Hidden Track Interview: Manchester Orchestra, A Simple Math Equation
One of this year’s most pleasant musical surprises will arrive on May 10 when Manchester Orchestra releases Simple Math, a humbling and vulnerable (concept?) album whose songs grapple with intensely strong emotions.
The band scores big in conveying a wide array of musical feelings from anger, remorse and disappointment to confusion and ultimately acceptance. As much as the troubled relationship album can be a self-indulgent cliche, when it works, there’s nothing like a broken heart to bring out the rawest of musical emotions. For every good one, there’s probably a hundred contrived bombs, but you can add Simple Math to the short list of really good ones.
In advance of the release, we caught up with bassist Jonathan Corley for a brief repartee on the album, his Sesame Street musical influences and Tony Gwynn.
Hidden Track: On Simple Math, you achieve a huge climactic sound at times with big guitars, and if I’m not mistaken a children’s choir and orchestral arrangements. Did you approach this album as this as essentially the opportunity to go for broke in terms of production and make the epic Manchester Orchestra album?
Jonathan Corley: We worked closely with producer Dan Hannon, who has been involved in all three of our last albums. This album is certainly more grand in scope than some earlier releases, but I believe it holds true to the simplicity of our songs. As time passes since the recording process, I begin to appreciate the work that was done more and more. The children’s choir that you mentioned on ‘Virgin’ actually contains our producer’s children. Simple Math feels more personally intense than other things we’ve released before. Honestly, I’m just excited for everyone to hear it.
READ ON for more of Ryan’s chat with Jonathan Corley…
