Mean Everything to Nothing

{{Short description|Album by Manchester Orchestra}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Mean Everything to Nothing

| type = studio

| artist = Manchester Orchestra

| cover = Meaneverythingtonothingcover.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|2009|4|21}}

| recorded = September–November 2008

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = {{hlist|Indie rock|alternative rock}}

| length = {{Duration|m=53|s=23}}

| label = Favorite Gentlemen

| producer = {{hlist|Joe Chiccarelli|Dan Hannon}}

| prev_title = I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child

| prev_year = 2006

| next_title = Simple Math

| next_year = 2011

}}

Mean Everything to Nothing is the second studio album by the Atlanta-based indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. It was released on April 21, 2009, through independent record label Favorite Gentlemen Recordings and produced by Joe Chiccarelli and Dan Hannon.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0022VT06K/ref=sr_f2_album_1_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B0022VN354&qid=1244587332&sr=102-1|title=Mean Everything To Nothing by Manchester Orchestra|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|accessdate=2009-09-04}}

Prior to the album's release, AbsolutePunk premiered a video of "The Only One",[http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=931202 Absolutepunk.net: Video Premiere Exclusive] while Spin premiered another one, for "Shake It Out", on March 24, 2009.[https://www.spin.com/2009/03/premiere-manchester-orchestras-emotional-getaway/ Premiere: Manchester Orchestra's Emotional Getaway] A third video, for lead single "I've Got Friends", was released on April 7.[http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=983342 New Manchester Orchestra Video]

Mean Everything to Nothing received favorable reviews from music critics upon release and debuted at number thirty seven on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number eleven on the Billboard Rock Albums Chart.[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=manchester orchestra|chart=all}} Mean Everything to Nothing Chart History]

Reception

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 6.2/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/609/Manchester-Orchestra-Mean-Everything-To-Nothing.aspx|title=Mean Everything to Nothing by Manchester Orchestra reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|accessdate=July 20, 2017}}

| MC = 73/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/mean-everything-to-nothing/manchester-orchestra|title=Reviews and Tracks for Mean Everything to Nothing by Manchester Orchestra|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=July 30, 2017}}

|rev1 = AbsolutePunk

|rev1Score = Highly Recommended{{cite web|url=https://chorus.fm/review/manchester-orchestra-mean-everything-to-nothing/|title=Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything to Nothing|website=AbsolutePunk|author=Jason Tate|date=April 21, 2009 |accessdate=July 30, 2017}}

|rev2 = AllMusic

|rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mean-everything-to-nothing-mw0000814133|title=Mean Everything to Nothing – Manchester Orchestra {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=All Media Network|author=Tim DiGravina|date=April 21, 2017|accessdate=July 30, 2017}}

|rev3 = Alternative Press

|rev3Score = {{Rating|5|5}}

|rev4 = Blare

|rev4Score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite web|url=http://blaremagazine.com/2009/04/15/album-reviews-15-409/|title=Album Reviews – 15/4/09|publisher=Blare|author=Dan Rankin|date=April 15, 2009|accessdate=July 30, 2017}}

|rev5 = Kerrang!

|rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite news|title=Mean Everything to Nothing|newspaper=Kerrang!|pages=54|date=April 29, 2009|issue=1259}}

|rev6 = NME

|rev6Score = (7/10){{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/10362|title=Mean Everything To Nothing Review|magazine=NME|accessdate=2009-09-04}}

|rev7 = Paste

|rev7Score = (9.1/10){{cite magazine|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/04/manchester-orchestra-mean-everything-to-nothing.html|title=Manchester Orchestra: Mean Everything to Nothing|magazine=Paste Magazine|author=Chris Willman|accessdate=2009-04-21}}

|rev8 = Pitchfork

|rev8Score = (5.2/10){{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12944-mean-everything-to-nothing/|title=Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Manchester Orchestra: Mean Everything to Nothing|publisher=Condé Nast|author=Eric Harvey|accessdate=July 30, 2017}}

|rev9 = Punknews

|rev9Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.punknews.org/review/8309|title=Mean Everything to Nothing|date=May 19, 2009 |publisher=Punknews.org|accessdate=2009-05-19}}

|rev10 = Sputnikmusic

|rev10Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=30256|title=Manchester Orchestra: Mean Everything to Nothing|website=Sputnikmusic|author=Matt Wolfe|accessdate=2009-04-18}}

}}

Mean Everything to Nothing was warmly received by critics. It currently holds an aggregated score of 70 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favourable reviews" based on 14 professional reviews and 8.2/10 based on 9 user votes.

Jason Tate, founder of AbsolutePunk.net highly recommended the album. He opened his review with the line, "Quick note to the rest of the albums coming out this year: The bar has just been set". He praised the album as "classic" and went on to add, "Between the crashing sounds, the subtle whispers, the vocal chants, and the emotional reaction – we have the makings of a classic. We have an album that clearly bridges the gap between mainstream and underground". Alternative Press reviewer Tim Karan awarded a maximum score of 5/5 and heaped praise on the album. He stated, "With 'Nothing, Manchester Orchestra have created what will ineveitably be regarded as one of the landmark releases of 2009, and more noticeable they've exceeded the hype that's surrounded them for nearly three years".{{cite magazine|url=http://altpress.com/reviews/meaneverything.htm |title=Andy, are you okay? Are you okay, Andy? – Manchester Orchestra Mean Everything To Nothing|magazine=Alternative Press|author=Tim Karen|accessdate=2009-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102153748/http://altpress.com/reviews/meaneverything.htm |archive-date=January 2, 2010}}

Chris Willman of Paste Magazine also lauded the album. Awarding a score of 91%, he commented that, "The young band has learned a great secret: It’s possible to make a massive, commercial, go-for-the-gusto Rock Record while still holding on to dark idiosyncrasies and seriousness of purpose". Punknews were also largely favourable in their review, rating the album at 4/5. They described the album as "Confoundingly consistent and vividly varied, Mean Everything to Nothing easily surpasses Manchester's previous output and provides a stark album of contrasting moods, layered fervor and modestly orchestral flow". They also commended Andy Hull for his maturing songwriting. "It remains an exciting and considerably accomplished effort. This only being the sophomore try and Hull barely drinking age, it's a little unnerving to think what they could even conceive later on".

Other positive reviews included British publications, Kerrang! and NME, who awarded scores of 4/5 and 7/10 respectively.

Some reviews were less favourable, particularly Pitchfork. Scoring the album at 5.2, Eric Harvey gave a mixed review. Both praising and criticizing Hull's lyrical themes. "For a kid barely able to legally drink, Hull's got the exhaustion of middle age. And that's the thing that both defines Manchester Orchestra at this point, as well as what stops them from being great. When they're satisfied with rocking the fuck out, they do it exceedingly well, but when they try to acquire the adult answers, they'd do well to chill out and enjoy being young".

Q Magazine were also more critical, awarding 2 stars out of 5. They bemoaned, "Their second album is suitably heavy on post-adolescent angst but, for all frontman Andy Hull's best efforts, singularly lacking its own voice.{{cite magazine|title=Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything To Nothing|magazine=Q Magazine|issue=June 2009|page=134|date=April 29, 2009}}

= Media appearances =

"I Can Feel a Hot One" was used in an episode of the American television series Gossip Girl.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268754/manchester-orchestra-gets-everything-on-second-album|title=Manchester Orchestra Gets 'Everything' On Second Album|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-04-28}} "Shake It Out" was used as the theme song for the 2010 Impact Wrestling Pay-per-view Sacrifice.

Track listings

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Andy Hull.{{Cite web |url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?fromrow=1&torow=25&keyname=HULL%20JOHN%20ANDREW&querytype=WriterID&keyid=1020199&page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&affiliation=BMI&cae=497222923 |title=BMI Entry |access-date=2014-05-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118210618/http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?fromrow=1&torow=25&keyname=HULL%20JOHN%20ANDREW&querytype=WriterID&keyid=1020199&page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&affiliation=BMI&cae=497222923 |archive-date=2016-01-18 |url-status=dead }} Details taken from liner notes{{cite AV media notes|title = Mean Everything To Nothing|others = Manchester Orchestra|year = 2009|type = CD|publisher = Favorite Gentlemen/Canvasback|id = 88697359342}}

| title1 = The Only One

| length1 = 2:39

| title2 = Shake It Out

| length2 = 5:11

| title3 = I've Got Friends

| length3 = 4:57

| title4 = Pride

| length4 = 5:47

| title5 = In My Teeth

| length5 = 4:42

| title6 = 100 Dollars

| length6 = 1:50

| title7 = I Can Feel a Hot One

| length7 = 4:19

| title8 = My Friend Marcus

| length8 = 3:41

| title9 = Tony the Tiger

| length9 = 3:09

| title10 = Everything to Nothing

| length10 = 5:37

| title11 = The River

| note11 = contains hidden track "Jimmy, He Whispers" (Track ends at 5:55; hidden track begins at 7:25)

| length11 = 11:33

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = iTunes bonus track

| title12 = Go

| length12 = 4:11

}}

Personnel

The following personnel contributed to Mean Everything to Nothing:

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

= Manchester Orchestra =

= Additional musicians =

  • Dan Hannon – electric guitar, keys
  • Oliver Kraus – cello, violin
  • Erica Froman – handclaps, vocals
  • Mary Alice Hull – handclaps, vocals

{{col-2}}

= Production =

{{col-end}}

''Fourteen Years of Excellence'' EP

{{Infobox album

| name = Fourteen Years of Excellence

| type = EP

| artist = Manchester Orchestra

| cover = MOPFYOFE.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|2009|4|18}}

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Indie rock

| length = {{Duration|m=17|s=24}}

| label = {{hlist|Favorite Gentlemen|
Canvasback}}

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

Fourteen Years of Excellence is the fourth EP released by the band Manchester Orchestra, available on April 18, 2009[http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=975781 Release info] at select indie record stores as an exclusive release for Record Store Day. The limited edition EP came free with a purchase of Mean Everything to Nothing. Tracks 1 and 3 were done with Joe Chiccarelli while tracking Mean Everything to Nothing. Track 2 was done by Matt Mallpass and track 4 by Robert McDowell.

= Track listing =

{{Track listing

| title1 = Anne Louise

| length1 = 2:41

| title2 = It's Okay With Me

| length2 = 4:37

| title3 = Do You Really Like Being Alone

| length3 = 5:06

| title4 = Shake It Out

| note4 = Alternate Version

| length4 = 5:30

}}

References

{{reflist|2}}