Man Man - Rabbit Habits
Record Label: Anti
Release Date: April 8th 2008
Everyone’s favorite pirate rockers, Philadelphia based Man Man, are back with the follow up to their critically acclaimed and superbly weird previous full length Six Demon Bag. As with the last album, the band fails to conform to well…any semblance of what is popular in the music scene. Trading guitars for keyboards and xylophones and silky smooth voice for one with a burly swagger, Rabbit Habits is certainly one of the more unique albums you will hear this year. This fact is the album’s strong point but is also what might stand in the way of appearing credible to a larger demographic.
It’s extremely tough to categorize Man Man. How do you place a band that changes with every song? If you haven’t heard them, one listen is probably all it will take to test whether you like them or not. Love em or hate em, they have a pretty characteristic sound. Much like Six Demon Bag, Rabbit Habits is all over the genre map, sometimes blazing new ground on its journey. One minute you will have doo wop vocals with a solid locomotive drum beat and the next minute you will be bombarded with the kookiest grumblings this side of a Disney World ride. More so than their last album, Man Man remains at a fairly upbeat tempo throughout Rabbit Habits. “The Ballad Of Butter Beans” rolls along with some of the best xylophone playing of the year under almost completely indistinguishable vocals. The lyrics the band utilizes do not always make sense but the confidence with which they are delivered makes up for the wacky subject matter. The haunting vocals on this particular track create a strange atmosphere when combined with the walking keyboard lines. The title track shows the minimalist side of the band, using just a subtle horn and keyboard instead of their typical smorgasbord of instrumentation. The change in pace is welcome after the insanity preceding it, showcasing a slightly more accessible side than the circus like first half.
All of this originality is great but the question remains of when weird turns into too strange to take the band seriously. I am all for being different and coming up with your own sound, but for every great moment on Rabbit Habits there is one that is tarnished by strange interjections of sound. “Hurly / Burly” is a thumping dancy number that grabbed me from the start…until what sounds like children screaming enter the picture during the climax of the track. Bizarre sections like this take you out of the moment for long enough to laugh at what is coming through your speakers. Having listened to the band, I’m accustomed to this sort of thing, but at what point does it just ruin the mood? Many times, these moments are successful, but unfortunately it is hit or miss a lot of the time as well. At their best, Man Man is a fun listen when you are tired of the ordinary. Whether this quirky act will be seen as anything more than a gimmick to the masses for an extended time remains to be seen, but damned if they don’t make some interesting rumblings along the way.
I think I messed up and saw them live before having heard anything recorded. Six Demon Bag was ok recorded, but great live (not to mention exhausting). Haven't heard this yet, but I might still. Good review.
I think I messed up and saw them live before having heard anything recorded. Six Demon Bag was ok recorded, but great live (not to mention exhausting). Haven't heard this yet, but I might still. Good review.
They are so much fun live. Yeah, I can see how they would be pretty disappointing after a live show like that.
this may not make any sense, but I feel like this album would be good to play during the summer when I'm on my roof and pounding beers. As I would progress into drunkeness the album changes quite well.
I still think their first album is their best but they are all such assholes I have trouble giving their albums a chance when they come out. I got the first one before I knew who they were.
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