A Black Mile to the Surface

Had enough epic moments

Washed out 5th gen indie like the National but with a bigger more overwrought cathartic approach, Bon Iver style vocals (reverb = emotion) and the sole ambition to play over a HEARTBREAKING GUT-WRENCHING scene in some melodrama like This Is Us.

He's using one of the factory default Indie Guy vocal affectations, which distracts from the fact that the underlying stylings aren't actually doing Indie Rock things so much as post-rock (which I tend to prefer). Little bit too samey as it goes on, but I had a decent time with this.

I liked this okay, but wasn't blown away.

Not hugely keen on this genre of indie pop, but I liked how this flowed as an album, building to a descent crescendo.

Probably Manchester Orchestra's best album. I have a lot of nostalgia for their older stuff, but this one is just so flawlessly produced and written that it's tough to beat.

I didn’t expect much, especially given that vocal style that's been haunting indie folk and rock for years now (constricted, airy, and a bit too polished). But damn, this one swept me away. From the first note to the last, it holds you in its grip.

Yes, it’s not wildly original. Yes, every song builds toward some sort of cathartic climax. But who cares when it’s executed this well? The songwriting is tight, the production expansive, and the emotional heft undeniable. It might not crack my personal top ten, but it’s still world-class.

I only wish it had a little more rawness, something their earlier albums did better. Still, I’ve played this six times in a row and counting over the last 24 hours. That says enough.