The Life & Times of Manchester Orchestra - Part IV

May 2011

Presented in footnotes* by Chris Shaban

Is ‘Simple Math LP’ a Classic Album?

What if it was wrong and you never questioned it, what if it was true that all they wrote was wrong? Well, in this case, it’s a good thing the truth cannot be fractioned.

Fi.nal |?f?nl| adjective - coming at the end of a series – Let’s go out with a bang.

This is easily the highlight of the whole piece. Being given the opportunity to write one of the first reviews of ‘Simple Math LP’ was a responsibility I didn’t take lightly. In actual fact, there have been many reviews of the album by now, but I had a little head start.

Keeping a big secret….

So, it’s Sunday February 6th and I’m watching the Superbowl. Well, to be exact, at that moment, I was watching the halftime show and wondering why Will-I-Am was wearing a hair helmet, but whatever. Further to this point, if you watched the Billboard Music Awards on May 22nd, you noticed that he actually did three ‘color changes’ for his hair helmet. Who knew it was so much work? This is the series of texts that go back and forth:

Andy: I’m going to call you in 10

Me: You not watching the game?

Andy: I am

Andy: This is more important

Me: Holler at me

Andy: Get your laptop.

One website, a password, combined with a shared folder later… And that’s the story of how I got my hands on ‘Simple Math LP’.

So then why did I delay releasing this article two weeks if I’ve had the album for so long? Well, I read a review that messed up my day… and then another one… and finally I thought, I better help clear some things up here so we don’t have a ‘Get In The Ring’ situation.

More on that later; let’s do the good stuff first…

‘Mean Everything…’ had set the bar quite high for the boys and so expectations were rightly established. That in turn would force the obvious question: How do you go into the studio to create a piece of work that surpasses your last project while all eyes are on you?

"We'll start over, and if we do it again, and it's not good, we'll break up. It's our oath that we will not release a record we believe isn't as good—or vastly better—than the last one. I constantly want to top what we've done.” Dallas Observer – March 4th 2010 – Andy Hull

There is no doubt that by now most of you have had the chance to hear at least a couple of songs from the new album, if not more, Perhaps you bought it or were one of the lucky peeps that unlocked the album a week early. so you will know where I’m coming from when I say this: ‘Simple Math LP’, to quote Andy, “isn’t a step forward, it’s a whole staircase.”

If you remember from the last piece, there are three essentials to creating a work that can be added to the Hall of Fame, and again, they are:

• Amazing songs All killer, no filler
• Organized sequence Having the amazing songs organized in the perfect order, set for mood, tempo and sound
• Timing Like ‘Sgt. Pepper’s’ & ‘The Doors’ being released in the Summer of Love or ‘Nevermind’ & ‘Ten’ during the Tipping Point of Grunge… That kind of timing…

By the end of this piece, I hope to prove to you that ‘Simple Math LP’ belongs in Canton. As in Ohio, as in where the Pro Football Hall of Fame is… Same state as that other Hall of Fame, uhhh, the Rock & Roll one….

When the demoing of this album first started, Manchester had a laundry list of songs to begin sifting through. As a marketer, when I watch that video, I just LOVE the day the camera’s were rolling, Andy was wearing a Macbeth shirt. Honestly, you can’t teach that stuff. Of the original tracks listed in the above video, seven made the ten-track album. While they had a total of about 25 songs recorded, it would be tough to argue that they didn’t know what they wanted for the final product.

Originally titled ‘Let Go of Your Sorrowful Groaning’, I know it says that everywhere on the web, but for once, it’s correct. Andy actually says the line in ‘Mighty’ the album was recorded over the spring and summer of 2010 at both Blackbird Studios in Tennessee and back home in Atlanta at Favorite Gentlemen Studios. The mix however was completed at Blackbird.

As you have no doubt read on every possible worthwhile music site in the last two months, ‘Simple Math LP’ is a concept album dealing with a lot of the same themes that the band has touched on in their past works. I have read a few pieces online that suggest this isn’t a concept record, that this is just Manchester grown up, and that is partially correct. Correct in the fact that this album does show the band as older and more mature, but incorrect in its characterization as a regular album. The guys are older and wiser now and have a lot more experience under their 5 belts, but the fact remains that this story is told in sequence and, while the theory is not new to the band, the format for the songs is.

As you’ve come to expect, Andy is bringing the realness and opening up about the things he thinks about, struggles with and questions in his own life. Topics ranging from religion to marriage to love accompanied by an internal dialogue between the key characters played by God, Andy and his wife, all told from Andy’s perspective.

All in all, while the LP is 10 songs, it’s kinda like one long stream of consciousness by a young married guy who just happens to be the head of a pretty popular band You know, Manchester Orchestra… .. We’re going to gut each song like a blunt, but first, if you haven’t heard the whole record yet, click HERE:

The album opens up with ‘Deer’. Just the way the song starts off, you know you’re in for something different than we’ve come to expect from Manchester. With ‘Wolves at Night’ and ‘The Only One’, we were treated to some good old-fashioned Rock & Roll out of the gate. ‘Deer’ was the first clue that we were treading into new and uncharted waters. Also, did anyone notice the Deer that was in the ‘Simple Math’ video? There’s some meaning behind that…. The slight southern twang in Andy’s voice is never so clear as it is on this track. It’s like he tapped into his country roots, especially because the lyrical content would have sounded right in place sung by Johnny Cash or even Willie Nelson.

Hate on this song if you want to… But it’s not like really good rock bands can’t get in touch with their countryside too, right?

They also use the opening song to talk to their fans. “Dear everybody that has paid to see my band. Still confusing, I’ll never understand.” That is some honest and humble thankfulness directed at the people who helped them get to where they are now. And to all the ones that will soon join the team. There are also more examples of, for lack of a better term, personal confessions Andy makes, set to the music of Manchester Orchestra, hidden in this song. We can leave those for you to decipher Plus, it’s WAY more fun that way… .

Honesty + Uniqueness = ‘Deer’

If the opening track was intended to take you to a new place with the band, ‘Mighty’ was meant to bring you right back to what they do best. The guitars get plugged back in and the opening riff carries you right into Andy singing with a snarl, even portraying what the Hip-Hop kids call ‘swag’. Welcome back to the most played out term of 2007… Glad you decided to make an appearance. This track comes equipped with an excellent crescendo and is a great pick to bat in the number two spot.

It seems that more so on this album than on anything else the group has done, the tone of the story is matched perfectly to the feel of the soundtrack. It has happened very often on previous works from Manchester, but on ‘Simple Math LP’, and showcased perfectly here on ‘Mighty’, is the marriage between the lyrical content and the musical landscape.

Not to be discounted, this is where the foreshadowing for the albums themes really start taking some shape. There is an underlying feeling of anger, maybe even defiance, and it’s directed at the people closest to him.

Self-righteousness + Hurt = ‘Mighty’

Upon first listen, the opening chord progression on ‘Pensacola’ may seem a little misplaced for a momentum spot like the third song. That makes this the perfect time to casually drop this reminder: ‘Simple Math LP’ is a concept album that is telling a story, in order, set to great music… and right now, the boys gotta leave all the problems at home and get out on the road. …again. Just like the Willie Nelson song earlier… who knew?

It’s obvious by now that Andy is getting vexed and he’s making his feelings very known. i.e. “It feels like 37 years and I am nothing but a bank.” etc..

During their live stream for the release of ‘Virgin’, Andy said that touring in their younger days inspired this song. When there weren’t many folks that knew who they were, the band played a lot of bars in Pensacola. It’s a stop on their version of the Chitlin’ Circuit… This song represents Manchester earlier in their career, done now as sort of a toast to the city, but also as the catalyst to tell this part of their musical account.Funny that it gave me a feeling of Blues Traveller, which someone who’s my age would say as a compliment.

Of course the main hook to this song is the Celtic sounding chant of “Alcohol, Dirty Malls, Pensacola Florida Bars” In Canada that sounds like our college bar experience at about 1:35am each night. which is how this song will most likely be referenced from here to eternity. Finally, not to be lost is the fact that the actual main chorus is also done in that chant style, laying a real rowdy feel to this track.

Road Life + Male Youth = ‘Pensacola’

If the fourth spot on the album sequence is the clean-up hitter, than this song is Jose Bautista. Officially, the album begins its take off with ‘April Fool’.

This is such a killer rock song that you may find yourself deeply immersed in the track that you don’t dig through the lyrics as much as you might usually do. That’ll come though on like the 44th listen through. Either way, this song starts with Andy coming home from touring April 1st 2009 to find his wife had cleaned out the crib and left. These are such serious issues I am still amazed at how artists can just pour their heart out and be so open.

Lines like “All I need is one” …one, one, one, one, one, one, one, one, one, one, one…….. and “I’m patient here for you” show that regardless of the mistakes made, he doesn’t want to be anywhere than right where he is. Even the tone and language that is used on this song begin to show that Andy is taking some of the responsibility on himself and not passing the buck.

Take it from someone who has listened to this song literally hundreds of times since the beginning of February, ‘April Fool’ is like fine wine, it gets better with age.

Rock & Roll + Heartbreak = ‘April Fool’

If ‘April Fool’ was meant to give a jolt to your heart, then ‘Pale Black Eye’ was meant to have you scream it out.

On the PS tip - for those that were always wondering where the Orchestra part came into play, this song answered that question quite quickly. Nothing like alliteration with three q’s back to back…

The track opens up with a punch line and then Chris Freeman laughing. It’s an inside joke that involves a hand gesture combined with an introduction. I won’t tell you that Jonathan Corley made it famous… It’s funny because; combined with the slow, lazy feel to the start of ‘Pale Black Eye’ it’s almost disarming. But that in no way prepares you for what you're actually about to hear…

That drawn out flow I just mentioned is what walks you so well in Andy’s tirade displaying feelings of being worn out, Referenced in no better place than the songs title. having insecurities and empathy, but also having had enough. He’s pretty much ready to throw in the towel, but before we get all the way there, he’s got something to say.

For the key parts of the story where the main character really wants to let you know how he feels, the band cuts the instrumentation on the downbeat adding a kick to the soulerplexes If you ever watched wrestling in the 80’s or early 90’s, you know what those are. RIP Gorilla Monsoon … Pale. Black. Eye.

In my opinion, this is for sure the most personal joint on the album. Not just because Andy says the line “I wish I loved you like I used to” Those words are something that no guy ever wants to even think is a possibility. The thought of that is just petrifying. or even the reference to his wife, Amy, by name, although those are a major part of it. It’s the feeling and honesty that comes bleeding into your ears letting you know how real this is that makes the track. This song has stayed as my favorite on the album for the longest run so far.

Peep the acoustic version

Exhaustion + Anger = ‘Pale Black Eye’

As the plane begins to reach its full altitude, you’re smacked directly in the face with more turbulence in the form of ‘Virgin’. After Chris Freeman spits his best English accent to set the tone, the eerily haunting sound of children singing populates your speakers. That children’s choir you’re hearing is actually producer Dan Hannon’s two kids doing an excellent job…

In essence, the core of this song is about three different types of virginity: losing your actual virginity, Which I believe is still accomplished via intercourse, but the world is moving so fast nowadays. a band losing its virginity by releasing their first album, and a child losing their faith as they enter into adulthood. You know, simple topics like that. *Sarcasm* The density of the lyrical content is perfectly complimented on a foundation of loud Rock & Roll.

‘Virgin’ is very dark and heavy, oozing with distain; It actually has a wonderful Pink Floyd sort of quality. I know that I have always said comparison writing was weak, but that only applies when you’re using a popular band as a barometer with which to diss the band you’re reviewing. Positive comparisons are obviously cool… Just don’t over do it… Without getting sacrilegious, if they were following a successful formula, it’s almost like the boys in MO completed ‘The Wall’ before they did ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ and no song on the album illustrates that point as well as ‘Virgin’. Not that I’ve set the table to assume the next album will be ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ or anything… ;-)

Regret + Pleading = ‘Virgin’

‘Simple Math’ was officially the second thing that anyone who wasn’t family, friend, or label rep heard off the album. There were a couple of live versions of ‘April Fool’ that were circulating on the web, so you can count this song as the first leaked. Once again, much like the acoustic joints off the last album that Andy did for The-Fly in England, this version was done for WRFF Radio 104.5 in Philadelphia. I mean, it was cool and everything, but it was a gentlemanly slap with white gloves compared to the ’87 Mike Tyson right hook that was to come.

This track is the climax of the story that is being told on the LP. Andy’s tired of talking to a wall, when he could talk to someone else. In this case, the talking leads to a nameless young lady getting her lips ripped off in our Protagonist’s mouth. The distortedly logical next step for a man when he feels his relationship is coming to an end is to think, well ladies, it’s the return of the Mack. Okay, maybe that’s only me, but the point is still the same. Men need love, respect and physical touch, … and not necessarily in that order and when things are off, it’s not usually that long before the internal sensor kicks in. While I mentioned in the last part of the series that this song is about a scenario that didn’t actually happen, the thoughts and feelings are very real, and that’s what is so genuine about ‘Simple Math’.

From a musical perspective it has great soft to loud transitions. They do an excellent job of building tension, setting the mood, and creating the environment for you to be right there. My friend Charlie always says “you gotta write songs that make people want to sing at the top of their lungs” and this song is a full serving of that.

If I were to make a statement about the track that sits on me a little bit it’s this: if the chorus repeated itself, this song has the potential to be a mainstream radio hit. As I’ve said on this site before, I grew up on The Beatles and think almost every song should end in 3:30, be written by Diane Warren and produced by Quincy Jones, I’m sorry, that’s just me. I know that the boys don’t always write songs that way, so it cannot be looked at as a mistake; it’s just how they wanted to tell you this portion of the story. And hey, repetition is good for radio and spins, but it makes you tired of the song more quickly. One of my favorite rappers in the last few years has been Rick Ross. He is another artist who switches up his lyrics a little in the chorus so you don’t grow tired. Follow him @rickyrozay

There are two comparisons I need to draw on for this song because they are so important to understand the scope that the band used to create it. First, agree or not, ‘Simple Math’ immediately reminded me of ‘The World I Know’ by Collective Soul. Hate on it if you want, but that song is a smash and was the peak of the bands career. This second one might be a little out there. ‘Walk On By’ was a song written by two of the best in the business Burt Bacharach If you’re unfamiliar, yes, the same one that was in Austin Powers. and Hal David. Originally delivered by Dionne Warwick five years earlier, for this example, I’m referring to the classic done by Issac Hayes. If you’re unfamiliar, yes, the same one that was in South Park. ‘Walk On By’ was an instrumental triumph, running over twelve minutes in it’s original form, shortened of course for radio, where it made a healthy dent, cracking the Billboard Top 30 in the late 60’s. While the lyrical content is still about the opposite sex, it’s the strings here that draw me to the connection with ‘Simple Math’. The Issac Hayes version of ‘Walk On By’ was also sampled 30 years later by Ghostface and RZA for the track ‘I Can’t Go To Sleep’ off ‘The W’ LP. Being that Tony Starks is one of the bands favorite rappers, it all just came full circle…

The video for this track is one of the most interesting and thought-provoking pieces I have seen in a crazy long time. Handled by The Daniels, the images, effects and rawness of the work make it impossible not to be mesmerized while watching it. I would be extremely disappointed to not see this mentioned in the ‘Year-End Best Of’s…’ #ImJustSaying

The musical key to all the Manchester albums is the melody. While they are full of both lyrical and sound based hooks, as well as pre-choruses and bridges, it’s the melody that draws you in and doesn’t let you go. This is evidenced in many different places on ‘Simple Math LP’, none better than the title track.

(Rawness + Remorse) x Faint Hope = ‘Simple Math’

We’ve achieved the arch and now our story begins its descent into a resolve.

The orchestra’s back for ‘Leave It Alone’ and they work to continue the epic feeling that has carried over from the previous songs. The strings contribute to maintain a tension that is still prevalent in the relationship, and while there is some indecision as to which way the end result might go, you know now that our main character doesn’t want to be anywhere else than exactly where he is. There are more examples of shouldering the blame here again from Andy.

Another thing that was perfected on this album is a lost art in most music today; leaving the listener wanting more. Not giving you the chance to ‘climax’ each and every time you want creates the very real illusion of not being able to get enough. I apologize for the vulgarity, but in my circle, we call it blue balls… I mean, it’s not pretty, but it’s the same principle. This practice was done exceptionally well on a number of songs from this album, and done perfectly here on ‘Leave it Alone’.

Hope + Sincerity = ‘Leave It Alone’

‘Apprehension’ starts off with the drumbeat, but then goes into a riff that, much like ‘Pensacola’, has potential to throw the listener off the first time you hear it. You’ve grown so used to swinging for the fences on the last 5 songs that as soon as you hear that guitar, you know the story is about to be taking a different direction.

Andy is talking directly to his wife here and saying, ‘look, I don’t think this is how either one of us planned this, From two perspectives; first ‘I didn’t think that life in general would be like this, professionally and relationship wise and I’m just trying to get my head around it all.’ And secondly, from the ‘I can’t believe you and I are in this situation right now where we’re even talking about this’ perspective. these are some of my thoughts and feelings, but let’s work this out.’ He starts by referencing a miscarriage, which again like the theme of the track ‘Simple Math’, is a created scenario to add some depth to the seriousness of the conversation, and it just progresses from that point on.

One last brief point: the keys sound lovely on this track; they are given so much space and prominence that it brings a classy feeling to this song.

Actualization + Empathy = ‘Apprehension’

As ‘Leaky Breaks’ starts, it’s almost like you can visualize the wheels of the plane screeching on the tarmac as we are about to land and file out of this aircraft at our final destination.

This song is the culmination of the whole album and fittingly is where this particular story ends. Much like the previous works from MO, you’ve been taken on a wild ride with ‘Simple Math LP’ and it’s time for some closure. Acting like the CliffsNotes Which, like snow and cold, is a Canadian invention. We call them Coles Notes after a large bookstore chain of the same name, sans the ‘Notes’ part. of the entire story, ‘Leaky Breaks’ is a journey through all of the emotions and feelings poured out on the album. This is most clearly evidenced by the personal transformation taking place within Andy during the song, highlighted by the progressive lines: "I was drinking heavily" to "drinking confusingly" to "I was drinking carefully", moving from waking her up to watching her sleep.

At 7:15, it’s the longest piece on the album, but it’s also got the largest story to tell. And it’s not just told with words, but this is another track where the instrumentation really helps to paint the picture.

An interesting point to reference for all the hard core fans, this song is about the same car ride with Robert and Andy’s sister Mary-Alice that was the topic of ‘Tony The Tiger’ on ‘Mean Everything…’ Just a little FYI…

Maturity + Acceptance = ‘Leaky Breaks’

Final Notes:

- There was less talking directly to God on this one and more about the marital relationship.

- The fellas used like 40 guitars on this album, while both Joe Chiccarelli and Dan Hannon were back on board to man the, well um, boards. I’m saying they produced it again yo…

- Potentially the most retweeted MO comment ever, coined by Robert: “The new Manchester is like Batman, we’re here to take corruption out of the industry...” What most 140 character quotes left out was “… and Brad Oldham is our Alfred.” Awesome…

- This album was put together with the Hamburger approach. It opens with two softees and loads you up with eight biggies in the middle. You could almost respectfully say that it’s less rock and rolly than the previous ones as well. It’s kinda like a musical. More ‘Tommy’ less ‘Cats’

-The album debuted at #21 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart selling about 18,000 copies it’s opening week. It was also #9 on the Digital Album chart and #8 on the Rock charts

- Take this quote from the band’s Twitter account entitled, “Why we made Simple Math”

(Growth + Experimentation) x (Great Writing + Cohesiveness) = ‘Simple Math LP’

For their May 12th performance on The Late Show with David Letterman the boys bucked the system, using Virgin, instead of a lead single, to introduce the mainstream world to their new music. Having the added assistance of the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and live horns was just ultra epic. Even some of their less enthusiastic ‘supporters’ knew that this performance was going to be a big deal Maybe the publicist put in a phone call or something financially motivated like that. .

That leads me nicely into my review of the reviews. I actually waited quite a while to write this review because as all music scribes can attest, there is good and bad infatuation... You love a band so you over gas the good and don't see the bad, or you don't like them and find out later you did a jaded review... So I had to make sure I breathed this bad boy all the way in. These magazines can’t be afraid to give a band that doesn’t have a hit single or didn’t grease the right wheels a great review or rating due to ignorance. Rolling Stone completely praised the album and gave it a 3 out of 5, how does that happen? Paste Magazine went ahead and did everything I have outlined in the last couple of pieces as ‘weak writing’. Leaning on comparison references to disrespect a band is so 1990 guys. If you don’t like the album, that’s okay, but don’t do yourself the disservice of looking like a rinky-dink rag, especially one that is of the caliber of Paste. Here’s the kicker, based on percentage average, Paste (64%) gave the album a higher rating than RS (60%). Fellas, it’s Simple Math, just add it up Did you see what I did there? Huh, Huh? . And Spin, you were the closest of them all to a review that adds up correctly, but anyone with the ‘wunderkind’ title deserves better than 7 out of 10, no?

The usual suspects came through with the love @ Absolute Punk and AltPress, but just for the record, it’s time a mainstream outlet grew a pair.

Overall, it’s tough to critique people that are professionals at, well, critiquing, but I believe that in 2 or 3 years, these mags will be dialing up the boys from Alpharetta to see if their cover shoot can’t help them sell some issues #ImJustSaying .

From the live show perceptive, the Simple Math tour is being handled by Live Nation and the dates have been pretty much sold out since tickets went on sale. Starting in late April the boys crossed the pond for some shows in England before coming back here to complete their North American tour. Some of those dates are the Favorite Gentlemen family and others are a co-headline with their pals in Cage The Elephant. Lastly, in case you haven’t heard by now, Blink 182 and My Chemical Romance have tapped the boys to open up their 2011 tour. Safe to say they’ll be steadily on the road till the cold weather comes and probably take their first real break sometime around Thanksgiving Just in time for The Stuffing. They will also be hitting Lollapalooza again this summer. .

Let’s wrap this up…

Every renowned artist or band makes an album like this, or at least it seems that way. A concept album is almost a right of passage into the ‘we’re good enough to do this our way’ category; but it is still sparsely populated. The aforementioned Pink Floyd, David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’ record, ‘Red Headed Stranger’ from Willie Nelson, albums from The Who, The Beatles, and even the recently released '808's & Heartbreaks' from Kanye or Jay's 'American Gangster' album Inspired by the Frank Lucas movie of the same name. are perfect examples. If you’re swinging for the fences, the concept album is a must.

You’ll remember how in the last piece I said that you need to ‘make a movie’ with your music, well ‘Simple Math LP’, in the vein of its brethren mentioned above, is a full blown Motion Picture set to words. Granted, this is an album that some people may not entirely get at first, but in hindsight it will be the official Tipping Point of Manchester’s career. And the timing couldn’t be better…

Of course I could give you lots of examples of how hot Indie Rock is right now; Arcade Fire won the Grammy for Album of the Year in February, Hayley Williams crooning on a hit pop record, heck, even the hottest rapper in the world made a Rock album for Pete’s sake. Speaking of Pete, thank you to him and his brother Tim for saving this article from complete shambles. But again, I’m going to rely on the wisdom of Jay-Z from his Decoded book, referencing last year, to break it down: Remember, he told you he’s not a rapper. How can he be when he’s so good at everything else?

“I saw developments in Indie Rock that made me think that they were ready to take rap’s mantle, because they were experimenting with different paths to that same authentic, raw place that rap used to inhabit. Decoded, Carter, Shawn; p. 251. Spiegel & Grau, 2010. ”

I couldn’t have said it better myself…

Okay, let’s do a brief recap...

Amazing Songs? Check

Organized Sequence? Check

Timing? Check

So how bout we pose the initial question from the start of this piece: is ‘Simple Math LP’ a Classic Album?

The answer is yes…

I’m going to close out in the most fitting way I can imagine, with a quote from Andy:

“Ya, the end goal at 60, I think we’d like to be the biggest band in the entire world.”

Let that sink in…

Thanks for reading; I hope you enjoyed the piece as much as I took the pleasure in writing it.

Next up ‘Jay v. Nas: 10 Years Later – Who Really Won?’ See you in a month…

Final footnote: Remember in Part I when we talked about the 3-dash tattoo that Andy and Chris each have on their finger? Andy says, and I quote, “It’s a reminder not to be an asshole. “Me and my brothers, we have tongues, sharp as knives” I guess so… I’m thinking I need to get me one of those tatts too. ” Nuff said.

Shab Sidebar:

I’ve been so impressed with the knowledgeable feedback sent to me from Manchester fans, I think we should do that Twitter TT I mentioned Part I. It’s the perfect way to pass the mic to you guys. The hashtag will be #IWishMODid and basically you pick a song from another artist or group that you think would have been done wonderfully by Manchester Orchestra. Or at least one you think they would have killed… I’ll get you started with five that I like:

1. Still Remains - STP
2. Ready to Start – Arcade Fire
3. Karma Police - Radiohead
4. Walk On – Neil Young
5. What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? – REM

RT this out and we'll see if this bad boy can fly – send me your songs @followfootnotes and don’t forget to use the hashtag #IWishMODid

To read part 1 click here.
To read part 2 click here.
To read part 3 click here.