Manchester Orchestra’s sophomore release, Mean Everything To Nothing, is scheduled to be released sometime late in the spring of 2009. It was originally scheduled for March 31st, but according to AbsolutePunk it has, even though it’s officially finished, been pushed back.

I am extremely excited about this record myself, and as a treat to all the other Manchester Orchestra fans out there, I have scoured through YouTube and found some of the best available audio recordings of songs that might make it to the new album. Warning: If you don’t want to listen to lousy recordings of the new songs, do not read on!

Mean Everything: [YouTube clip]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This is the track that lends a line of its lyrics to the album’s title, and it picks up exactly where the louder parts Like A Virgin Losing a Child left off. Dominant instruments inbetween a catchy ground melody and the poetic lyrics we’ve come to expect of Andy Hull which seem to make all the confusing pieces fall right into their obvious positions in the puzzle of life. ” You mean everything to nothing, nothing but me ” - Can something as simple sound more profound?

Black Man: [YouTube clip]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

From the first stroke on the guitar this reeks of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, and to avoid any confusion on the matter: it’s a good thing. The recording isn’t all that great, so it’s hard to make out the lyrics, but the classic grunge sound of the track mixed with the guitar solos and the downright screaming is enough to catch my attention. It will be interesting to see if they have managed to capture the energy that drives the song on the album version.

I’ve Got Friends In All The Right Places: [YouTube clip]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Another low quality recording, but if you turn up the volume enough you should at least be able to get a good listen to the amazing chorus. It starts out pretty low key, but it the song has great progression and eventually ends up in the same lane as the two first songs we look at. The underlying melody and the already mentioned chorus is however very catchy and radio friendly if you well, and I think it’s quite likely that they will tone the track down a bit on the record to emphasize on this.

Shake It Out: [YouTube clip]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

If I have to pick a favourite of the four tracks, this is it. Hypnotizing drums drive the song forward as Andy Hull shouts about being the living ghost of everything and how he needs another and another and another, and I think that echoes how we all feel about Manchester Orchestra songs right about now. Personally I hope they went into the studio and recorded this song exactly as they played it at this live show, because it certainly is the band at its best!

It has also been confirmed that I Can Feel A Hot One from the recently released Let My Pride Be What’s Left Behind EP will be on the record as one of the few low key songs (you can listen to it on the band’s MySpace profile). It seems from the songs we have looked at as well as that statement that Mean Everything will serve as confirmation of the band’s sound, as they seem to be leaving behind the slower, acoustic songs for the heavier tunes. This will probably be well received among most fans, and for those of us who want to have our cake and eat it too it’s good to know that we have another Right Away, Great Captain! album to look forward to in addition to this upcoming Manchester Orchestra record!

/ Posted: Dec 17, 2008
/ Written by: Lars-Christian
/ Category: Feature Articles
/ Artist(s): Manchester Orchestra