A Black Mile to the Surface
| A Black Mile to the Surface | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Manchester Orchestra | ||||
| Released | July 29, 2017 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 49:07 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Catherine Marks | |||
| Manchester Orchestra chronology | ||||
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A Black Mile to the Surface is the fifth studio album from Atlanta-based indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. It was released on July 29, 2017 through Loma Vista Recordings and the band's own independent label, Favorite Gentlemen. The album was produced by both the band and Catherine Marks, along with John Congleton, Johnathan Wilson and long-time collaborator Dan Hannon. It was recorded at the band's Favorite Gentlemen Studio in Atlanta, as well as at Echo Mountain in Asheville and Elmwood West in Dallas.[1] It is the first Manchester Orchestra release to not feature keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Chris Freeman, who left the band in 2016; leaving vocalist/guitarist Andy Hull as the only original member of the band. The album also features guest vocals from Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format and fun.; as well as Christian Zucconi of Grouplove.
Critical reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 81/100[2] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Alternative Press | [3] |
| The A.V. Club | C[4] |
| Exclaim! |  [5] |
| The Guardian | [6] |
| Paste | 7.7/10[7] |
| PopMatters | [8] |
A Black Mile to the Surface was highly praised by critics upon release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 81, based on 16 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[2] Matt Collar of AllMusic gave a positive review, stating "Georgia's Manchester Orchestra deliver one of their most balanced and mature efforts with their fifth full-length album, 2017's measured A Black Mile to the Surface."[1] Adam Feibel of Exclaim! praised the album's "sonic story arc — a story about love, marriage, fatherhood and life's constant way onward — complete with an introduction, rising action, climax and falling action that finally wind down to a conclusive, satisfying end."[5] PopMatters' Chris Ingalls remarked that the album's sound "doesn’t derive from the airtight punk influences of decades past; rather, there’s an anthemic, widescreen feel to nearly every song ... inviting comparisons to altruistic, mid-period U2, or even Coldplay."[8]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Maze" | 2:58 |
| 2. | "The Gold" | 4:33 |
| 3. | "The Moth" | 4:35 |
| 4. | "Lead, SD" | 4:53 |
| 5. | "The Alien" | 5:28 |
| 6. | "The Sunshine" | 1:57 |
| 7. | "The Grocery" | 5:12 |
| 8. | "The Wolf" | 4:26 |
| 9. | "The Mistake" | 3:54 |
| 10. | "The Parts" | 4:12 |
| 11. | "The Silence" | 6:59 |
Personnel
Manchester Orchestra
- Andy Hull – guitar, producer, vocals
- Robert McDowell – engineer, guitar, keyboards, producer, vocals
- Andy Prince – bass
- Tim Very – drums
Technical
- Paul Blakemore – mastering
- John Congleton – additional production
- The Daniels – package design, photography
- Mike Dempsey – package design, photography
- Jim Georgeson – assistant engineer
- Dan Hannon – additional production
- Brian Manley – layout, package design
- Catherine Marks – engineer, producer, mixing
- Clay Miller – assistant engineer
- India Watne – A&R
- Ryan Whalley – A&R
- Jonathan Wilson – additional production
Charts
| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[9] | 59 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[10] | 73 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[11] | 93 |
| US Billboard 200[12] | 33 |
| US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[13] | 6 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[14] | 7 |
References
- 1 2 3 4 Collar, Matt (29 July 2017). "A Black Mile to the Surface - Manchester Orchestra | Songs, Reviews, Credits". All Media Network. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
- 1 2 "Reviews and Tracks for A Black Mile to the Surface by Manchester Orchestra". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ↑ Shultz, Brian (June 28, 2017). "Manchester Orchestra - 'A Black Mile To The Surface'". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ↑ Colburn, Randall (July 28, 2017). "Tyler, The Creator, Manchester Orchestra, and more in this week's music reviews". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- 1 2 Feibel, Adam (July 26, 2017). "Reviews: Manchester Orchestra - 'A Black Mile To The Surface'". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ↑ Gibsone, Harriet (July 27, 2017). "Manchester Orchestra: 'A Black Mile to the Surface' review – grownup indie rock". The Guardian. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ↑ Heisel, Scott (July 25, 2017). "Manchester Orchestra: 'A Black Mile To The Surface' Review". Paste. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- 1 2 Ingalls, Chris (August 2, 2017). "Reviews: Manchester Orchestra - 'A Black Mile To The Surface'". PopMatters. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Manchester Orchestra – A Black Mile to the Surface". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
- ↑ "Manchester Orchestra – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Manchester Orchestra. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ↑ "Manchester Orchestra – Chart history" Billboard Top Alternative Albums for Manchester Orchestra. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ↑ "Manchester Orchestra – Chart history" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Manchester Orchestra. Retrieved August 8, 2017.