Friendship can be a great thing…especially when it’s the title of The Redneck Manifesto’s new CD just recently out March 27th on the independent Irish record label, The Richter Collective. This is the first full-length CD out for TRM in six years with their release of I Am Brazil in 2004. The Redneck Manifesto has been slaving away at this album, and it’s very clear after giving it a listen. This is definitely their best work since their first full-length record Thirty Six Strings (2001). We can tell that the band has matured over those nine years to bring us a 10 song, 40 minute, instrumental work of art.

To describe the sound of The Redneck Manifesto would be a challenge, but I’ll give it a shot. The band is comprised of 2 guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, and a keyboard player. The band does not use any vocals on any of their songs, except one melody on the song “Drum Drum” which is quite simply yelled over the bass line that plays. The type of music that The Redneck Manifesto plays should be put into the category of “post-rock” or “ambient instrumental rock” with other such acts as This Will Destroy You, Explosions in the Sky, and Lymbyc Systym. However, TRM is a lot more experimental and psychedelic than the bands I just mentioned. A lot of guitar work on the new record sounds like something that Minus the Bear would write. The music is very experimental, but doesn’t cross the line of being “weird” to a person without a musical ear. 

The CD should be seen as a journey for listeners. Friendship starts out with “Black Apple,” a very bass heavy and groovy song. Tempos and time signatures change erratically throughout this song and many more after it. Next, “Smile More” and “Drum Drum” allow TRM to show off their jazz abilities. These songs are drenched in syncopated drum beats and palm-muted guitar riffs. Consider “Tomb of the Dudes” and “Hex,” some of the more relaxing songs, to be intermission on this CD which can be heavy at times, but never too overbearing. “Rubber Up,” “Weird Waters,” and “Click” are some of the more funky, grooving, dancy (call it what you want) songs that I have ever heard. It’s tough to listen to this CD without wanting to dance. “Rubber Up” shifts from being completely technical and groovy, to what can be considered an up-tempo reggae beat. The last song on the CD, “Cloud Beard,” is very much like a lullaby, dripping with an electric piano and tambourines. This last song is very similar to “Hibernation Statement,” one of the most laid-back songs written by the band on I Am Brazil. 

The CD is definitely worth a listen and can be found on Amazon. Unfortunately, it must be purchased through the Ireland iTunes store, which gave me a good bit of difficulty. Besides, it’s cheaper than through iTunes. The CD only runs about 7 dollars and is well worth it. So, go out and look into good independent music, starting with this great album from The Redneck Manifesto.

- Marshall McClung ‘11

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