Man Man

Man Man reimagines rock music as something seamier, stranger, and fleshier than it’s been for a long time. Equal parts carnival performance, punk-rock exorcism, and Appalachian doo-wop, the band’s sound has always been so eclectic that it only really crystallizes in frenzied live shows. This one showcases the new, Mike Mogis-produced Life Fantastic, out now on Anti-. The bad vibes and minor tragedies that power so much of the Man Man discography make only minor contributions to Life Fantastic, as frontman Ryan “Honus Honus” Kattner claims it’s a record about “carrying on.” Nonetheless, album-opener “Knuckle Down” is the type of dark, percussion-driven dervish that will whip fans into feverish fits of singing and dancing in-concert.

Updated 05/13/2011