Manning Fireworks

Last updated

Manning Fireworks
MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks.png
Studio album by
MJ Lenderman
ReleasedSeptember 6, 2024 (2024-09-06)
StudioDrop of Sun Studios (Asheville, North Carolina)
Genre
Length38:51
Label
Producer
  • MJ Lenderman
  • Alex Farrar
MJ Lenderman chronology
And the Wind (Live and Loose!)
(2023)		Manning Fireworks
(2024)
Singles from Manning Fireworks
  1. "She's Leaving You"
    Released: June 24, 2024
  2. "Joker Lips"
    Released: July 29, 2024
  3. "Wristwatch"
    Released: September 4, 2024

Manning Fireworks is the fourth solo album by American musician MJ Lenderman. The album was released on September 6, 2024, through Anti- and Epitaph Records. Produced by Lenderman and Alex Farrar, the album features contributions from Lenderman's Wednesday bandmates Karly Hartzman, Xandy Chelmis and Ethan Baechtold.

Contents

Background

Manning Fireworks was announced on June 24, 2024, accompanied by the single release of "She's Leaving You". [1] Lenderman recorded the album at Drop of Sun Studios in his home town of Asheville, North Carolina. A press release refers to the record as an insight into Lenderman's "frank observations on the intersection of wit and sadness" that transfers "punchlines" and "rusted-wire guitar solos" from previous works and presents a "new sincerity" and perspective through "his warped lens". [2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 88/100 [3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Pitchfork 8.7/10 [6]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Slant Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Beats Per Minute 77% [9]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic , Manning Fireworks received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 88 out of 100 from 22 critic scores. [3]

In a review for AllMusic, Mark Deming declared that, "coupled with his scrappy guitar and the satisfyingly loose report of his band, [Lenderman] makes it all into something often moving and always compelling." [4] Pitchfork awarded the record its Best New Music designation, with Jeremy D. Larson describing the record "witty and sincere, the mark of a songwriter finding his voice." [6] Rolling Stone 's Jon Dolan called it an "indie-rock gem" with "ace" storytelling. [7] Steven Hyden in Uproxx was effusive, depicting it as an "especially precious commodity" in the modern age. [10] Damien Morris at the Guardian interpreted it as a "joyously weird" LP steeped in religion, [5] while PopMatters' Patrick Gill praised its witty lyricism and "exceptional" sonic sensibilities. [11]

In an interview with NME , writer Jordan Bassett opined that the album "often amounts to a study in thwarted masculinity" and the expression of Lenderman's "hate-watch" of "macho influencers". [12] A premature evaluation conducted by Stereogum writer Danielle Chelosky already called Manning Fireworks "one of the best albums of the year" and the fall equivalent of Brat by Charli XCX. [13] Jeremy Winograd of Slant thought Manning Fireworks was "something of a solitary affair", praising the "vitality and enthusiasm" that comes through in his guitar work. Winograd concluded that if the album is the product of "all those nights playing Guitar Hero" then there's hoping that "Lenderman never leaves his room". John Amen of Beats Per Minute was slightly more ambivalent, writing, "While the mixes on Manning Fireworks are studiously crafted, Lenderman’s presence largely enrolling, and his guitar acumen undeniable, the set’s overall gestalt is naggingly emulative. Lenderman, as compelling as he can be, rarely transcends the influence of his forebears." [14]

Year-end lists

Manning Fireworks was featured by many music and culture publications as one of the best albums of 2024. The New Yorker [15] named the album as the best of the year, while Brooklyn Vegan , [16] The Line of Best Fit , [17] and Stereogum [18] placed it second. The record was ranked in the top ten albums of 2024 by Rolling Stone , [19] Uncut , [20] Clash , [21] Paste , [22] Associated Press, [23] Vulture , [24] Pitchfork , [25] The Fader , [26] Impose , [27] and Entertainment Weekly . [28] Gorilla vs. Bear , [29] The A.V. Club , [30] Exclaim! , [31] Loud and Quiet , [32] The Guardian , [33] NME , [34] The Ringer , [35] The Skinny , [36] Consequence , [37] and Slant Magazine [38] ranked it in their top 20, with Crack , [39] AllMusic , [40] MOJO , [41] NPR, [42] Uproxx , [43] Vogue , [44] and Billboard [45] also including it in a list of the best albums of the year.

Select year-end rankings for Manning Fireworks
Publication/criticAccoladeRankRef.
The A.V. Club 25 Best Albums of 202412 [30]
Consequence 50 Best Albums of 202418 [37]
Entertainment Weekly 10 Best Albums of 20247 [28]
Exclaim! 50 Best Albums of 202411 [31]
MOJO 75 Best Albums of 202454 [41]
The New Yorker (20) Best Albums of 20241 [15]
NME 50 Best Albums of 202414 [34]
Paste 100 Best Albums of 20247 [22]
Pitchfork 50 Best Albums of 20244 [25]
Rolling Stone 100 Best Albums of 20243 [19]
Rough Trade UK (100) Albums of the Year 202424 [46]
Slant 50 Best Albums of 202414 [38]
Stereogum 50 Best Albums of 20242 [18]
Uncut 80 Best Albums of 20248 [20]

Track listing

All tracks are written by MJ Lenderman.

Manning Fireworks track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Manning Fireworks"2:59
2."Joker Lips"3:01
3."Rudolph"3:31
4."Wristwatch"3:42
5."She's Leaving You"4:38
6."Rip Torn"3:32
7."You Don't Know the Shape I'm In"3:36
8."On My Knees"3:52
9."Bark at the Moon"10:00
Total length:38:51

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Manning Fireworks
Chart (2024)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [47] 177
Scottish Albums (OCC) [48] 19
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [49] 29
UK Country Albums (OCC) [50] 3
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [51] 9
US Folk Albums ( Billboard ) [52] 15
US Independent Albums ( Billboard ) [53] 48

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References

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  2. ↑ Shanfeld, Ethan (June 24, 2024). "MJ Lenderman Announces New Album Manning Fireworks, Drops First Single". Variety . Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Manning Fireworks by MJ Lenderman Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Deming, Mark (September 6, 2024). "Manning Fireworks - MJ Lenderman | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Morris, Damien (September 6, 2024). "MJ Lenderman: Manning Fireworks review – joyously weird alt-Americana". the Guardian. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Larson, Jeremy D. (September 6, 2024). "MJ Lenderman: Manning Fireworks". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Dolan, Jon (September 4, 2024). "MJ Lenderman Delivers a Sad-Guy Indie-Rock Gem With 'Manning Fireworks'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  8. ↑ Winograd, Jeremy (September 2, 2024). "MJ Lenderman Manning Fireworks Review: An Artist Enjoying His Own Company". Slant . Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  9. ↑ Amen, John (September 16, 2024). "Album Review: MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks". Beats Per Minute . Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  10. ↑ Hyden, Steven (September 4, 2024). "In praise of the best indie rock album of 2024". UPROXX. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  11. ↑ Gill, Patrick (September 4, 2024). "MJ Lenderman Continues Upward Trajectory with Manning Fireworks". PopMatters. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  12. ↑ Bassett, Jordan (August 28, 2024). "MJ Lenderman on resisting the hype: "There's a danger in believing your own myth"". NME . Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  13. ↑ Chelosky, Danielle (August 29, 2024). "Premature Evaluation: MJ Lenderman Manning Fireworks". Stereogum . Retrieved September 3, 2024.
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  19. 1 2 Rolling Stone (December 2, 2024). "The 100 Best Albums of 2024". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 11, 2024./
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  44. ↑ "The 36 Best Albums of 2024". Vogue . December 20, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
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  49. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
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  51. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
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