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Hello Exile
Studio album by
The Menzingers
ReleasedOctober 4, 2019
RecordedSpring 2019
StudioStudio 4 in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
GenrePunk rock,[1] heartland rock[2]
Length45:55
LabelEpitaph
ProducerWill Yip
The Menzingers chronology
After the Party
(2017) 		Hello Exile
(2019)
Singles from Hello Exile
  1. "Anna"
    Released: July 15, 2019
  2. "America (You’re Freaking Me Out)"
    Released: August 20, 2019
  3. "Strangers Forever"
    Released: September 18, 2019

Hello Exile is the sixth studio album by American rock band the Menzingers, released on October 4, 2019, through Epitaph Records.

Background and production

Unlike previous albums which the band wrote while touring, the band started writing Hello Exile in December 2018 following the end of the After the Party tour.[3] Guitarist and vocalist Greg Barnett decided to write songs about "contemplating how to age gracefully" rather than the "mistakes of adolescence" which much of the songs on their previous records were about.[4] The band intentionally focused much heavier on the inspiration of the classic rock artists that they grew up listening to such as Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. While writing the album they "fell in love with songwriting and the idea of how powerful a well constructed song is".[5]

Similar to After the Party, the band hired producer Will Yip and recorded at Studio 4 in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania over the course of six weeks. The album was intentionally an emotionally heavy album for the band focusing on theme of US politics, climate change, loss, long-distance relationships and growing old.[6]

The album's first single "Anna" was released alongside the album's announcement on July 15, 2019. The song was described as "jangle-pop" and "a grand, romantic plea to a significant other who's away too much".[7][8] It was considered to show the band's evolution from the band's older punk rock style to a more heartland rock inspired sound.[9]

The second single and opening track of the album, "America (You’re Freaking Me Out)", was written to represent the current American political climate and the "evil" people in charge of the country.[10] Describing the track, Barnett stated "as I was writing that song I realized that it's kind of always freaked me out, especially coming-of-age during the Iraq War. I love so much about America, but I think you can't deny that there are some people in power who are absolutely evil."[11]

The third single "Strangers Forever" was inspired by Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina. In a statement Barnett said "the idea of becoming a stranger to someone you so intimately know stuck with me and became the overarching narrative to this song".[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic75/100[13]
Review scores
SourceRating
DIY[2]
Exclaim!8/10[14]
Kerrang![15]
Paste8.4/10[16]
Pitchfork5.8/10[1]
PopMatters8/10[17]
Sputnikmusic[18]

Hello Exile received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic the album received a 75/100 based on 10 critics reviews. Many critics praised the band's songwriting and described it as "poignant and sharp yet delicate and immensely personal."[2] The band were praised for managing to age gracefully on the album and was described as "an honest portrayal of where they are at this point in their life: not ready to settle down and give up the 4 A.M. nights at the dive bar down the street, but also realizing that those around them are in the process of doing so."[16]

However, many considered the album a step down from After the Party and criticized the songs for sounding the same as the band's previous records and not breaking from the same formula.[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by the Menzingers

No.TitleLength
1."America (You're Freaking Me Out)"3:35
2."Anna"3:29
3."High School Friend"4:26
4."Last to Know"3:53
5."Strangers Forever"3:01
6."Hello Exile"4:26
7."Portland"2:44
8."Strain Your Memory"4:04
9."I Can't Stop Drinking"5:10
10."Strawberry Mansion"3:04
11."London Drugs"3:18
12."Farewell Youth"4:37
Total length:45:55

Personnel

The Menzingers

  • Eric Keen - bass
  • Greg Barnett - vocals, guitar
  • Joe Godino - drums, percussion
  • Tom May - vocals, guitar

Technical personnel

  • Will Yip - production, mixing, engineering
  • Vince Ratti - mixing
  • Ryan Smith - mastering at Sterling Sound, NYC
  • Pamela Littky - front cover photo

Charts

Chart (2019) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[19] 41
Scottish Albums (OCC)[20] 50
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[21] 13
UK Vinyl Albums (OCC)[22] 12
US Billboard 200[23] 89
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[24] 4
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[25] 15

References

  1. ^ a b c Cohen, Ian (October 10, 2019). "The Menzingers: Hello Exile Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Tipple, Ben (October 4, 2019). "THE MENZINGERS - HELLO EXILE". DIY. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  3. ^ "The Menzingers Hello Exile Interview". HMV. October 4, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  4. ^ Ozzi, Dan (October 3, 2019). "Growing up and growing old with The Menzingers". The Fader. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  5. ^ Davis, Bailey (October 22, 2019). "Welcoming an Exile: A Conversation With The Menzingers' Greg Barnett". Riot Fest. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  6. ^ Carter, Emily (July 31, 2019). "WHY THE MENZINGERS ARE GETTING DARK ON NEW ALBUM HELLO EXILE". Kerrang!. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  7. ^ "About - The Menzingers". The Menzingers. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  8. ^ Breihan, Tom (July 15, 2019). "The Menzingers Announce New Album 'Hello Exile,' Share 'Anna'". Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  9. ^ White, Logan (July 15, 2019). "The Menzingers release "Anna," announce album details + fall tour". Substream Magazine. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  10. ^ "THE MENZINGERS SHARE NEW TRACK "AMERICA (YOU'RE FREAKING ME OUT)"". Epitaph Records. August 20, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  11. ^ "WATCH THE MENZINGERS' BRILLIANT VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE AMERICA (YOU'RE FREAKING ME OUT)". Kerrang!. August 20, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  12. ^ Darus, Anna (September 18, 2019). "THE MENZINGERS SHOW SUMMER'S OVER IN "STRANGERS FOREVER" VIDEO". Alternative Press. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  13. ^ "Hello Exile by The Menzingers Reviews and Tracks - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  14. ^ Feibel, Andrew (October 2, 2019). "The Menzingers Hello Exile". Exclaim!. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  15. ^ Mackinnon, James (October 4, 2019). "Album Review: The Menzingers - Hello Exile - Kerrang!". Kerrang!. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  16. ^ a b Edelstone, Stephen (October 11, 2019). "The Menzingers Prove Growing Up is Still Tough in Your 30s". Paste. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  17. ^ Carr, Paul (October 2, 2019). "The Menzingers: Hello Exile (album review) - Pop Matters". PopMatters. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  18. ^ Freeman, Channing (October 6, 2019). "Review: The Menzingers - Hello Exile". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  19. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Menzingers – Hello Exile" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  21. ^ . October 11, 2019 https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20191011/131/. Retrieved February 7, 2020. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. ^ . October 11, 2019 https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/vinyl-albums-chart/20191011/9/. Retrieved February 7, 2020. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ^ "The Menzingers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  24. ^ "The Menzingers Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  25. ^ "The Menzingers Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
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