Manchester Orchestra - The Million Masks of God (April 30, 2021) Album • Page 167

I think The Internet is a perfect closer.


Silence into Internet or vice versa live, fuuuuuck.

 

“the internet” is super rad

 

You'd hate The Dear Hunter lol

 

It's a grower but I think I'll come to love it

 

Havent listened to them a bunch but what I heard never really caught my attention

 

They're personally my favorite band of all time. Maybe second behind the Mountain Goats.

 

Admittedly I haven’t tried in a long time. I’m guessing they’re heavy on the referential stuff?

 

honestly the dear hunter might have one song I like more than any MO song, but I couldn't care less about them otherwise

 

A bit

Behold my magnum opus: The Dear Hunter reprisal list

 

SUP, MOTHERFUCKERS?

 

#truefans rise, it’s midnight

(I am going to bed and will listen tomorrow)

 

Fucking finally

 

the dear hunter rip. act II is a classic

 

im exhausted and going to bed. telepath is growing on me. this is the dear hunter song I meant.

 

After two listens.

Inaudible - reminds me of The Format’s Dog Problems first two songs, Matches and I’m Actual, but on a low flying slomo flying saucer adventure. I posted this earlier and still holds true with those 80's prog sci-fi moments.

Angel of Death-song reminds me of BN (somewhere between TDAG/Daisy) musically (mostly early on in the song) mixed with some more lively BMTTS vocals and music. I think this will be one of peoples favourites. It's cool that they have a longer song as track 2.

Keel Timing-There's still something that reminds me about Red Hot Chilli Peppers/I Mother Earth 90's vibe with the bass, lyrics and groove. Song is a little better in the context of the album, but I don't think it'll be a go to on its own for me.

Bedhead- I know we've had more time with this song, but I loved it upon first few listens. Transitions nicely from Keel Timing. The song has a haunting feel with some urgency. It's multi layered musically and interesting. Hearing an acoustic version cements it as a really good song and both versions work well. It was a good first single choice even if it doesn't entirely represent the albums energy, but it does the production sound and did a good job preparing people.

Annie-Something about this feels Thrice influenced. Maybe something like a sped up Circles. I like this song as a mid speed song on the album. Interesting instrumentation that really works with the increase of the piano in the track and adding some haunting backing vocals (which works well post Bedhead). There's a lot of vocal elements that sound like BMTTS but I find its works better with the music on this record.

Telepath-Intro and parts of this song reminds me of Donovan Woods song Go To Her. There is definitely a folkier edge on this song. It feels like an Andy song, but maybe less a typical MO song. I like the Sunny feel of the song and the slow integration of the Brother Bird backing vocals. It doesn't feel too short to me. Just right.

Let It Storm-Like Telepath, it continues a folkier feel with flourishes of love ballad to Spring. Feels like there's a familiar MO song as a base, The Gold maybe. The use of the fuzzy guitar was cool in a Bad Books way. I feel like there's some percussion stuff on this song.

Dinosaur-This song plays out exactly as you feel like it should with the meandering build up to a unleash moment we all wanted. Then it regains control. A 2021 version of what MO is now with Pride as its roots.

Obstacle-Song has positive tone. Feels like it could be on a popular ABC/NBC TV show soundtrack in a charming way. I like this song. I like the playful piano that matches Andy's vocal notes and speed of the song tempo. They also give it time to breath for moment before adding in additional instruments and have small build and please vocally maintaining the positive tone throughout. Really lovely song.

Way Back-Feels like it could have been a song on Bad Books if they added in more precision. I like this song. Has a positive tone to it again. with some playful acoustic guitars. Smooth and lullaby-like.

The Internet-I get the BMTTS feel again. It feels like a call back that way a bit. This is more subtle and subdued for most of the song. I like guitar solo and accompanying piano and build up does pay off. It's nice that the audio talking clip is a personal clip instead of some random thing.

Overall, I am quite pleased. I like this way more than BMTTS, even though I can hear the Black Mile influence. Just seemed less forced to me. The production was good and consistent. The front half and back half have two different tones with the haunting parts and the more positive feeling parts. I guess its good they didn't bounce back and forth and there does feel like more of a journey that way. Album doesn't really have too many "single" feeling moments and they just kind of tried to create an "album feel" with a some of that score experience trickled in there. I am glad that I like this.

Totally a side note, but listening to the depth/layers/wall of sound on this record makes me wish they'd revisit remastering or something on Cope to make it sound less flat/richer. I still feel Cope deserved a better production sound (Hope succeeded with doing that for those songs thankfully).

Sorry for the long post.

 

I haven’t even listened to telepath yet. Now that I’ve had enough patient to withhold that, I almost want to wait until I have my vinyl for my first listen. But god knows how long that’ll be

 

This album is wildly unexpected in all the good ways. Holy shit.

 

I always tend to lean towards heavier music but man the soft songs on here (Telepath, Way Back, Obstacle) are hitting me hardest on this album...the whole thing is beautiful

 

Of course it's Red Hands lol

 

This album does feel lowkey Grey's Anatomy-core lmao.

Also with what you said about AoD feeling like Brand New, I 100% agree. The whole album is filling the big BN sized hole in my heart.

 

Me after each song on the first listen

 

what else would it be, honestly

 

My first reactions to this are pretty positive. Excited to hear it again in the morning.

 

The bass is gnarly, and a nice drive definitely compliments that perfectly.