Man Man: Life Fantastic (Anti-, 5/10/11)
Man Man: “Knuckle Down”
[audio:https://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Man-Man-Knuckle-Down.mp3|titles=Man Man: “Knuckle Down”]With stronger musical chops and a greater feel for melody and structure, Man Man‘s Rabbit Habits helped to expand the band’s critical reach. Now Man Man, the quirky and peerless pop five-piece, has hit new heights with Life Fantastic.
This new batch is the band’s first recording to feature a professional producer, and it shows. Though the compositions themselves are Man Man’s best to date — punctuated by twisting melodies and off-the-wall lyrics — Life Fantastic gets a boost from string arrangements by Bright Eyes multi-instrumentalist Nate Walcott. His resonant accompaniments and pizzicato plucks give the album a new element and infuse it with even more life.