Patrick Molloy and the Manifest, quite obviously headed up by local music icon and well-known folk / rock musician Patrick Molloy, have recently released their debut album “Who Will Listen?” to a great deal of positive acclaim.
St. John's Local Musicians with a Big, Warm Sound
Blending elements of traditional rock (warm and fuzzy bass lines, tight and yet slightly pulled guitar riffs) with the indy and folk genres (clean and emotional vocals, keyboards and piano) – Who Will Listen? Is an excellent showing for a debut album, particularly in a near flawless musical execution by the band and an obviously painstaking post-production process.
The production quality of the album is superior to most local offerings, sounding more akin to a major label release than an independent one. The bass is distinct and lends a solid lower end backing to the album's many upbeat, moving tracks.
The keyboards, typically either buried beneath the bassline or too high as to remain in proper range, are used in a minimalist fashion to accentuate the basic chords of the songs rather than to distract the audience. The guitar riffs are both catchy and somewhat psychedelic, a perfect harmony with Molloy's own vocal delivery.
Revolution Rock Lyrics – Self Empowerment, Peace, and Love
Patrick Molloy and the Manifest show a great deal of strength lyrically – their songs primarily speaking to a peaceful revolutionary tone that demands self-improvement and rejection of the normative definition of success.
“Offer a helping hand / Instead of terror /Bush wash your hands / Banish war machines / Peace, Now, Today / P*** on the red tape / Peace, Now, Today”
“Peace, Now, Today” is just one example of the albums political / spiritual bent. Songs like “Wake Me” reinforce the bands point as they discuss the potential for a technological nightmare that would enslave our waking lives with increasing alacrity.
“Take me, Wake / Me from this awful dream / This so-called democracy / Redefine economy /Just print more money / Utilize technology / Work it out mathematically /Give the earth what it needs /Then, wake me / Wake me”
After listening to the album in full, one can't help but feel a bit happy, soulful, and truly invested in the spirit of the music. Patrick Molloy and the Manifest have lodged a solid first entry into what is sure to be an expansive and productive catalogue to come.
Readers looking for a bit more information on the St. John's music scene might also like to read an interview with local metal band, Weapon.
Nicholas Morine - Nicholas Morine Bachelor of Arts, English Language & Literature Master of Philosophy, Humanities (Candidate) Memorial University ...
