The chemicals are rushing right out of the gate on this one. You start with a cigarette and dive straight into Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, to the lay person) to calm your nerves from that nicotine rush. This album starts off with a raucous acoustic punk number that will leave you craving more. So, it’s a good thing it’s only the first song on the album.
Moving through the second song and into the third, you are lulled into the numbed-out goodness of these songs. By the time you get to "Clairvoyant K," you’re ready to hear what Jenny has to say and be transported to the closest corner store for a butt and beer run. If you didn’t have a smoking habit at the start of this album, you may have one by the end. You should at least put down that cigarette to join in on singing the “Ba da ba da ba.”
On the next song you hear the band ask you to reject the fancier things in life and hang out with them instead. This song is so catchy, it is almost unreasonable. Shout out to Steve for the amazing bass in the breakdown. I love a good bass breakdown. It leads nicely to the false start and strong finish of "Packaged Rebellion," a song that also has some badass bass in it.
"Mandie’s Song" is a beautiful, punk rock ballad. A nice chill out in the middle of a high-energy punk rock album. A lament to calling out on the world and spending the day doing nothing. An idea I can wholeheartedly get behind. It leads beautifully into "Nine," which begins with a sample from Justin’s mom, letting us know he is, in fact, punk rock. As if we needed that reminder. This song is a gorgeous anthem. I especially love the double of the lead guitar with the “woah ohs” on the chorus.
The following songs bring us back to that full, rocking punk Manicdotes do so well. "Ghost" and "Jaded" are so fun. By the time you get to "Oh Sweet Apathy," you’ll likely be thrashing around your living room in your own personal mosh pit.
Next up is a slow, country number. Just kidding. It’s another kickass punk rock song. It is about driving through Texas, so that’s kind of country. There is an implied twang to this song. As someone who has toured through Texas, this song captures those long roads and endless skies of the Lonestar State perfectly. If I had a cowboy hat, I’d tip it right about now.
You get into the final two songs. You’re still chain smoking. Maybe you’re feeling a little frazzled by this point. The second to last song is a high-energy, intense final release of the album before we wind down to the end. This time, you’re going to add some lines of cocaine to the cigarettes, and I’m here for it. After this wild ride, I feel the only way I could properly calm down and soak in this gentle, final song is with that combination of chemicals.
This album is a hazy, fog of booze, cigarettes and drugs laced with heavy guitars, beautifully placed leads, and a driving rhythm section. I can’t stop listening to it. Bring on the withdrawals!
