Review Summary: After after the party.
The Menzingers, of late, have had a bit of an energy problem. It’s twofold, they’ve lost the uptempo punk ethos we saw early in their catalog, and there’s been a distinct lack of songwriting oomph to make up for the slack. Say what you want, youthful catharsis in a sing-a-long chorus can cover a lot of repetitive ideas and general phoning-it-in vibes. They’ve aged and matured, and with it their songs have hit the incredibly unfortunate wall of ‘forgettable’. So when lead single “Nobody’s Heroes” landed, there was a distinct murmur that we were in for just another late career limp from the Scranton punk veterans.
Fortunately, “Nobody’s Heroes” seems to be the lone tether to 2023’s
Some of It Was True. Second single “Chance Encounters” slammed home with an under-utilized optimism and scream/shout verses that lead to a chorus that lands with a distinct smile on its face. That smile is the ticket across the majority of the album, Greg Barnett and Tom May finally finding a silver lining in the tough days of growing old in Eastern Pennsylvania. “Better Angels”, “Romanticism”, and “The Fool” all land with gusto, an energy that’s been sorely missed and is greatly appreciated.
The main flaws show themselves when the band retreats to its more mid-to-slow tempo sound, although even there there’s genuinely new ideas to be found. It’s mostly a distinct lean into the Americana side of the group, “Other People’s Money” with its nostalgic piano lilt and “When She Enters my Dreams” with its synth heavy warmth both hitting with a fresh ideas. The only true misses are “Gasoline & Matches” and the aforementioned “Nobody’s Heroes”, the former just can’t get out of its own way from a lyrical nor song structure perspective. Album finisher “Everything I Ever Saw” sees the Menzingers at their best, likely their most memorable album closer of their career and recalling back to what made
On The Impossible Past such a milestone record. It builds, hearkens nostalgic, and lands like a warm hug from an old friend.
Often, I associate The Menzingers’ records with seasons. If
On the Impossible Past is their fall record and
After the Party is summer,
Everything I Ever Saw sees them finally finding their spring. An upbeat and optimistic turn at their tried-and-true sound, emerging with a sunny and infinitely more memorable late career offering including some of their best songwriting and unique ideas to date. Enjoy this, it does seem like it takes a few tries to re-find their footing between their classic turns, but without a doubt this stacks up amongst their best.
