ALLbum : Passion Pit - Manners (2009)
Manners were the
first Passion Pit debut album that
consist eleven songs including Sleepyhead,
the song from their first EP (Extended Play) called Chunk Of Change. Manners
deliver atmospheric feeling where they creating an exciting or emotional mood
in certain song combined with awesome poetry lyrics. I've seen a lot of
positive feedback from professional critics about Manners album in the internet such as Pitchfork; suggest that Manners is deceptively consistent beyond its singles where if you like one Passion Pit song, you’ll probably like
them all. [Well, it’s true and it’s happen to me. The first songs I've hear
from these albums was Little Secrets
then Moth’s Wings until the last
song entitle Seaweed Song. Honestly,
I admit that I really like all Passion
Pit songs either from Manners
album or their latest album, Gossamer
even their first EP, Chunk Of Change] However, Paste
Magazine conclude that not every song
is perfect but perfection is boring. [Correct. Manners album have certain flaws in a particular song] What we need in these weary times and what Passion Pit brings is exuberance.
[That’s the spirit] Manners deliver the
elusive feeling that everything will be alright or just maybe that everything
already is. [Probably right] In other hand, Boston Globe describe only two things about Manners; refreshed and
uplifted. [Lifted to the sky, I guess] Those
are two things that the best pop records leave your feeling. [Indeed] Now,
it’s time I review all eleven songs inside Manners
album:
#1
Make Light
For
the first track, I’m not much to say about this song and I didn't get the point
where the chorus part will start. It continues melody and rhythm that the only
thing I've heard from these songs. However, I've praised for the music
arrangement they made.
#2 Little Secrets
Fun
size, eh? Among my favorite songs, it’s easy for me to describe about this
song; its fun and enjoyable song. Start with catchy tune of synthesizer, its
upbeat someone or somebody were listen these songs that probably dancing on the
floor. These energetic songs will hype you up and make your day by supporting
choir from elementary school children shouting “higher and higher and higher”. Although, it’s enjoyable song but
it’s have hidden message that they want to tell us about something.
#3 Moth’s
Wings
Another favorite song, these songs emphasize the mesmerizing melody of piano strings
from the start that probably lifted your feeling up to the sky. The lyrics from
these songs are difficult to understand that maybe the rivalries between two
peoples are closely friend to seizing the throne.
#4 The Reeling
This
song you’ll feel goes back in time where 80s/90s pop era are born. This vintage
pop of music style is really taking you to the dance floor. The music
arrangement are seems similar at some part to a song entitle Tons Of Guns from Chunk Of Change EP. I’d say its revolution song either.
#5 Eyes As Candles
Start
with fantastic and wonderful tune of piano which make you feel the harmonized
and peaceful feeling. It’s beautifully layered with synthesizer and the chorus
was simply put your hands up in the air and saying “na na na na na na hey hey hey”.
#6 Swimming In The Flood
Quite
different from the other songs, this song brought us some sadness feeling but
still remain its upbeat melody that probably catches your ears from the
beginning until the end of the song. It’s heavily bass and pop groove sound. I've seen the lyrics and it does remind me about tsunami that happens on 26
December 2004, the day after Christmas struck several countries badly. If you
refer some part of the lyrics below, then you’ll know what I mean:
My eyes have once again been
proven wrong,
Your clouds, your blanket and my
pity song.
Hovering on your front lawn,
Carry on until it’s gone.
What can I do?
The river’s overrun,
We’re swimming in the flood, you
know?
I thought I felt your touch,
But the water’s rising up.
What
the coincidence, eh? Or maybe it’s have connection to their own past experience
facing the flood.
#7 Folds In Your Hands
Define
as a love story but I've quite impressed with the harmonized backing vocals at
the chorus. Plus, at the end of this song, they want some happiness of love on
a rainy day by simply put, “feel it rain,
feel it rain, we’re alive, feel it rain”.
#8 To Kingdom Come
These
songs start with a really nice tune and simple rhythm plus their layered with
amazing synthesizer at the first glance. This song expressed the emotion of Michael Angelakos (singer/vocalist of Passion Pit) that contain spiritual
feeling.
#9 Sleepyhead
The
only song that their put a sample of music collection and combined together
with this song. What a great idea, creative and innovative talents. Plus, this
is the only song that make to Manners
album from Chunk Of Change EP. A
bite of funky, groove and heavily bass drum are well connected each other. It’s
crowded and noisy sound if you hear from your earphones but still it’s
enjoyable to listen. Sometimes I think the melody from the song a bit lazy as
the name of title has been given to this song.
#10 Let Your Love Grow Tall
It’s
upbeat song which every second counts the rhythm of piano and drum. Considered
to be a fast song, the main point is not about ordinary love that you can give
to someone you love but beyond that. It’s probably to see how high your loves
to the Creator or God whether “tall as
the grass in the meadow” or “like the
buildings in the city”. This song maybe gives us questions than the answers
but it delivers some of spiritual and motivation theme.
#11 Seaweed Song
I don’t know how to describe
about this song especially the music arrangement is seems to be aqua or
maritime sound at the first glance. Plus, I don’t know either how they give a
name of this song, Seaweed Song
while the lyrics maybe have connection with Swimming In The Flood. Here, some part of the lyrics:
The currents pull me in,
The tide has reached my chin,
The seaweed tickles skin,
Just let the water win.
I’m freezing to the bone,
You’ll never be at home,
Just watch, you’re running out,
Just watch your body go.
I
think its answer those questions. The lyrics probably depicts about someone
that drown in the sea with no hopes and easily give up to destiny.
Manners album
delivers a unique emotion and feeling that difficult to define. I conclude that
these albums contain a variety of alternative pop genre depends on moods or
situation for a particular song. Plus, most of the song has a catchy tune and
good rhythm from the start that probably attracts you to listen until the end. Still,
it’s not considered as the pop culture song either.
The lyrics expressed Michael Angelakos awesome poetry that
gives some of motivational and moral values. But sometimes the lyrics seems to
be unmannerly sentence or word such as “your
mother’s gone insane” from Moth’s
Wings song. Maybe he wants to express those feeling the way his like to be.
As a singer and vocalist for the band, Michael
Angelakos doesn't seem has pitch perfect for his voice but I admit that his
voice suit with their music style.
Overall, I rate this album as 91/100. Quite good though and Manners still maintain one of the best
album like other Passion Pit album, Chunk Of Change EP and Gossamer. I highly recommended these
albums as the dense sound rewards repeat listens.
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