MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks (CD)

MJ Lendermanis a songwriter born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. The anatomy of an MJ record might go something like this: warped pedal steels and skuzzed out guitar; crackin a cold one with some buds; a voice reminiscent of the high-lonesome warble of a choirboy. Songs snake their way from a lo-fi home recording to something glossier made with longtime friends at Ashevilles Drop of Sun studios, but the recording setting doesnt seem to matter much at its core, a Lenderman song rings true.

Manning Fireworks is a remarkable development in MJ Lendermans story as an incredibly incisive singer-songwriter, whose propensity for humor always points to some uneasy, disorienting darkness. The punchlines are still here, as are the rusted-wire guitar solos that have made Lenderman a favorite for indie rock fans looking for an emerging guitar hero. Theres a new sincerity, too, as Lenderman lets listeners clearly see the world through his warped lens.

Lenderman puts a new spin on southern rock with his blissful knack for guitar work thats gnarled yet breezy, and a lyrical style that is as sincere as it is sardonic, as mythic as it is mundane, as he finds the beauty in frailty. The Guardian

Tracklist:
01. Joker Lips
02. Rudolph
03. Wristwatch
04. Shes Leaving You
05. Rip Torn
06. You Dont Know The Shape Im In
07. On My Knees
08. Bark At The Moon