"Patience" by Mannequin Pussy
From the moment I heard the cascading opening of “Drunk II,” the leading single off Patience, I knew Mannequin Pussy were about to hit us with something special. Detailing the struggles of living in the aftermath of a falling out, it’s a perfect balancing act between the huge and powerful yet melancholic and vulnerable, a theme that would continue throughout the rest of the album. It also delivered one of the album’s best and most quoted lines: “Do you remember the nights I called you up/I was so fucked up I forgot we were broken up/I still love you, you stupid fuck.”
Even with some distance from its initial release, Patience has still been in heavy rotation for me. At its core, it’s a punk album, but it manages to capture so much in one package, pushing the boundaries of what contemporary “punk” can be. There’s clear evidence of strong pop sensibilities in their songwriting/aesthetic choices (something that was apparent on their previous releases too, and what made them such a compelling band to begin with, but this time slightly more polished). The arrangements are complex and thoughtful, with elements like auxiliary percussion, acoustic guitars, and even a bit of piano. The tracks “High Horse” and “Fear/+/Desire” also have a spacier, more ethereal vibe, opting for a slow build crescendo rather than coming out swinging. “High Horse” is a particularly good example of this; its mallet percussion and guitar swells give it an almost orchestral feel. All this shiny production doesn’t mean they’ve abandoned their thrashy side by any means, though. The 1-2 punch of “Clams” into “F.U.C.A.W.” alone could knock you on your ass in the best way possible (clocking in at a whopping 2:43 altogether, in true punk fashion).
Over the course of Patience, frontwoman Marisa Dabice poignantly tackles feelings of trauma, loneliness, social pressure, and renewal. Dabice croons and growls her way through a raw journey of questioning and discovery, all the while accompanied by wailing, wall of sound guitars and pummeling drums that complement every sentiment along the way. This intense journey makes the payoff of the final track, “In Love Again,” that much sweeter. With its uplifting chord progression and sweeping piano parts, it’s an anthemic ode to the unadulterated joy of falling in love. After an album filled with the dark realities love can lead to, it might feel a little naïve, but the overpowering optimism and innocence of “In Love Again” make the listener practically forget about all the prior negativity (kind of like the experience of actually finding new love?). On my first listen of the album, as soon as this song was done, before replaying the album in its entirety (which I absolutely did), I first had to hit replay on that last song just to hear it one more time. This album will put you through the wringer, it’ll shove you around and get in your face, but it’s also so bursting with ferocious energy and hooks that you can’t help but keep coming back for more.
Patience is out now on Epitaph Records. Mannequin Pussy are currently on tour and will be in Chicago on September 11 at Lincoln Hall. I’d personally recommend buying their album through their Bandcamp (in addition to whatever physical medium you might get), as their Bandcamp proceeds will be donated to The Trevor Project.