Friday, December 20, 2024

It Starts With a Birthstone - 200 Albums for 2024 # 6 MJ Lendemann - Manning Fireworks

                                


                                     'Every Catholic knows he could have been pope.'

A record that has been pretty much been giving thumbs up acrooss the board and desrvedly so..MJ Lendemann's Manning Fireworks, Gram Parsons meets Paul Westetberg and Stephen Malkmusin some backstreet bar and they crack open some jars and compare notes.

Some of the best songs I've heard this year and ones  that ache and resonate.Wry humour and tender craftsmanship.  Lendemann moonlights in Wedndesay and they're closer to My Bloody Valentine than Townes Van Zandt. He's one to watch. So are they.


This is essentially glass half empty balladry but the humour is sharp and the emotion beautifully wrought. 'Small town ennui'. At it's rawest,

  

2 comments:

  1. Really liked this when it came out. I've loved his other stuff (and think Wednesday might be my favourite band right now)...but somehow haven't listened to it much. It has been such a strange year for me (still is!). I have managed to keep listening to new records, but haven't spent as much time with them as usual. If I had to name my favourite albums of the year, it would be hard to do. They are isolated moments in the maelstrom around me... On that note, my latest moments include albums by Watch Paint Dry, Desmond Korma and Low Harness. As ever, I love to hear your take on things (records and life). Your blog is very much a constant, so thanks Bruce!

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    1. Oh that's great Darren. I've been aware it's been a strange and difficult year for you. All the best. I appreciate your comments here greatly. I know I have a few readers, but you're the only person who comments regularly and I really appreciate the fact that you do. Plus your suggestions. The're always interesting, generallly the kind of stuff that inspires me and often spectacular . They really open up a whole new dimension for 'It Starts...' So thanks. I'm glad I do this. I'll get onto these three. I've loved so much music this year. Have a good Christmas.

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