After the Party (album)
{{Infobox album
| name = After the Party
| type = studio
| artist = The Menzingers
| cover = After_the_Party_Menzingers.jpg
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2017|2|3}}
| recorded = April–May 2016
| venue =
| studio = Studio 4
| genre = *Punk rock
| length = 44:57
| label = Epitaph
| producer = Will Yip
| prev_title = Rented World
| prev_year = 2014
| next_title = Hello Exile
| next_year = 2019
| misc = {{Singles
| name = After the Party
| type = studio
| single1 = Lookers
| single1date = August 15, 2016
| single2 = Bad Catholics
| single2date = October 27, 2016
| single3 = Thick as Thieves
| single3date = January 30, 2017
| single4 = After the Party
| single4date = March 23, 2017
}}
}}
After the Party is the fifth studio album by American punk rock band The Menzingers, released on February 3, 2017, through Epitaph Records. Despite the album's limited commercial success, peaking at No. 67 on the Billboard 200,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/the-menzingers/chart-history|title=The Menzingers - Chart history - Billboard|accessdate=January 7, 2018|magazine=Billboard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305110057/https://www.billboard.com/music/the-menzingers/chart-history|archive-date=March 5, 2018}} it received a positive critical reception and is considered by many publications and music critics to be one of 2017's best punk rock and overall albums.
Background and production
The Menzingers went on a co-headlining tour with MewithoutYou in November 2015 in support of their fourth album Rented World (2014). Vocalist/guitarist Greg Barnett was hoping that following the tour's end, the group would "wind down and start work on the next record."{{cite web|url=http://diymag.com/2015/08/28/the-menzingers-return-to-the-lock-up-stage-it-just-feels-like-a-punk-show|title=The Menzingers return to The Lock Up stage: "It just feels like a punk show"|work=DIY|publisher=Sonic Media Group|date=August 28, 2015|accessdate=February 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206185603/http://diymag.com/2015/08/28/the-menzingers-return-to-the-lock-up-stage-it-just-feels-like-a-punk-show|archive-date=February 6, 2017}} The group took a break in November and December, before spending January–March 2016 writing After the Party. From the start of the writing process, Barnett became aware that the album would be "a love letter to our twenties."{{cite web|url=http://uproxx.com/music/the-menzingers-after-the-party-greg-barnett/3/|title='After The Party' By Philadelphia Punks The Menzingers Is One Of Early 2017's Best Albums|work=Uproxx|publisher=Woven Digital|author=Hyden, Steven|date=January 30, 2017|accessdate=February 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207031621/http://uproxx.com/music/the-menzingers-after-the-party-greg-barnett/3/|archive-date=February 7, 2017}} The band took a break from writing to perform a couple of shows, which Barnett referred to as "that little extra push" near the end of the writing process.{{cite web|url=http://www.theaquarian.com/2016/08/17/an-interview-with-the-menzingers-the-partys-here/|title=An Interview With The Menzingers: The Party's Here|work=The Aquarian Weekly|publisher=Diane Casazza, Chris Farinas|author=McGarth, Ryan|date=August 17, 2016|accessdate=February 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206184901/http://www.theaquarian.com/2016/08/17/an-interview-with-the-menzingers-the-partys-here/|archive-date=February 6, 2017}} The group began recording in April for a period of five and a half weeks, ending in May.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/60728/the-menzingers-finish-recording-new-lp|title=The Menzingers finish recording new LP|work=Punknews.org|publisher=Aubin Paul|author=Gentile, John|date=May 12, 2016|accessdate=February 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207042305/https://www.punknews.org/article/60728/the-menzingers-finish-recording-new-lp|archive-date=February 7, 2017}} The band worked with Will Yip at Studio 4.
Composition
The band intended to create a "fun" album where, according to Barnett, "you throw it on a jukebox in a bar and be fucking punk the whole night." At the same time, they wanted to retain the "integrity" with the storytelling aspect of their songs. Vocalist/guitarist Tom May described the album as "us saying, 'We don't have to grow up or get boring—we can keep on having a good time doing what we love.'" Dan Ozzi of Noisey wrote that "Lookers" features Barnett "looking at an old photo of himself with someone, and longing for the youth captured within."
Collin Robinson of Stereogum wrote that "Bad Catholics" is about "balancing the messiness of being human with the virtuousness impressed upon us by societal, religious, and personal beliefs."{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1907927/the-menzingers-bad-catholics/music/|title=The Menzingers – "Bad Catholics"|work=Stereogum|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|author=Robinson, Collin|date=October 27, 2016|accessdate=February 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204003936/http://www.stereogum.com/1907927/the-menzingers-bad-catholics/music/|archive-date=February 4, 2017}} The track was originally planned for release on a split, until "all of a sudden, everybody just started falling in love" with it, according to Barnett. Barnett referred to the title-track as the "central emotional epiphany" of the record, "written in images." Barnett wanted to "use imagery as unexciting as the sludge in the bottom of a coffee cup to tell a bigger story."
Release
"Lookers" was made available for streaming on August 11, 2016,{{cite web|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/the-menzingers-lookers|title=Hear the Menzingers Get Nostalgic on a New Song, "Lookers"|work=Noisey|publisher=Vice|author=Ozzi, Dan|date=August 11, 2016|accessdate=February 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204005150/https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/the-menzingers-lookers|archive-date=February 4, 2017}} before being released as a single four days later.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/lookers-mr0004599344|title=Lookers - The Menzingers {{!}} Release Info|work=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network, LLC|accessdate=February 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204004919/http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/lookers-mr0004599344|archive-date=February 4, 2017}} In August and September, the band went on a tour of the U.S. with Bayside and Sorority Noise. The band went on a tour of Europe with The Bouncing Souls, before going on a brief headlining tour of the UK in October.{{cite web|url=http://diymag.com/2016/08/15/the-menzingers-are-back-with-lookers-and-new-uk-dates|title=The Menzingers are back with 'Lookers' and new UK dates!|work=DIY|publisher=Sonic Media Group|date=August 15, 2016|accessdate=February 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206185614/http://diymag.com/2016/08/15/the-menzingers-are-back-with-lookers-and-new-uk-dates|archive-date=February 6, 2017}} On October 27, After the Party was announced for release, and the album's artwork and track listing was revealed.{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrang.com/45975/menzingers-announce-new-album-stream-new-song/|title=The Menzingers Announce New Album, Stream New Song|work=Kerrang!|publisher=Bauer Media Group|author=Emily|date=October 27, 2016|accessdate=February 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204082801/http://www.kerrang.com/45975/menzingers-announce-new-album-stream-new-song/|archive-date=February 4, 2017}} On the same day, "Bad Catholics" was released as a single.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/bad-catholics-mr0004631372|title=Bad Catholics - The Menzingers {{!}} Release Info|work=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network, LLC|accessdate=February 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204004827/http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/bad-catholics-mr0004631372|archive-date=February 4, 2017}} On November 15, a music video was released for "Bad Catholics", directed by Kevin Haus. The video is centred around a church picnic, which gets turned into a food fight by a few kids.{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1911370/the-menzingers-bad-catholics-video/video/|title=The Menzingers – "Bad Catholics" Video|work=Stereogum|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|author=Rettig, James|date=November 15, 2016|accessdate=February 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204003619/http://www.stereogum.com/1911370/the-menzingers-bad-catholics-video/video/|archive-date=February 4, 2017}} On December 12, a music video was released for "Lookers", directed by Sean Stoute. It is predominantly a live-performance video, along with footage of the group in their touring van.{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1915907/the-menzingers-lookers-video/video/|title=The Menzingers – "Lookers" Video|work=Stereogum|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|author=Breihan, Tom|date=December 12, 2016|accessdate=February 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204004348/http://www.stereogum.com/1915907/the-menzingers-lookers-video/video/|archive-date=February 4, 2017}}
On January 9, 2017, "After the Party" was made available for streaming.{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1918874/the-menzingers-after-the-party/premiere/|title=The Menzingers – "After The Party"|work=Stereogum|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|author=Breihan, Tom|date=January 9, 2017|accessdate=February 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204004049/http://www.stereogum.com/1918874/the-menzingers-after-the-party/premiere/|archive-date=February 4, 2017}} "Thick as Thieves" was released as a single on January 30.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/thick-as-thieves-mr0004656207|title=Thick as Thieves - The Menzingers {{!}} Release Info|work=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network, LLC|accessdate=February 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204004024/http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/thick-as-thieves-mr0004656207|archive-date=February 4, 2017}} After the Party was released on February 3, through Epitaph Records. Shortly afterwards, the band went on a brief tour of Australia.{{cite web|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/menzingers-announce-2017-australian-tour-new-album-party/|title=The Menzingers Announce 2017 Australian Tour & New Album 'After The Party'|work=MusicFeeds|author=Hohnen, Mike|date=October 28, 2016|accessdate=February 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206185100/http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/menzingers-announce-2017-australian-tour-new-album-party/|archive-date=February 6, 2017}} The band embarked on a headlining tour of the UK with support from The Flatliners in April 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrang.com/46193/menzingers-announce-2017-uk-headline-tour/|title=The Menzingers Announce 2017 UK Headline Tour|work=Kerrang!|publisher=Bauer Media Group|author=Emily|date=November 21, 2016|accessdate=February 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204003557/http://www.kerrang.com/46193/menzingers-announce-2017-uk-headline-tour/|archive-date=February 4, 2017}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev2 = Blurt
| rev2score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://blurtonline.com/review/the-menzingers-after-the-party/|title=THE MENZINGERS – After the Party|work=Blurt|publisher=Blurt, LLC|author=Clegg, Jeff|date=3 February 2017|accessdate=February 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207031647/http://blurtonline.com/review/the-menzingers-after-the-party/|archive-date=February 7, 2017}}
| rev3 = Clash
| rev4 = Drowned in Sound
| rev5 = Exclaim!
| rev6 = Kerrang!
| rev7 = The New York Times
| rev8 = PopMatters
| rev9 = Punknews
| rev10 = Sputnikmusic
| rev10score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/72837/The-Menzingers-After-the-Party/|title = Review: The Menzingers - After the Party | Sputnikmusic}}
}}
After the Party received mostly positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 80 based on 16 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/after-the-party/the-menzingers|title=Reviews for After the Party by The Menzingers|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=February 10, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209070744/http://www.metacritic.com/music/after-the-party/the-menzingers|archive-date=February 9, 2017}}
=Accolades=
Track listing
All tracks were written by The Menzingers.{{cite web |url=https://themenzingers.bandcamp.com/album/after-the-party |title=After the Party, by the Menzingers |accessdate=2017-06-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923212428/https://themenzingers.bandcamp.com/album/after-the-party |archive-date=2017-09-23 }}
{{tracklist
| total_length = 44:57
| title1 = Tellin' Lies
| length1 = 4:00
| title2 = Thick as Thieves
| length2 = 3:15
| title3 = Lookers
| length3 = 3:37
| title4 = Midwestern States
| length4 = 3:27
| title5 = Charlie's Army
| length5 = 2:32
| title6 = House on Fire
| length6 = 3:38
| title7 = Black Mass
| length7 = 2:53
| title8 = Boy Blue
| length8 = 3:20
| title9 = Bad Catholics
| length9 = 2:52
| title10 = Your Wild Years
| length10 = 3:55
| title11 = The Bars
| length11 = 4:11
| title12 = After the Party
| length12 = 3:50
| title13 = Livin' Ain't Easy
| length13 = 3:26
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2017)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2017/02/aria-chart-watch-407/|title=ARIA CHART WATCH #407|publisher=auspOp|date=February 11, 2017|accessdate=February 11, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316090057/https://www.auspop.com.au/2017/02/aria-chart-watch-407/|archive-date=March 16, 2017}}
| 61 |
| {{album chart|Flanders|175|artist=The Menzingers|album=After the Party|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 11, 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|66|id=322993|artist=The Menzingers|album=After the Party|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 17, 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|65|date=2017-02-10|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 11, 2017}} |
| scope="row"| UK Vinyl Albums(OCC){{cite web|title=Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40|website = OfficialCharts.com|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/vinyl-albums-chart/20170210/9/publisher=OCC|date=February 10, 2017|accessdate=15 April 2019}}
! 24 |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|67|artist=The Menzingers|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 14, 2017}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|2|artist=The Menzingers|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 14, 2017}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|8|artist=The Menzingers|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 14, 2017}} |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" | Region
! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format(s) ! scope="col" | Label |
|---|
| scope="row" | United States
| February 3, 2017 | {{Flatlist | }} | Epitaph |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{The Menzingers}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:The Menzingers albums
Category:Epitaph Records albums