Man Man – Rabbit Habits

Rabbit Habits, Man Man‘s first release on Anti Records, showcases how far they have come since 2004 debut Man in a Blue Turban with a Face and 2006 sophomore album Six Demon Bag. This Philadelphia band is expanding its horizons by creating more complicated parts and using different instruments, such as vibes and a marimba.

“Hurly Burly,” the second track on Rabbit Habits, sounds like Austin Powers on acid. Once you here the horns and the 70s influence, you’ll know exactly what I mean. “Hurly Burly” quickly moves into jazz infused “The Ballad of Butter Beans.” The two best tracks of this album are left for last. “Poor Jackie” is evocative of “Skin Tension” on Six Demon Bag. Both of these songs are played in the same time signature and feature a depressing violin, but that’s where the similarities end. “Poor Jackie” is broken up into three movements, each of them more tragic than its predecessor. Lead singer Honus Honus’ voice on “Whale Bones” is emotionally charged and somber. Lyrics such as, “she slips through his fingers like the wind through blackened sails” are complemented with the background vocals singing, “Who are we to love at all?”

The compositions on this album are complex and interesting in true Man Man fashion. Instead of relying on sheer dissonance and Honus’ vocals to create intensity in the music, this band has shifted to writing more intricate arrangements and parts that achieves the same result. Even if this album is less spontaneous and random than Six Demon Bag, and Man in a Blue Turban with a Face, this band is playing tighter than ever and their musicianship has improved dramatically. Drummer Pow Pow has gained tremendous technical skill and can execute more complex fills like what is played in “Easy Eats” compared to “Gold Teeth” on Blue Turban. Guitarist, marimba player and “trumpeter swan”, Critter Crat, has gone from playing simple quarter note melodies on the bells in songs like “Zebra” on Blue Turban to performing difficult parts on “Butter Beans”.

Some critics are calling this band the 21st century Frank Zappa. Even if the vocal effects on “El Azteca” are reminiscent of Joe’s Garage and the recurring presence of more prominent mallets on almost every song, Man Man still maintains its cabaret-dirge style on songs such as “Big Trouble.” With brash horns, “Big Trouble” has a lopsided, New Orleans feel and random noise breaks in true Man Man fashion. Despite there not being a “Black Mission Goggles” or “Banana Ghost” on Rabbit Habits, the album has tracks like “Top Drawer” and “Mister Jung Stuffed” that are just as exciting as their previous hits.

Depending on how you like Man Man, either rough around the edges or completely random, you may not appreciate their latest release. While some folks might scoff at how they have gained some polish within the last two years since Six Demon Bag was released, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. This band is still as weird as ever, the only difference is that they are executing their creativity differently.