Zombies on Broadway (album)

Zombies on Broadway is the second studio album by released by American indie pop act Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, led by singer, songwriter, and pianist Andrew McMahon. The album was released on February 10, 2017, through Vanguard Records, led by the first single "Fire Escape", officially released September 9, 2016.

Zombies on Broadway
Studio album by
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
ReleasedFebruary 10, 2017
RecordedMay–September 2016
GenrePop, pop rock
Length38:19
LabelVanguard
Producer
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness chronology
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
(2014)		 Zombies on Broadway
(2017)		 Upside Down Flowers
(2018)
Singles from Zombies on Broadway
  1. "Fire Escape"
    Released: September 9, 2016
  2. "Brooklyn, You're Killing Me"
    Released: November 18, 2016
  3. "Walking in My Sleep"
    Released: December 16, 2016
  4. "So Close"
    Released: January 6, 2017
  5. "Don't Speak for Me (True)"
    Released: January 27, 2017

Background

Vocalist/pianist Andrew McMahon released his debut solo album, under the moniker Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, in October 2014 through independent label Vanguard Records.[1] Single "Cecilia and the Satellite" was a top 10 hit on the Alternative Songs chart,[2] and became one of the most played tracks of 2016.[3] Additionally, it performed well at the adult album alternative and hot adult contemporary radio stations; "High Dive" had minor success at alternative stations.[4] During time off from touring, McMahon was in New York City at the same time as two writer/producers that he wanted to work with for a while,[5] Gregg Wattenberg and Derek Fuhrmann.[6] In mid-2015,[7] the trio held a writing session, coming up with the track "Fire Escape".[5] In August 2015, McMahon revealed had been writing a lot of material for the next album and attempting to build a strong group of songs that he can work on following the touring cycle.[8]

In December, he was halfway through the writing process for his next album.[9] Later that month, and running into January 2016, McMahon's band Jack's Mannequin reformed for an anniversary tour for their debut album Everything in Transit (2005).[10] By this time, McMahon had four or five unfinished songs for his next album. Following this, he spent February to April writing new material.[11] Around this time, McMahon had been travelling around the country finding a place to record.[12] After learning that a lot of New York-based writers/producers had migrated to Los Angeles,[6] and having had a positive experience writing "Fire Escape", he relocated to New York City.[5]

Production

Recording lasted from May[13] until September.[6] In between sessions, McMahon supported Weezer and Panic! at the Disco on their headlining US tour.[14] The majority of the album had been written and recorded in New York City in between tours.[15] He was apprehensive about working here as it was the place where he was diagnosed with leukemia after working on Jack's Mannequin's Everything in Transit. He had planned to make the second Jack's Mannequin album in the city, but "wasn't really in a position of strength" and abandoned that idea. Eventually, he returned to the idea for Zombies on Broadway.[12] He went to the city with a handful of songs, before writing a couple more and started recording.[6]

He stayed in a Bedford apartment and took the subway to the recording studio in Times Square.[16] Wattenberg served as the album's primary producer.[6] While in the city, the bars would remain open till 4am, which "got the best of [McMahon]", and he subsequently went home to continue working on the album in California.[12] Following this, McMahon wrote "Brooklyn, You're Killing Me" and "Island Radio",[7] before he returned to New York and came up with five more new songs. McMahon hung out with former Jack's Mannequin's guitarist Bobby Anderson, who lived in the city. McMahon who wanted to a guitar solo on one of the songs invited Anderson to a session. Anderson subsequently tracked guitar for some of the songs.[6]

Composition

Overview

The title Zombies on Broadway comes from a lyric in a song that wasn't finished in time for inclusion on the album. Its meaning revolved around McMahon's train journey and walk to the studio, which was located in a theatre district. Leaving the studio at night gave McMahon a different atmosphere, where he had to walk through the streets and getting past tourists.[17] An underlying theme on the album was McMahon reconciling with his nature to gravitate towards late nights and drinking heavily. Being in New York City, this side of him was brought to the forefront, and subsequently he needed to get it under control.[18] McMahon's goal for the album was creating the best songs possible, opposed to trying to fit a song into a certain production style or aesthetic.[12]

Musically, the album's sound has been described as pop[19][20] and pop rock,[12] with influence from electronic dance music;[21] it drew comparisons to Fun.[22][23] While in New York City, he spent many nights in festival tents listening to dance music, namely FKA Twigs, Lido, Sylvan Esso and Atlas Genius.[16] This electronic influence could be heard in the dance-pop tracks "Brooklyn, You're Killing Me" and "Shot Out of a Cannon".[22] According to McMahon, he "expanded the palette" for Zombies on Broadway "in a big way",[15] retaining a lot of the "keyboard textures" as found on his debut album, and incorporating more guitar parts;[15] a contrast to the first Wilderness album, which didn't feature any guitars. Discussing the running theme of space through the album, McMahon said a part of him has "always had one half of me in outer space and the other half on the ground."[12]

Songs

"Zombie Intro" is a short 27-second long track[24] that consists of city noise,[25] passing trains and chatter from a New York subway.[21] It transitions into "Brooklyn, You're Killing Me", which features spoken-word vocals and was reminiscent of the vibe heard on Everything in Transit (2005).[26] It, alongside "Island Radio", was written after McMahon had returned to Los Angeles as a "kind of my mic-drop about New York".[27] "So Close" is about taking chances and starting over when the need arises.[28] "Don't Speak for Me (True)" is more stripped-down, compared to the preceding two tracks, with McMahon's vocals highlighting the lyrics.[24]

While touring in support of his debut album, McMahon had a weekend free from touring in New York City. Here, McMahon encountered "the acrobat, the banker, the oxblood friend; these larger than life characters ... that lead me through the boroughs, bodegas, bars and subway stations," which would be referenced in "Fire Escape".[29] The track has soft verses with strong chorus sections[24] that incorporate chanting in the vein of Walk the Moon.[30] "Dead Man's Dollar" was one of the first songs written for the album,[31] and talked about doing long work days to provide for one's family.[32] It combined the lyric fragility of "Don't Speak for Me (True)" with the pop tendencies of "So Close" and "Fire Escape", starting with a quiet piano before eventually building and adding guitar and extra backing vocals.[24]

"Shot Out of a Cannon" was written after being "outlaid crazy New York City at 4 a.m."[16] "Walking in My Sleep" began as a group of vignettes, as McMahon explained: "I am someone who craves constant motion, but once plane rides and hotel nights accumulate there is a sense that the world has shifted in some imperceivable way."[33] It is a piano-and-guitar centred track that features softer sections with McMahon's vocals on display.[24] "Island Radio" uses unrequited love as metaphor for being trapped on a deserted island.[24] McMahon wrote "Love and Great Buildings" while looking at building architecture in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.[16] The song alludes to politic, with its hints towards the challenges that people face while in a recession.[24] "Birthday Song" was the last song written for the album. McMahon woke up in his apartment and called his manager, telling them that he needed a piano immediately. He spent the afternoon staring out the window writing the song.[5]

Release

A lyric video was released for "Fire Escape" on September 8,[29] and a day later, the song was released as a single.[34] On September 26, a music video was released for the song.[6] The video, directed by Jon Morris and Michael McQuilken,[35] features two inflatable dancers falling in love around Brooklyn. The Windmill Factory, who produced the clip, had previously worked on McMahon's stage visuals during performances. The inflatable dancers in the video were created for McMahon's tour with Weezer and Panic! at the Disco. McMahon wanted to show their personalities and come up with a love story between the two inflatables in the video.[6] On November 10, Zombies on Broadway was announced for release, and the album's artwork was revealed.[36]

The cover shows two images of McMahon, connected at the center of his face. The first sees him standing in front of a red backdrop, while the second sees him wearing a space helmet with the backdrop of the New York City skyline behind him. The original idea that McMahon had for the cover was based around the album's seventh track "Shot Out of a Cannon", and would have featured a person being fired out of a cannon. Within an hour of booking the flight tot this shoot, McMahon's superiors vetoed the idea. Ultimately, McMahon and photographer Brendan Walter rented a studio and shot the final cover with a spacesuit.[37] "Brooklyn, You're Killing Me" was released as a single on November 18.[38] "Walking in My Sleep" was released as a single on December 16.[39] "So Close" was released as a single on January 6, 2017.[40]

"Don't Speak for Me (True)" was released as a single on January 27,[41] prior to the release of Zombies on Broadway on February 10[36] through independent label Vanguard Records.[42] The Japanese edition, released on June 7, featured the demos "Throwing Punches" and "Rich Kids with Summer Jobs" as bonus tracks.[43] Between mid-March and mid-May, McMahon went on the Zombies in America tour across the US with Atlas Genius and Night Riots.[36] On May 18, a music video for "So Close" premiered through Billboard's website. The clip sees McMahon performing as an astronaut-wannabe, attempting to sell treats on the street. He then gets involved in a love affair with another astronaut-wannabe.[44] Later that month, McMahon embarked on a brief UK tour. McMahon supported Billy Joel for two shows, in June and July, respectively.[42]

Reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100 [45]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [22]
Alternative Press [26]
The A.V. ClubC [23]
The Breeze [32]
The Hoya [24]
Milwaukee Journal SentinelFavorable [30]
Melodic [46]
Rolling Stone Australia [47]
Sputnikmusic4.2/5 [19]
Substream Magazine [48]

Zombies on Broadway charted at number 43 on the Billboard 200.[49] It also charted on two additional component charts: number five on Alternative Albums,[50] and number 12 on Digital Albums.[51]

Zombies on Broadway received favourable reviews from critics.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Zombies Intro"Andrew McMahon
0:27
2."Brooklyn, You're Killing Me"
  • McMahon
  • Keith Jeffery
  • Tommy English
  • Jeffery
3:11
3."So Close"
  • Wattenberg
  • Fuhrmann
  • Baran
  • Romans
3:19
4."Don't Speak for Me (True)"
  • Wattenberg
  • Fuhrmann
  • Coffer
  • Sinclair
3:24
5."Fire Escape"
  • Robopop
  • Wattenberg
  • Fuhrmann
3:24
6."Dead Man's Dollar"
  • Wattenberg
  • Fuhrmann
3:31
7."Shot Out of a Cannon"
  • McMahon
  • Wattenberg
  • Fuhrmann
  • Wattenberg
  • Fuhrmann
3:53
8."Walking in My Sleep"
  • Wattenberg
  • Fuhrmann
3:50
9."Island Radio"
  • McMahon
  • Sinclair
  • Zac Clark
English3:47
10."Love and Great Buildings"McMahon
  • Wattenberg
  • Fuhrmann
3:48
11."Birthday Song"McMahon
  • Wattenberg
  • Fuhrmann
5:39
Total length:38:19
Japanese bonus tracks[52]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Throwing Punches" (Zombies demo)
  • McMahon
  • Robbins
  • Lane
  • McMahon
  • Robbins
  • Lane
3:53
13."Rich Kids with Summer Jobs" (Zombies demo)
  • McMahon
  • Robbins
  • Lane
  • McMahon
  • Robbins
  • Lane
2:58
Total length:45:10

Charts
Chart (2017) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[53] 100
US Billboard 200[49] 43
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[51] 12
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[50] 5
gollark: Hmm, can you *fail* the 3-hour alcohol/drugs test somehow?
gollark: That sounds like a very effective way to make people not do alcohol and drugs!
gollark: I think there actually is good stuff available for language-y tasks - GPT-2 and probably some earlier neural network things.
gollark: > this is so difficult. I am programming an AI and my AI can react but it can't think. It is impossible. Anyone have any solutions<@301477111229841410> ... what do you mean? General intelligence is still a very unsolved problem, so don't expect much out of whatever you're doing.
gollark: Fair.

References

Citations

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  5. Psencik, Katey (April 26, 2017). "After a decade of pop-punk and indie success, Andrew McMahon brings the ghosts of his past to Austin". Austin360. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
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  28. Armstrong; Fooks 2017, event occurs at 4:10–20
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  31. Stewart 2017, event occurs at 0:55–6
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  48. Klinner 2017, p. 63
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  50. "Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
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  53. "ARIA CHART WATCH #408". auspOp. February 18, 2017. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.

Sources

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