Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math

Album: Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math
Released: May 2011
Rating: 9/10
Best Track(s): Virgin, Simple Math, April Fool.

For my first review, I have chosen to play it safe with an album I am quite fond of, as well as being an album that I believe I do know quite well. I have been a fan of Manchester Orchestra for several years now. I was immediately hooked after being introduced to them through a family member: a young singer and guitarist who performed a rendition of 'I Can Feel a Hot One'.

Their previous album 'Mean Everything to Nothing' (2009) was for quite a long time my favourite album, although I was just as fond of the band's previous studio album 'I'm Like a Virgin Loosing a Child' (2006) as well as Andy Hull's live and/or acoustic versions of the band's songs.

Prior to the release of 'Simple Math' I was constantly searching the web for any of their new material, and I was a very happy man when I finally had the album for my own. The expression of emotion within the band's albums is what I believe has kept me listening and anticipating new material for so long. Hull's lyrics are thought provoking and meaningful, and the dynamics of the band compliment this exceptionally throughout 'Simple Math' just as they have in the past.

The opening track, 'Deer' is a song that I have for a long time personally titled "The best opening to an album, ever." but my favourite tracks of the album were the three tracks that stood out most above the rest on my first listening of the album in its entirety: 'Simple Math', 'Virgin' and 'April Fool'. My fondness of the tracks 'Simple Math' and 'Virgin' could quite possibly be due to my near-obsession with the powerful music videos, but with or without visuals, they are great tracks, and somehow work exceptionally well one after the other on the album. I feel that Andy Hull's powerful vocals throughout "April Fool" give the song a 'Shake it Out'-kind-of-feel. Which I just love.

This album is a great listen from beginning to end, each track is in itself something independent but they all work in coalition to make this album work. 'Simple Math' seems to have been welcomed by a lot of Manchester Orchestra fans as well as those just discovering the band. The deviation from the guilt and sadness expressed in 'Deer' to the dynamically powerful 'Mighty' is almost shocking, but the curve is so sudden, the listener takes it, and just goes with this surprising and unsteady flow. In first two tracks, Manchester Orchestra could have already "wowed" critics, fans and newbies with their variation of musical ability, well-structured lyrics and variant style.