Manchester Orchestra - A Black Mile to the Surface (July 28, 2017) Album • Page 163

The Alien and The Gold broke 1 million plays on Spotify!

I Can Feel a Hot One is really close to 10 million

 

I held off on listening to any of these songs before listening to the album. All i knew were a few advance opinions from maybe Jason. So I went in blind; and I am glad I did. Album has really grabbed me and I can't wait until the next time I put it on.

 

I listened to their entire discography yesterday in a row. And I can confirm that this is their best record for me now. What a ride though and every record is insanely strong

 

Also went in blind. I did listen to The Gold once through at Jason's recommendation, but steered clear of everything else.

Going in blind was probably the best thing I have done music-wise ever. Will try to do that from now on with every highly anticipated release.

 

It's definitely the way forward for this kind of cohesive album. I only ever listen to the first single once or twice for my favourite bands and then sit back and enjoy on release day!

 

I'm glad my first listen I had only heard the gold and the alien but wish I had no knowledge of the record at all

 

I've waited since Virgin for this record. Saweeeet

 

This is a big test for me as well, and my wife and i have only overlapped on a couple albums over the past couple years. Mainly the new Paramore, Turnover's Peripheral Vision (and the new songs), and Pinegrove. When she asked for me to make her a playlist of this album with some other stuff i was ecstatic. we're gonna wear this album out.

 

I love that the guitars don't punch you in the face from every song. they are probably farther back in the mix than most rock records, but if you want to pick them out they are definitely still there. I feel like this album is more percussion/vocal based, which i think works out for the better most of the time.

 

The songs would sound weird if the guitars were loud. Don't think the record would work

 

yeah, they might deny it, but you know COPE being a guitar centered record and wanting to go more 'swiss army man' this time around DEFINITELY played into the part the guitars play here.

 

Yeah the guitars are perfect in here.

 

I've warmed up a lot to this album and it's making me wish I had a better pair of headphones so I could further appreciate all the nuance. Still not my favorite album by them but that's alright.

 

I think it just depends which Manchester you enjoy more.

 

Amen.

 

I wonder if Chris Freeman kinda wishes he stuck around after hearing this

 

probably so since i don't think it was a mutual split.

 

I have heard rumors of tension in the studio, Andy cracking down, perhaps it was a musical disagreement, maybe more. Maybe he thought he needed to work on building a nest egg and that MO won't provide that into his late 30's and 40's and beyond. They don't follow each other anymore, but Chris and the rest of the band and Kevin still seem to get along and like each others stuff, so who knows. A lot to just speculate on.

This is the only Black Mile related thing Chris has tweeted or liked.

He was always cool to me. Really funny guy. I wish him the best.

 

his energy in the live set was something else, i think theyll miss that.

 

The more I try to understand the story behind these songs the more I get confused.

 

I have no fucking idea what he's ranting about in these songs but it sure sounds important lol

 

That is a shame. He seemed like a cool guy based on the conversation I had with him, and he was very entertaining to watch play. I was checking out his art/t-shirt page and thinking "This isn't very impressive. He left MO to do this?"

 

always wonder what its like for ex band members on the outside looking in like that.

 

Me too. Especially in this case since the last album he was on wasn't that well received, and this one is getting mostly universal praise.

 

MO is playing a free show in Chicago tomorrow night. I will let the thread know what new songs they bust out!