The Menzingers release new album Everything I Ever Saw on July 17 through Epitaph.
It opens with Chance Encounters. It’s a good song and lyrically focuses on intrusive thoughts and feelings and as the title suggests, chance encounters. At times it reminds me of Mayday Parade, just in a lower key. It’s a strong start to the album.
I love the sarcasm that shines through in the delivery of the chorus to Other People’s Money. The dry way the line “ain’t it funny taking other people’s money” especially with the ‘La Di da’ that follows. I actively imagine that that’s how some of the money grabbing CEOs of companies etc actually sound.
Some of the best lyrics come from Gasoline & Matches. I think they’re amplified too by the calming instrumentation. There’s also some funky sections of instrumentation in the background every now and again.
I love the more upbeat guitar line throughout When She Enters My Dreams and its focus on being enamoured with someone in your dreams.
The album has quite a few good hooks throughout it, including in Better Angels. I love the blend of emo and pop punk that comes across throughout the album. It mixes some great guitar lines with drum fills and some understated bass lines while Greg Barnett’s hypnotising vocals shine as the vocal point.
It is a strong album lyrically.
I thoroughly enjoyed Everything I Ever Saw and recommend anyone – whether a fan of The Menzingers or not – to check it out. It’s such an easy listen no matter what mood you’re in.