Manning Fireworks is the fourth solo album by American musician MJ Lenderman. The album was released on September 6, 2024, through Anti- and Epitaph Records. Produced by Lenderman and Alex Farrar, the album features contributions from Lenderman's Wednesday bandmates Karly Hartzman, Xandy Chelmis and Ethan Baechtold.
Background
Manning Fireworks was announced on June 24, 2024, accompanied by the single release of "She's Leaving You".[1] Lenderman recorded the album at Drop of Sun Studios in his home town of Asheville, North Carolina. A press release refers to the record as an insight into Lenderman's "frank observations on the intersection of wit and sadness" that transfers "punchlines" and "rusted-wire guitar solos" from previous works and presents a "new sincerity" and perspective through "his warped lens".[2]
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Manning Fireworks received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 88 out of 100 from 22 critic scores.[3]
In a review for AllMusic, Mark Deming declared that, "coupled with his scrappy guitar and the satisfyingly loose report of his band, [Lenderman] makes it all into something often moving and always compelling."[4]Pitchfork awarded the record its Best New Music designation, with Jeremy D. Larson describing the record "witty and sincere, the mark of a songwriter finding his voice."[6]Rolling Stone's Jon Dolan called it an "indie-rock gem" with "ace" storytelling.[7]Steven Hyden in Uproxx was effusive, depicting it as an "especially precious commodity" in the modern age.[10] Damien Morris at the Guardian interpreted it as a "joyously weird" LP steeped in religion,[5] while PopMatters' Patrick Gill praised its witty lyricism and "exceptional" sonic sensibilities.[11]
In an interview with NME, writer Jordan Bassett opined that the album "often amounts to a study in thwarted masculinity" and the expression of Lenderman's "hate-watch" of "macho influencers".[12] A premature evaluation conducted by Stereogum writer Danielle Chelosky already called Manning Fireworks "one of the best albums of the year" and the fall equivalent of Brat by Charli XCX.[13] Jeremy Winograd of Slant thought Manning Fireworks was "something of a solitary affair", praising the "vitality and enthusiasm" that comes through in his guitar work. Winograd concluded that if the album is the product of "all those nights playing Guitar Hero" then there's hoping that "Lenderman never leaves his room". John Amen of Beats Per Minute was slightly more ambivalent, writing, "While the mixes on Manning Fireworks are studiously crafted, Lenderman’s presence largely enrolling, and his guitar acumen undeniable, the set’s overall gestalt is naggingly emulative. Lenderman, as compelling as he can be, rarely transcends the influence of his forebears."[14]
^ abJohnston, Maura; Lamphier, Jason; Nuss, Allaire; Travis, Emlyn (December 11, 2024). "The 10 Best Albums of 2024". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
