"'Hello Exile' is a timeless punk-rock album full of politically-charged and real-life influences that translate generationally across listeners of all ages."
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Must Listen
Review by Rachael Dowd
Fusing together elements of classic punk-rock and Americana, Hello Exile tackles what we deal with when our childhoods end and our adult lives really begin. While still holding elements of punk, a sound The Menzingers have cultivated since forming back in 2006, the American band has incorporated more influences into their sound than ever before, helping to create a fresh and new side to them we are hearing for the very first time.
“America (You’re Freaking Me Out),” the album’s opening track, showcases the overall influence and sound listeners can expect to hear from Hello Exile in its entirety. Tackling the current issues arising in America, the song features politically-charged thoughts about the country’s political climate with lyrics like, “America, you’re freaking me out / With all my anger I shout / Can’t you recognize truth from clever lies?” This is just one of many tracks on Hello Exile that feature clear stances and opinions on political and social issues we all face each day.
“High School Friend” is a track that falls in line with Hello Exile‘s overarching theme about reminiscing over those childhood and teenage moments that have long since passed. All about getting “fucked up” with a friend from high school and reflecting back on all of the good times growing up and where they went – including leaving your hometown when you’re 18 and only returning for funerals and holidays – “High School Friend” is a song that many can easily relate to in their own lives. It brings a sense of nostalgia while listening, giving each listener a moment to reflect back on their own lives and remember the moments that may have, at one point, seemed insignificant.
While songs like “America (You’re Freaking Me Out)” and “Last To Know” feature big guitar riffs and 70s hard rock influences, the album’s title track offers a refreshingly different country-inspired sound. With signature powerful vocals from Greg Barnett that have helped elevate The Menzingers’s music for over a decade, the more stripped back performance of “Hello Exile” gives the opportunity for the lyrics to really shine. With lyrics like, “outstared every star in the sky / Under the cover of nowhere the present was a present / It looked beautiful on you every night,” listeners get a little break from the hard-hitting punk tunes featured throughout the record, showcasing The Menzingers’s both lyrical abilities and sonic versatility.
“Portland” and “London Drugs” are quintessential The Menzingers tracks, featuring their signature sound that will attract the attention of veteran listeners and brand new ears. With simple yet effective compositions where percussion and electric guitars take the lead, the uncomplicated arrangement of each of these songs makes for an enjoyable listen that showcases the band’s signature sound and relatable lyrics.
Experimenting with their sound on this release, Hello Exile is another incredible album from The Menzingers that greatly displays their versatility, musicianship and ability to create punk-rock songs that will stand the test of time. Whether you have been a punk-rock fan for decades or are just discovering the genre for the very first time, Hello Exile is a timeless punk-rock album full of politically-charged and real-life influences that translate generationally across listeners of all ages.
