Rob’s Album of The Week: Man Man’s Carrot On Strings
I always love it when a band or musician is flat out weird but at the same time, they possess an artistry that’s uniquely their own. They manage to convey their talents into something purely inventive that nobody else can replicate, which deserves a substantial amount of acclaim. This is a great way to describe the Los Angeles via Philadelphia experimental rock act Man Man. With frontman Honus Honus as the central nucleus, they have knack for putting a fresh spin on ’70s prog-rock and soul-pop in peculiar ways. This is evident in their seventh studio album Carrot On Strings, which came out via Sub Pop Records on June 7.
Honus’ piano has a major presence with numerous other instruments floating around the keys and tones. These include the classic rhythm section of bass and drums along with guitars and even a violin among others. There are groovy instances and there are other times where the music is hypnotic. It’s a consistent installment of the creative output from an extraordinary collective of musicians who exhibit a style that nobody else can touch. It also needs to be mentioned that Carrot On Strings is a listening experience in the most genuine sense due to there being so much to offer the senses.
The month of June is a weird time in New England. I’ve experienced the never-ending rain that comes down during this time of year with a lot of flooding and inconvenience coming with it. Fortunately so far, that hasn’t been the case this time around and I’ve been using this as an opportunity to enjoy myself outdoors. I hope everyone else gets a chance to do the same because being in tune with nature definitely has its benefits. Speaking of being in tune, here are my top tracks off of the Album of The Week:
One of the initial singles off of Carrot On Strings, “Iguana” starts things off with a looping synth that’s eventually accented by rapid chords and beats. It sets the danceable vibe of the album in immediate fashion with the chorus having a way of pulling the listener in. I love the riffs in “Blooodungeon” along with the harmonic vocals. “Alibi” is a stellar example of how the keys carry a song from beginning to end. It’s also chock full of energy and charisma.
In support of the new album, Man Man are going to be doing a tour of Europe in the fall starting at La Maroquinerie in Paris on October 30. Other notable dates include the Headrow House in Leeds on November 5, The Hug & Pint in Glasgow on November 7, the MOTH Club in London on November 10 and the Paradiso in Amsterdam on November 14. Hopefully they come to the United States when 2025 arrives because it’ll be awesome to see them live again. In the meantime, grab a copy of Carrot On Strings. It’s a great record by an incredible band who you should check out if you haven’t done so already.
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