Aging proves difficult for classic punk-rockers
The Menzingers’ most sentimental album to date, Hello Exile was a highly anticipated 2019 release. Joined by producer Will Yip, the Menzingers originated this carefully crafted album in an intensive six-week studio session that left the band excited to showcase their “best work yet.” Signed by the notorious Epitaph records in 2011, the Menzingers are well renowned in the punk world. The band, originally formed in 2006, has received critical acclaim with albums On the Impossible Past, After the Party and four others. Hello Exile allegedly serves as an intimate and timely album, chock-full of catchy and relatable tunes about aging in a punk world. Lead singer and guitarist duo Greg Barnett and Tom May lead the band—though Barnett takes the lead on nine out of the eleven tracks on Hello Exile—with Joe Godino on drums and Eric Keen on bass.
Over the years, the Scranton quartet has produced catchy punk tunes with reminiscent hometown anecdotes, and Hello Exile sticks to this theme. At a solid 45 minute play-time, the Menzingers manages to produce a significantly full album. Lyrical themes include ruminating over hometown flings, high school parties and alcohol-infused regrets. However, unlike previous Menzingers albums Hello Exile introduces several conscious themes indicative of the band’s age—like personal growth and political distress— and showcase how the thoughts of the 30-somethings have changed as they’ve grown as a band. Undeniably, each song is unique and catchy regardless of their lyrical content. Backed by simple but supportive guitar and bass lines, the majority of this band’s skill seems to reside in the addictive melodic tunes that yield in nearly every track.
Title track “America (You’re Freaking Me Out)” sets the stage for this album’s emotional intimacy. With a pleasing chorus and quick guitar riffs, the song is friendly without being cheesy and predictable without being boring—an appealing and relatable listener experience. The body of Hello Exile is dictated by complementary instrumentals and enticing vocals. The song “Anna” portrays true punk anguish about the singer’s lost relationship without being too personal or overly noisy, allowing the song to be accessible to a host of listeners. Songs like “High School Friend,” “Strain Your Memory” and “Farewell Youth” take on a country twang not unlike Orville Peck while “London Drugs” and “Strangers Forever” stay true punk-rock tunes. The album also effectively utilizes song-pace, with slower songs “Last to Know” and “Hello Exile” allowing a soulful breather for the listener.
The outro “Farewell Youth” takes on an anthem quality that simmered in the body of the album, bringing forth a fun and charismatic ode to youth. Hello Exile held their cards too close in many of the songs on this album, failing to adventure forth in style and substance. Though each song has plentiful individual strengths, the listener is unfortunately left wanting a more substantial message beyond The Menzingers’ already-been-done melancholy reminiscence. By furthering the mature themes found in “America (You’re Freaking Me Out)” and “Strawberry Mansion” this band could effectively facilitate their changing voice. Regardless, there are several impressive fan-favorites coming out of Hello Exile which will hopefully propel The Menzingers to venture from their usual methods and produce a more candid and relevant album.
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