Review Summary: Shame. That’s the only feeling that this record can leave you with.
Shame. That’s the only feeling that this record can leave you with. That you, the listener, decided to endure this piece of musical failure from a band that previously had potential, a band that’s last significant album released seven years ago. Indeed, these guys are the definitions of sellouts: they started as a superb heavy rock band, and now are a carbon copy of the typical Christian contemporary pop band. However, VIP is slightly stronger than the band’s 2011 release, Epic, although it still isn’t worth a listen.
As a whole, the album sounds a little less awkward than Epic. While Manic’s poppy side is contrived and generic, the guys sound slightly more comfortable playing it. That’s the greatest positive aspect of VIP. The album also sounds lifeless and miserable, and practically everything is the same for every song. Shawn abandoned his grit and screams two albums ago, instead opting to rely on autotuned and sugary vocals. He basically sounds like a mix of the vocalist of Capital Kings and Michael Tait of Newsboys. There are some songs where once-talented guitarist Mike doesn’t even play, though when he is playing, it’s the exact same dull, Latino-flavored licks: there’s not a significant riff the entire album. Drummer Anthony is credited for playing, though unless the drum machine’s name is Anthony, he isn’t present the entire record. The Dubstep parts are nothing to speak of, it’s the same you’ve heard from Capital Kings or Newsboys. Speaking of the same, the sound is also the same as Epic: so no variation from album to album anymore, like there was with Manic’s first two records.
This record, there are two guest appearances: one fails miserably, the other is, surprisingly, mildly enjoyable. The first is Trevor McNevan (of TFK) on opener Electric. Trevor is used for raps, not harsh vocals, even though he rescues the song from Shawn’s generic vocal approach, and adds some much needed energy. The second is Manwell Reyes (of G1C) on VIP, and he just makes this already-God-awful song worse. His fake-sounding vocals are horrid, he delivers the painful lyrics like he thinks they are gold, and is present for too long. While Trevor’s appearance helped the record, the band may not want to attempt guest vocals again. Other than that, there’s nothing to speak of, the album honestly is that terrible.
Lyrically, it’s the lowest Manic Drive have ever been. Honestly, this is lyric hell. Here’s the entire rap from VIP: “Get the flash out my eyes, yeah, my future bright-paparazzi all around me, uh, trying to catch my life-what they don’t know isn’t gonna matter-cause the better parts of me ain’t gonna capture with a lens- but the fact that I’m created with a purpose-that is greater than the status that the world is trying to lend-but I’m backstage, everyday, all access, never wait-fly first class, see you at the gate, God is so good, na man God great-and there’ll never be a time that you wait in line- he already paid your cover, it’s about time- then you live life bigger than before, VIP just walk through the door.” Bite me, Manic Drive, bite me. And trust me, it doesn’t improve, it only further degenerates.
Don’t purchase this, don’t listen to it, don’t have anything to do with it: it’s terrible. If you want to torture yourself, listen to this. If you want to punish your child or prank your friend, force them into this. If not, move on from this toxic waste of an album.
