MJ Lenderman, Wednesday band member, released the album “Manning Fireworks” a little over a year ago. Incredible lyricism is its center of attention. Beyond the beautiful attention to detail in metaphor and wordplay, the twang in the guitar is something I can really get behind.
The titular first song off the album establishes a calm opening to a somewhat cynical album. “One of these days, you’ll kill a man / for asking a question you don’t understand.” I find this lyric most interesting, coinciding with the story he’s telling about a murder. The musical composition of this hook’s tune is calm, consisting of mostly minor chords. The actual cadence Lenderman uses comes across with the appropriately tired energy of a life lived much too long.
“Joker Lips” introduces to the listener the importance of religious references in this nine-song album. In the lyric “Please don’t laugh, only half of what I said is a joke,” Lenderman refers to a self-deprecating nature shown in moments of vulnerability, most likely heightened by the catholic guilt we hear about. As one might assume, the term for the song title stems from DC’s villain the Joker, recognized by his torn up mouth and lips. This association channels the irony of “putting on a smile” in the face of failure, fear, etc.
It may be past Christmas, but this third song is titled “Rudolph.” Something I cannot get over with Lenderman’s guitar style is just how much it seems to swing. This song in particular is pure guitar crunch; to me, I could not have discovered this album at a more perfect time than when I did (around Christmas time). If you’re a seasonal sadness sort of person, maybe this song can bring you some joy in the form of disheartening lyrics that are most applicable to twenty-somethings.
What can I say that hasn’t been said about “Wristwatch”? For one, the initial riff is incredibly catchy. “Wristwatch” was released as a single to predate the album and it did not disappoint. As a guitarist, I can tell you that learning to jump from D-sharp to C to B is by far the most difficult thing for an absolute amateur like me, but also so rewarding. The lyrics in the song are a definite time piece. In the repeating phrase “I’ve got a wristwatch…” Lenderman is referring to what is a smart watch in which he receives a message from a presumed lover that they are “all alone.” We learn about the breakup of a relationship that seemed to have been more of a “situationship.” Something about this song made me learn the lyrics after just four listens. His somewhat cheeky rhymes and references are ones that simply roll off the tongue, making it so easy for anyone to get sucked in and attached. Who would want “a beach home up in Buffalo?”
If you didn’t pick up on the meaning of the last lyrics, MJ Lenderman lays it out for us with “She’s Leaving You.” It’s a challenge to focus my review of this particular song on just a single lyric, but I think the opening line “You can put your clothes back on, she’s leaving you” says quite enough. It’s a casual remark, proven later with the repetition of “It falls apart, we all got work to do.” This line truly brings together the image of the reality of romantic relationships when you are presumably post-grad. Many love/heartbreak songs focus on the intensities of teen romance, but what about legitimately the rest of your life? This break up happens, yet you have work the next day. There is no time to ruminate or sit in a corner and sob this loss; she’s leaving you, and we all got work to do.
“Rip Torn” gets a bit darker than a “frivolous” break up. It’s much more centered around self destructive tendencies, possibly having to do with substance abuse. It also grapples with recognition issues that come with being an artist. After the release of his album “Boat Songs,” Lenderman knew thousands were watching, directly coinciding with this aforementioned fear so close to his heart that he trusts fans with.
Many of us know what it’s like to spend time with people and be acutely aware of the fact that they have no clue what you’re experiencing. “You Don’t Know The Shape I’m In” is exactly that. The song discusses the aftermath of the aforementioned relationship: being lost and self-aware, yet far from bitter looking back at the past.
“On My Knees” is another song that I cannot get out of my head to save my life. “Cause I know goin’ on vacation brings the worst out of everyone” cuts especially deep. I spent the latter part of my winter break at the Grand Canyon, so it was interesting to hear a lyric and relate to it so profoundly after having skimmed past it so many listens. “On My Knees” is a song about forgiveness, a surrender to his surroundings. This song is a heavenly precursor to the 10 minute mostly instrumental song that is “Bark At The Moon.” Once again, Lenderman is lost about what to do. Through Guitar Hero bits and Ozzy Osborne references, he cultivates an extreme self loathing environment in the song that later breaks down the instruments through distortion and feedback.
As an artist, MJ Lenderman is amazing and because of that I don’t know if I’d give an arm and a leg to see him live or if I want him to stay as far away from me as possible. This is the kind of album that you can listen to on a road trip across the forest country, or anywhere honestly. In January alone I have listened to it no less than fourteen times. I strongly believe every man, woman, child, animal, and other secret fifth thing should listen to this album at least once, because it is life changing.
First-Year Ramona Banos is a Staff Writer. Her Email is vbanos@fandm.edu.