Mason Maggio, front man of The Republic of Wolves did a fantastic cover of one of my all-time favorite MO tracks. Check him out giving his spin on the Mean Everything To Nothing b-side which appeared on the Fourteen Years of Excellence EP

STREAM // SIMPLE MATH (WHITE SEA REMIX)

The band were approached by a fan in Rochester who hand delivered them his video for “Virgin”. Apparently, the video’s creation came about as the fan was working on a film-school project while listening to Simple Math in the background. The synchronicity between the film and “Virgin” is wild, as it’s eery contents match up perfect with “Virgin’s” apocalyptic theme.

This also brings to light the question of whether Blink has finished their new album or will have it done and ready for release before the tour kicks off in early August. Keep your fingers crossed.

August 5 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center *
August 6 Wantagh, NY Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach *
August 7 Wantagh, NY Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach ~
August 9 Boston, MA Comcast Center *
August 11 Buffalo, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center *
August 12 Washington, DC Jiffy Lube Live *
August 13 Hershey, PA Hershey Park Pavilion *
August 14 Hartford, CT The Comcast Theatre *
August 16 Montreal, QC Bell Centre *
August 17 Toronto, ON Molson Canadian Ampitheatre *
August 19 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre *
August 20 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Pavilion *
August 21 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center *
August 23 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheater *
August 25 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre %
August 26 Saskatoon, SK Credit Union Centre %
August 27 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place %
August 28 Calgary, AB Saddledome %
August 30 Victoria, BC Save-On Foods Memorial Centre %
August 31 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena %
September 1 Seattle, WA White River Amphitheater +
September 3 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheater +
September 4 Denver, CO Comfort Dental Amphitheater +
September 7 Minneapolis, MN Xcel Center ^
September 8 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena ~
September 9 Kansas City, MO Sandstone Amphitheater ^
September 10 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre ^
September 11 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Centre ^
September 13 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center ^
September 15 Pittsburgh, PA First Niagara Pavilion ^
September 16 Saratoga, NY SPAC ^
September 17 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center ^
September 18 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre ^
September 20 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Verizon Wireless Amphitheater ^
September 21 Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheater ^
September 23 Miami, FL Cruzan Amphitheater ^
September 24 Tampa, FL 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre ^
September 26 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion ^
September 27 Dallas, TX Gexa Energy Pavilion ^
September 29 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion ^
September 30 Phoenix, AZ Tempe Beach Park Amphitheatre ^x
October 1 Anaheim, CA Honda Center ^
October 2 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre ^
October 4 Concord, CA Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord ^
October 5 San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre ^
October 7 Las Vegas, NV Red Rock Resort, Spa & Casino ^
October 8 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl ^
October 15 San Diego, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre ^

* with Manchester Orchestra
+ with Rancid
^ with Matt & Kim
~ support TBA
x no My Chemical Romance
% with Against Me! and Rancid, no My Chemical Romance

The PT Sessions: Manchester Orchestra – Colly Strings from Punktastic on Vimeo.

Punktastic recently did a 3-song session with Manchester Orchestra including three performances for “Colly Strings” , “Simple Math” , and and new unreleased song “Bananas”. They’ve got the first of the three up now. Watch “Colly Strings” above and stay tuned for the other two.
MP3 // Colly Strings

In Simple Math’s 10 song, forty-five minute makeup, Manchester Orchestra rip through the most earnestly revealing and thematically fulfilling album they’ve put out during their still green career. Composed as a concept album documenting frontman Andy Hull’s near divorce with his wife, it’s hard to think of another time when Hull has made himself so deliberately vulnerable. The album’s confessional opener finds Hull lamenting “You’re probably too busy with your work. Or am I just excusing you for leaving me alone?” This theme of isolation is plays heavily throughout the album.

After the soft-spoken intro, the record proceeds to kick into overdrive, diving head first into a pool of grungy and dirty southern inspired rock reminiscent of much of 2009′s METN. “Mighty” boasts muted guitar riffs that swagger in place behind Hull’s biting melody while “Pensacola” has the albums loudest and most immediate moments, including a joyous bridge of drunken gang vocals, juxtaposed to Hull’s lyricism that laments the plague of disconnect affecting so many touring musicians and their loved ones whilst on the road. It’s easy to hear the fatigue in Hull’s voice when he admits “I’m tired of talking to a wall, when I could talk to someone else. I just got seven days without a word, and you’re with someone somewhere else.”

After the scathing first section of the record, Manchester Orchestra begin to explore more thematically brilliant composition. If there is one thing that differentiates Simple Math from it’s predecessors, it’s found in the fleshed out maturity displayed on songs like “Pale Black Eye” and “Virgin” which both showcase moments unheard in previous MO material. Whether it be the swelling string section that puts a forceful close to “Pale Black Eye” or the eerie addition of children singing the chorus of “Virgin”, Simple Math’s arsenal is laden with epic atmosphere and unabashed depth.

“Virgin” marks a sort of bookmark in the album, one of transitioning between the hulking hooks of it’s first half into a more reserved and premeditated form of attack. “Simple Math”, the albums first single is a ballad bordering on existential crisis amongst swirling strings and a feral finale which gives way to “Leave It Alone”. The track opens with Hull’s slightly distorted and dissonant vocals before crawling to a defeated and exhausted conclusion. “So take me or don’t. I’ve built up this kingdom you’d hopefully loathe. If we end up alone. A plague on my head and a curse in my home.” It’s the calculated self-awareness that Hull displays, which makes it crystal clear just how painful and exhausting Simple Math’s subject matter really is.

The record then wearily heads into the final stretch with “Apprehension”, a cryptic and masterfully written track which gives way to Simple Math’s end-piece “Leaky Breaks”. In the band’s previous releases, the album’s final spot has been reserved for the records emotive climax. (See “Colly Strings” and “The River”) “Leaky Breaks” is instead, a breezy and subdued closer which feels like the band taking a collective deep breath. Jonathan Corley leads the track with a floating bass line, walking on top of whimsical guitar. The song sounds vaguely like a nod to Modest Mouse circa 2004 if Isaac Brock turned in his lisp for a southern drawl. Ending on a tone of apprehensive finality, Hull leads the track home cooing farewell to the ground tread over the draining last fourty-five minutes.

With Simple Math, Manchester Orchestra have proven that they are no longer a band playing in the shadow of the music that influenced them, but a band that has exceeded the shadow of their influence. The dubiety of time will quiet any comparisons between Simple Math and it’s predecessors, and no comparison is really necessary. Simple Math stands up in an already flawless discography and marks another chapter in their bright, bright future. With such calm and confident poise, this band has finally stepped into the shoes they were always meant to wear and are poised now to sit at the top as the scenes’ much needed savior.

Virgin by Manchester Orchestra
Simple Math is out May 10th via Favorite Gentlemen
Purchase // Simple Math

Thanks to ATP!, who caught up with the band to record an acoustic session featuring the albums namesake as well as “Pale Black Eye” the brooding cut that’s featured in the albums mid-section.

Don’t forget the band will also be premiering the new song “Virgin” at 7PM EST along with a live interview from Andy Hull’s living room. I’ve heard the track and it’s a behemoth of a track, definitely one of the best things this band has put to record, so make sure you tune in!