Review by Cory Stark
Rating: 8/10
Last year, I called Joyce Manor’s album Cody “chicken soup for the punk-rocker’s soul.” I forgave myself for clichéd metaphor, and swore I’d never write so tritely again. Of course, it was a promise I couldn’t keep, as is evident by my analysis that After the Party is mashed potatoes. Delicious, buttery mashed potatoes. Sorry, I’m hungry.
The new record from The Menzingers is worth savoring like home-cooked comfort food. From the opening line “Oh yeah/oh yeah/everything is terrible” onward, the album is a delightful rollercoaster of memories and narratives from the band’s experiences in their twenties. This warm sentimentality is also peppered with the uncertainty of aging, most notably proclaimed in the first track, “Tellin’ Lies,” which begs the question “Where are we gonna go now that our twenties are over?” Additionally, “Livin’ Ain’t Easy,” the closing track, isn’t nearly as upbeat as the majority of the album, containing laments such as “In vibrant hues and subtle brushstrokes of memory/The life I’ve painted I’ve sold for a quick twenty.” It’s a bit of a downer for a final song, but the contrast of emotion adds depth to the record.
While the music is driving and punk-influenced, it’s not angry. After the Party is built on simple distorted guitar parts and upbeat drumming, but it’s also built on good vibes. There’s definitely an effort to share experiences and tell a story, and it pays off. This album makes me nostalgic. It’s triggered happy memories that I haven’t thought about in a long while, and I absolutely love it. Also, sonically, After the Party is deeper than previous works from The Menzingers, and has less of a DIY sound. This might not appeal as much to fans who adore On the Impossible Past and Rented World, but I’d ask them to try it out. I’m sure they’d appreciate After the Party.
Where are The Menzingers going to go now that their twenties are over? I certainly hope they’re not going anywhere. I’m excited to see what comes next. After the Party is simply awesome, and I’m glad I got to review it. I urge you to try it. This band makes some damn good mashed potatoes.
FCC: 4, 10
Recommended if you like: The Bouncing Souls, Teenage Bottle Rocket, Against Me!, mashed potatoes, chicken soup
Favorite Tracks: 1, 3, 9
