Manchester Orchestra - Let My Pride Be What's Left Behind [EP/DVD]

[Julia Conny]

Manchester Orchestra - Let My Pride Be What's Left Behind EP/DVD
Record Label: Favorite Gentlemen/Canvasback
Release Date: October 14th, 2008

Bringing in a gentle and inquisitive guitar and Andy Hull to his faithful and cozy timbre, "I Can Feel a Hot One" does what Manchester Orchestra did on I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child - bring it home. Nostalgic, searching for reasons and/or doubt, and feeling the whole of emotions (love, in this instance), Let My Pride Be begins with a winner.

Second track,"I Was a Lid", is more haunting and pierces after a tense build up. Heavy-lidded percussion punctuates similar to songs like "Wolves at Night" or "Now That You're Home". For these first two tracks, both previously unheard, it's an intimate and confident introduction to new material. Yet, these songs barely touch "Badges and Badges", a newish joint recorded at Andy Hull's Daytrotter session. The song, just Hull and an acoustic, is about "weakness and how it can be magnified during extensive touring" but plays an universal emotionalism with the key open source line I make my badge and wear it too.

The EP is a pre-relish of the Atlanta fivesome's new year full-length Means Everything to Nothing. Also included on the release is an acoustic version of "Wolves at Night" and a live version of "Sleeper 1972" (also acoustic and exceptionally passionate). The DVD portion of the release - What's Left Behind - is more than music videos and throwaway bonus features. A full-fledged documentary by band friend Sam Erickson gives adequate loving to ride-along van shots, humid summer shows and quirky band banter. But the best feature of the documentary, besides the mint cinematography and crystal audio, is the gritty one-on-ones with Hull and his cigarette. In one story, Hull tells of a weeping fan who's mother had passed two weeks before the show, and her heavy kinship to "Sleeper 1972". In another, he talks about writing for I'm Like a Virgin, saying "I was definitely not writing that record from a soapbox, but from a lens." This is real shit, as real as getting a tattoo in the backseat of the van, the hottest show ever, or the interaction between best friends first, bandmates second.

As a release supplement, it's not really a supplement at all. It's got the music videos and live footage too, but for any fan that swallows MO like gospel, this release is a must-buy.

Colour Revolt, Brand New, Built to Spill, Paper RivalAP.net Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/manchesterorchestra) | Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/manchesterorchestra) | Website (http://www.themanchesterorchestra.com/) | Where to Buy (http://www.thinkindie.com/)

[Sic Transit Zeb]

i love this band and i love all the RIYL

[blinkme]

i'll be checking this out when i've got some money to burn.

[Moritz421]

I was very 'eh' about the EP. Nice review though.

[lushintransit]

I wish I could buy this but they've made it so impossible.

[AloneInTheDark]

I love the review, and I love this band. They're one of those bands that are so easy to connect to, every lyric and every song holds something. I can't wait to hear the new full length.

[owiseone35]

I love Manchester Orchestra but where can i get this E.P.

[Poochemist]

Are the new tracks basically b-sides or were they recorded post-Virgin?

[MorganAlex16]

This EP is golden, I could not get enough of it. Do yourselves a favor and buy this!

[Jamos4184]

Sounds like I need to look into Manchester Orchestra. I opened this morning, and I swear we went through probably about 10 pounds of coffee by the time I left at 11. I don't know who's idea it was to give out a free tall coffee today for voters, but I sure hope (though I doubt) that were serving it today, too. Is it me, or did it seem like they kinda dropped that on us on somewhat short notice?

[MasonR5]

atlanta FIVEsome

nice review, julia!

just wish i didn't have to drive 3 hours to get a physical copy. i'll have to pick it up one of these days when i'm passin through somewhere.

[theripped0ne]

epic band. epic review.

i cant stop listening to 'I Was a Lid'. Haunting indeed.

[DejaMe]

Although I enjoy the last 3 tracks its kind of unfortunate that it couldn't be all new songs because the first 2 are really solid...Really stoked to hear more new material from these guys.

[lushintransit]

I love Manchester Orchestra but where can i get this E.P.

You can get it at any think.indie store in your area. Which there probably isn't.

[Holly HoX!]

I love Manchester Orchestra but where can i get this E.P.

I don't know if this is on there, but there are some other M.O. rarities on bsidesrus.blogspot.com

[CombatRaven]

I wish I could buy this but they've made it so impossible.

Actually, if you want to order it online, I got this link (http://www.looneytunescds.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=45&upc=8869735869214) from MO's myspace.

I have no money right now, otherwise I'd be getting this for sure.

[Illuminate]

83 percent?! this deserves at LEAST a 90 but fantastic review Julia. Absolutely love Manchester. Andy is one of the best songwriters of our generation

[lushintransit]

Actually, if you want to order it online, I got this link (http://www.looneytunescds.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=45&upc=8869735869214) from MO's myspace.

I have no money right now, otherwise I'd be getting this for sure.

I don't order things online so I will always forget that's an option lol.

[underdawg1119]

Foursome? Who left?

[serotoninzero]

Gah. It's just waiting there for my purchase at my local record shop on hold for me. I gotta go get this. I'm stoked to see the DVD.

[awakeohsleeper]

Great review!

I'll be honest - I want the songs, I don't want the DVD. I don't agree with downloading, so I am unfortunately never going to own them! Alas!

[Sic Transit Zeb]

83 percent?! this deserves at LEAST a 90 but fantastic review Julia. Absolutely love Manchester. Andy is one of the best songwriters of our generation

she prolly didnt' give it a 90 cuz it's only 2 new songs

[sasalukac]

this EP is stellar. caught me completely off guard

[PoisonInMyVeins]

it's a shame that built to spill got put in with the rest of the riyl.

[Julia Conny]

Foursome? Who left?

No one has left, I'm just feverish today and running a bit slow. Blahhhh.

[Julia Conny]

I was very 'eh' about the EP. Nice review though.

The documentary sold it for me, without a doubt. If it was just the EP, I'd feel like it wasn't enough, for sure.

I love the review, and I love this band. They're one of those bands that are so easy to connect to, every lyric and every song holds something. I can't wait to hear the new full length.

Definitely. This is exactly how I feel about them too.

Are the new tracks basically b-sides or were they recorded post-Virgin?

I don't think they were b-sides. Not 100 percent on that though.

[Julia Conny]

Sounds like I need to look into Manchester Orchestra. I opened this morning, and I swear we went through probably about 10 pounds of coffee by the time I left at 11. I don't know who's idea it was to give out a free tall coffee today for voters, but I sure hope (though I doubt) that were serving it today, too. Is it me, or did it seem like they kinda dropped that on us on somewhat short notice?

Haha, I know man. Well, I didn't work today, but I can only imagine.

atlanta FIVEsome

nice review, julia!

just wish i didn't have to drive 3 hours to get a physical copy. i'll have to pick it up one of these days when i'm passin through somewhere.

Bet you'll be able to find a copy in DC!

83 percent?! this deserves at LEAST a 90 but fantastic review Julia. Absolutely love Manchester. Andy is one of the best songwriters of our generation

There are only two new songs on it. I agree - Andy is one of the best songwriters of our generation, but I'll save the high score for the new full-length (hopefully!).

it's a shame that built to spill got put in with the rest of the riyl.

Why?

[fishwho]

Great review, just a pain to grab hold off here in the UK

[meghanlail]

Great review. I still need to pick this up.

[I am Mick]

I still cannot find this anywhere. I was considering just downloading the documentary because I've been dying to see it, can't even find it online.

[chillinlikebob]

Julia Conny is so hot right now!! Such a turn on when girls dig good music, no offense Julia.

[Julia Conny]

Julia Conny is so hot right now!! Such a turn on when girls dig good music, no offense Julia.

Haha, none taken.

[underdawg1119]

No one has left, I'm just feverish today and running a bit slow. Blahhhh.
Oh man, that's no good. I hope you feel better. :-).

Good review though. :thumbsup:

[Julia Conny]

Oh man, that's no good. I hope you feel better. :-).

Good review though. :thumbsup:

Aww, thanks. I need it. I haven't been really sick in a long long time, and I'm scared this one is gonna be intense.

[underdawg1119]

Aww, thanks. I need it. I haven't been really sick in a long long time, and I'm scared this one is gonna be intense.
That sucks man, I hate being sick. Drink lots of OJ and Gatorade and stuff..haha.

[PoisonInMyVeins]

Why?

i dunno. it's two bland bands and one awesome one. it's quite the contrast.

[tunemyheart]

I was at the "hottest show ever" that is spoken of in Columbia, SC. It was 107 outside with 100% humidity. The room it was in had 400 people, no AC and no means of air circulation other than people's hot breath singing real loud. I thought we were all going to die of heat stroke.

But it was an AMAZING show.

[TheWeakest]

hooray for andy hull

[Illuminate]

There are only two new songs on it. I agree - Andy is one of the best songwriters of our generation, but I'll save the high score for the new full-length (hopefully!).



Awesome! can't wait till your review then Julia! (oh and the album too! :))

[chadsweet]

i love this band.

[CLARIFY THIS]

'I can feel a hot one' is my favourite track that the band has written but I've heard a lot of good things about 'Badges and badges' as well.I look forward to the ep arriving

[threepunchjim]

I can't believe that I have this and haven't listened to it yet.

Syncing iPod...now.

[atticusfinch]

how did I miss this release? crap, gotta go by Park Ave cd's soon.

[SgtSmegma]

I just got it. Listening now. Like this version of "Wolves at Night"