The Menzingers – “Bad Actors”

That lead riff sounds like that The Cure song Boy's Don't Cry.

 

Really enjoyed it. They have been on fire since after the party

 

Wasn't this released earlier? Could swear I've heard it

 

It was put out around the Superbowl for the Philly connection. Don't remember what site.

 

These guys desperately need to write a new record.

 

Yes, and I loved Hello Exile, but I would love to see them add back some of the energy from After the Party.

 

I just can't get into Hello Exile no matter how hard I try. Hoping for a great new record.

 

Kind of has a Sharks (UK rock band from a decade ago) vibe. Speaking of, it's crazy how fast that band's notoriety disappeared, less than 1000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

 

This is one of those break ups that still hurts for me. No Gods remains one of my favorite records ever. I was lukewarm on Selfhood when it first came out (I also had massive expectations since I loved NG so much), but that one's grown on me a ton as well.

I'd definitely encourage anyone that hasn't checked them out to do so real soon.

 

HE is a good record that suffers from the hangover feeling coming off ATP, which I will go to my grave saying is their best record by hair. I know OTIP has that crown, but holy shit, ATP songs hit so hard live.

I really hope they can tap into that vein again on the new one.

 

Agreed on everything you said. The only difference is I never gave Selfhood many followup listens as I was also lukewarm on it when it came out, but No Gods is very good track for track.

 

ATP is one of the most relatable records I've heard in the past decade.

 

First time I've seen anyone bring them up on chorus, thank you!! One of those bands that sadly broke up right before streaming services took off and social media became what it can be for artists today. Hostage Calm is another one that comes to mind.

 

Hello Exile is great, but I think it suffers from the Will Yip treatment (which thankfully was absent on ATP). It just doesn't have the same punch ast ATP or even OTIP (or DEFINITELY not something like Rodent). Strangers Forever should soar but like most of the album it just sounds too flat.

 

flat is a great way of explaining it, there's no bite to the production, but the songs are good, just as a whole the album didn't hold my attention the way ATP did.

 

Like this tune but feels like i've heard it before.. Hello Exile I loved when it came out, listened to it every day front to back for weeks but after a break I returned to it recently and it kinda drags... something about the production that feels flat (or maybe it's just the collection of songs and flow...) either way still has it's moments... ATP was a special album for a lot of people including me, especially lyrically, so was always gonna be a tough follow up!

Also, No Gods by Sharks is absolute top tier.

 

My most controversial take is that I don't like America I Love You. It's okay but in my view should be the same, but faster. It sounds lethargic to me and HE, more than any other album of theirs, could have really used a proper rager to kick things off.

 

Also front to back its probably the one Menzingers album with 0 valleys for me (I like Ava House but it's a valley). Just fewer peaks which hurts it overall. My favs are Anna, High School Friend (grew on me a lot), Strain Your Memory and Farewell Youth. But none would make my top 10 Menzingers songs.

(Rented World has as high peaks as any with the singles, and definitely the lowest valleys. I'd place HE above that.)

 

I believe they just finished pre-production of a new record very recently

 

They played a new song called "There's No Place In This World For Me" in Hannover this week. Sounded good.