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Falling in and out of favor
It’s Wednesday, my dudes! Welcome back to the coolest newsletter on the planet, Finetuned (I am just a BIT biased). This week we are going to be talking about Boston Manor, a group I am definitely a huge fan of. This group falls into the alternative-rock sound now, but in previous releases, they sort of leaned emo-ish. Let’s do this!
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tonyverse on tenor
Who Are Boston Manor?
Boston Manor are a British group from Blackpool, England. They have been a stable band over the years with a sound and production that has always felt authentic. I think the proof of this pudding is that the founding members of the band (from their founding in 2013) are STILL the only members today. The lads are Henry on vox, Mike on guitar, Ash on guitar, Dan on bass, and Jordan on drums.
The band released their debut EP back in 2013 called "Here/Now", followed by their first full-length album, "Be Nothing." in 2016 (my favorite album), which helped them gain more international recognition. In fairness to them, that is when I first heard them was on this album’s release. Subsequent albums like "Welcome to the Neighbourhood" (2018) and "Glue" (2020) showcased their evolution toward a darker, more mature sound, incorporating elements of post-hardcore and alt-rock.
What To Expect Sonically
You should expect to hear a bunch of synth, a deep bass tone, chugging guitar tones next to ambient low-note guitar, with a solid backbeat being delivered from our bud Jordan. I would place their tunes in the same category as groups like Trash Boat, DON BROCO, with a little bit of Hands Like Houses. They have moments in some of their songs that REALLY lean into shoegaze tendencies and they take it to heavier places making me think of groups like Loathe and Deftones (specifically songs like Sliding Doors).
I would say that their tunes are very approachable; from the first release to now. From their “Driftwood” EP which feels super punk rock, to their more refined emo-ish sound in “Be Nothing.” to the more rock/shoegaze/psychedelic rock releases in “Welcome to the Neighbourhood” and “Desperate Times, Desperate Pleasures” EP. Dive into some of these older releases once you jam the rec below! Let me know what you think when you do. They also play an incredible live show - I saw them in London a few years ago.
Diving Straight into the Sun
This most recent release from the lads is truly a banger. I think you can find moments in this that scream, match you in the low, and find you in the high. There are a lot of themes in this release like disillusionment and sort of like an existential dread that is filtered through a stress-filled perspective of life.
I definitely recommend giving this album (and band) a shot in your rotation! A lot of criticisms have come their way as they have released more tunes noting things like a loss of “punch” and “umph” in their tunes. A lot of people have alluded to feeling like they have “sold out” and become more “radio rock” or “stadium rock”. I understand those and empathize with the feelings and even echo them to a degree - but this most recent release feels like a sound that is mature but still within their roots as a group.
click the image to listen ⤴️ | Finetuned Rec 👇️This band rips and this album is no exception. A progression of sound from prior releases, but in a beautiful way. I enjoy listening to this album when I’m going for a drive or if I am doing chores since it’s easy to sing to and bop along. |
Thanks for reading here, Finetuners! I do hope you all have enjoyed this week’s Finetuned. I’d appreciate any insights, admiration, or otherwise. You can reply to the newsletter directly or DM me on Twitter. (or email me here: finetunednewsletter@gmail.com)
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See you all in the next one! 🙌