Mean Everything to Nothing

Album Review

Atlanta's Andy Hull and company received considerable praise leading up to Mean Everything to Nothing, Manchester Orchestra's second official full-length release. With that praise and hype came the attention of producer Joe Chiccarelli (the Shins/My Morning Jacket), who adds enough muscle, sound, and fury to the music to match Hull's frequent growls and rants. The resulting dynamic attack will likely please the screamo crowd, as songs like "Shake It Out" feature the kind of angsty lyrics (fighting the Lord), yelping Isaac Brock meets-nu-metal-swagger, and power chords that thrill a young audience. More savvy, or at least older, music fans will be able to pick out the influences, from the Kurt Cobain wail and Nirvana-like grunge pop of "In My Teeth," to the Smashing Pumpkins-by-way-of-Jane's Addiction guitars of the catchy and earnest "I've Got Friends," to the wounded-voice Bright Eyes of "The River," to the all-out Neutral Milk Hotel borrowing that is "100 Dollars."