The anatomy of an MJ record might go something like this: warped pedal steels and skuzzed out guitar; crackin' a cold one with some buds; a voice reminiscent of the high-lonesome warble of a choirboy.
Guttering‘s six self-recorded tracks present some of the best aspects of both artists’ work, setting sighing harmonies against dense power chords and occasionally seasoning the mix with some twangy lead guitar.
Lenderman describes the album as his most 'polished' sound to date, built around songs that 'chase fulfillment and happiness'whether that means buying a boat.
Ships 10/10/25 - The songs are at their best when Lenderman and Chelmis engage in a point and counter-point exchange between wild-and-wooly-country-rock-shredding and the proper-almost-prim sound of the pedal steel.
Following last year's "triumphant live album" (Pitchfork), and 2022's surprise breakthrough Boat Songs, Manning Fireworks is an instant classic of an LP. MJ let's us in on his observations on the intersection of wit and sadness.
Gracie Abrams's debut album Good Riddance, produced and co-written by her frequent collaborator Aaron Dessner of The National, finds Abrams documenting her emotional experience with more precision and impact than ever before.