Top Ten Albums of 2011
2. Manchester Orchestra – Simple Math
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Andy Hull really got to grips with the kind of music he wanted for Manchester Orchestra on their third release. The sound is more consistent across the board, the concept more focused than their previous two albums and the result is an overwhelmingly listenable, heart-warmingly enjoyable and hugely rewarding experience.
The shifting tones of previous efforts is replaced by a uniformity and sonic drive with Hull’s vocals the main feature, over the rampant instrumentation and musical styles of I’m Like A Virgin Losing a Child or Mean Everything to Nothing.
Simple Math is the sound of the band re-defined, knowing itself clearly, possessing it’s own voice where previously Hull’s music felt like he was figuring things out on the move, joyous odes and terrible pain sitting side by side but feeling disjointed. The eponymous track from this album alone consolidates these polar opposites in four transcendent minutes of lush orchestration and emotive questioning.
I think this still stands out as their best album to date, no mean feat given the exceptional highs of their earlier albums, so this explains why they’re at number two in our list.
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