Mannequin Pussy - I Got Heaven
Indie/Punk Rock – Released March 1, 2024 – 10 songs, 30 mins
LUNDI
Guitar driven music will always be where my heart lies. For a while it lost its flair, influence and standing in the musical scene. There are however ever evolving signs that the rock music comeback is on. Some weeks I do still question that, some weeks a band by the name of Mannequin Pussy can steal the critical and mainstream music headlines despite the vulgarity of their name. In December yours truly predicted the punk rock quartet would deliver 2024’s best and despite an incredible year of music to date I Got Heaven is a no doubt top contender.
Over the course of four albums and 14 years Mannequin Pussy have waded in the punk rock waters sporting an evolving sonic direction and a rotating cast of members in an attempt to find their footing as a band. Through it all lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Marisa Dabice has never wavered. Determined and equipped with all the necessary musical talent and more, the band’s fourth studio album is rocket fuel for the seemingly inevitable and much deserved breakout.
Dabice is a vocal powerhouse on I Got Heaven. While that terminology is most often reserved for the classically trained singers who litter the pop world, she is not that. Her range is something completely different to behold. She can prove seductive and mysterious with soft layered vocals (Nothing Like, Split Me Open), can amplify to a power pop-punk high octane delivery (I Got Heaven, Loud Bark) and when the timing is just right she can also scream sing with the best of them (Of Her, Aching). It’s a range that can only be best described as a gift and through her artistic purview she not only knows how to use it but when to use it. It’s a mind blowing vocal performance begging to be heard in a live setting.
Not to be taken for granted are Dabice’s sonically harmonious bandmates Kaleen Reading (drums), Colins Regisford (bass) and Maxine Steen (guitar). The groups off the stage tight knit bond fuels the chemistry they display in making music. Over the course of 30 minutes the soundscapes seesaw from anthem to ballad and back again developing an excellent pacing and track layout. Despite an organically raw sonic experience nothing ever feels out of place. Credit is much a-due to producer John Congleton who pushed the band to lean into their live setting energy by recording the drums, bass and guitars simultaneously. Weaving in keyboards and synths while drowning the record in distortion and reverberation results in a complete immersion of musical elements for the listener to enjoy.
The curve ball that really drives home the greatness of this album is that while it most often sounds punk on the surface the lyrical motifs are not typical punk. Sure, concepts of the failing institutions of religion, marriage and government are littered throughout, but the album is much more vulnerable than its genre counterparts. Where punk can often be seen as us against the world, I Got Heaven is mostly Debice against herself. Her lyrics are poignant recollections of desire and loneliness mixed with a beautifully mastered tongue in cheek painting of how decrepitly horny those feelings can make someone. She’s observant and natural, penning songs that feel necessary yet relatable. She is keen and witty, powerful and understanding of her worth. She is firm in her ways and she sure isn’t scared to share why she feels any certain way, baring her soul and heart to the masses. I Got Heaven is built on the foundation of punk and moulded with the perfect personal touch.
Putting the objectivity of music aside to close this out, I want to share how enjoyable of an experience this album has been for me. This emo kid turned hipster music fanatic has been scream singing in his car since the album dropped. The emotional release in music is no doubt person dependant but this one worked for me and I hope it does for you. If it doesn’t I wish you luck in finding new music that does, because that is a feeling that is unmatched.
I Got Heaven is a musical triumph. Sonically ferocious and emotionally raw, Mannequin Pussy deliver an energetic and ultimately pleasing spin of eclectic punk rock.
Overall lRating: 8.6/10
Favourite Song: I Got Heaven
REID
Mannequins are an odd, creepy necessity in the fashion world. You ever go shopping, get caught looking down at your phone, round a corner and whoa! Ya kinda snuck up on me there Carlos. He, of course, is a plastic, armless, emotionless, robaxacet-looking maw f*cka striking a pose with $600 worth of designer clothing and accessories tastefully pieced together on him. He may have just frightened me but by god I’m in the change room ten minutes later trying on the shirt. Turns out my pecs aren’t quite as chiseled as old Carlos and it’s a little tight in the arms. He didn’t have that problem.
This week’s band has been on the scene since 2010 but are new to us. They originate from the City of Brotherly Love and are known as Mannequin Pussy. Philly is well known for their rowdy fanbase in the sports community and Marisa, Kaleen, Maxime and Bear have it in their roots. The titular single from their fourth studio album, I Got Heaven, launched them from zero to sixty in my world. I had not even heard of the controversial name and then boom, like my boy Carlos, they were in our face blowing up the new music tab on social media. The song struck a chord immediately with lead vocalist and guitarist, Marisa, stealing the show. She bursts through the proverbial door with a raspy, authoritative scream, grabbing your attention and making it near impossible to skip. Seconds later the music mellows and her scream transitions flawlessly from ferocious to angelic. The boys at TSR were impressed and this release date was circled on the calendar.
The rest of the record certainly does not disappoint and the contrast of styles displayed in the opening track is a sign of things to come. While lead vocals may be the main attraction, the band’s cohesion allows Marisa to flip flop styles effortlessly. At ten songs over thirty minutes, I Got Heaven is a tight, diverse rock n roll record gift wrapped for fans with a variety of tastes.
Dabice’s direct sexuality and outright vulgarity is comical and honestly, it’s a breath of fresh air in a world gone a little too soft for this millennial. It started in their early days with their original name, Gypsy Pervert and two 2011 EPs titled Bonerjamz! and Meatslave. Lol! Sounds straight out of that opening scene of Superbad where Seth and Evan discuss their favourite internet porn subscriptions. As I mentioned before, I’m not familiar with their earlier stuff but I bet it’s chock full of humour if this one is any indication. One of the best lyrics comes on Loud Bark, where she sings ‘I keep you in my sugar and you eat it on your knees’. It’s funny, kinda hot and I’m sure if TSR fan favourite, my Mom (hi Mom!), reads this she’ll tell me it’s too offside. Well, you won’t like this one either - ‘Split me open, Pour your love in me, oh! It’s been awhile since I’ve had a company, oh, it’s been awhile since someone touched me’. Sorry Joan! This one’s from Split Me Open.
I’ve on record as saying you need to do something to take things to another level and I believe MP does just that. They’re different. They go for it. They have swagger, jam, spunk, whatever you want to call it. They have it. They definitely worked hard to get here and I think this record will bare the fruits of their labour.
2024 continues its hot start as Mannequin Pussy take a big leap to notoriety. Their brash, maniacal punk rock sound is levelled out admirably by their melodies. Marisa Dabice is a star in the making and hopefully her don’t give a f*ck attitude is coming to a stage near me.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Favourite Song: I Got Heaven
ROZ
Too Sweet Reviews has been blessed so far in 2024 with some impressive rock showings, and this weeks band is no different. American indie-punk rock band Mannequin Pussy may have a name that you’d second guess googling in a public area, but please don’t let that distract you - their fourth studio album I Got Heaven is fantastic and it deserves your undivided attention.
Throughout I Got Heaven’s 30 minute play time, the bands skillful instrumentation takes me on an ever-changing ride while lead singer Marisa Dabice oozes a charisma and resolve in her words that feels extremely genuine throughout. The songwriting is playful and fun at times yet chock-full of emotion at others, with religion and relationships being some of the many themes across the record. Pop music structures and sensibilities act as the necessary (and intelligently selected) glue that holds the album together, transforming typically niche soundscapes (such as noise rock and hardcore punk) into a more digestible package for a larger denomination of listeners. Through this effort, John Congleton once again showcases why he’s so sought after in the industry - the man is a force of nature.
I Got Heaven seems to swing like some sort of sonic pendulum as slower paced ballads break down and tear at the seams into hardcore punk performances before swinging back once again at the end for the closer. The more indie rock stylings of Nothing Like, Sometimes, and Split Me Open are contrasted by the noise and chaos of OK? OK! OK? OK!, Of Her and Aching. Titular track I Got Heaven plays a not-so-delicate tightrope act across both styles, as does the song Softly. These prove my tried and true theory that balance is the best recipe for a well-paced, dynamic, sonically interesting record; a method that not only works for these specific songs, but also speaks for the entire album as a whole.
I find Nothing Like particularly pleasant; its gentle hook and lighter rhythmic percussion showcasing the softer side of the band's sound. Ms. Dabice is the highlight here, as she pushes her vocal up an octave range and gives us a silky and serenading performance that depicts not only the versatility of her as an artist, but of the entire band as well. I Don’t Know You is another highlight for me, with its almost Beach House-esque timbre and stripped back acoustic sound - drenched from head to toe in reverb, foley and ambient synth arpeggiations - tickling the furthest corners of my mind. The distorted guitar eventually kicks in here as well, acting as a foreshadowing tactic for what’s soon to come.
The back half of this album is where the band really shows their fangs - a rapid firing of mosh pit-inducing tracks. Of Her emits a forward and upward energy that can be comparable to a rally car - full of grit and raw, unadulterated horsepower. Aching does this just as well (if not better) and is the song that, to me, is the ultimate showcase for this band's charm - heavy guitar riffs, cord-tearing vocals and a performance by drummer Kaleen Reading that sounds like she’s about to tear fully through the skin of each drum in her kit.
It’s been a while since I’ve heard a band go from 0 to 100 as effortlessly and as flawlessly as Mannequin Pussy can. I Got Heaven somehow finds a way to toe the line between madness and tranquility; a delicate, precise balance that ultimately forms an outstanding record from front to back.
Overall Rating: 8.2/10
Favourite Song: Aching