, they were super laid back and seemed to be really enjoying the event.

What I loved about the private soundproof room is that they allowed us to control the volume so naturally we cranked it up really close to max and had 4 sonos speakers blasting the album at us. So we got to experience the record in a very similar way to how we would at home.

 

Any cool goodies or merch there? I saw someone holding a mini picture frame of some of the album art.

I wonder if we will get another single before the album drop

 

Holy. Shit. I will leave this here for people that want to listen. But this sounds so amayzing. (heheh)

I think I'm done listening to any and all sound clips. I've had all my fears put to rest. I am so hyped. 1 More Month.

 

The few clips that I've heard sound so good. Jealous of everyone who got to experience this last night. That Sonos store looks like it was a cool setting to do an event like this, especially the listening rooms.

 

Yeah I'm really excited now