Trans-American “soft punk” trio Man’s Body has released its second full-length album, A Set Of Steak Knives, on 12-inch LP vinyl via NocturnalSol, a division of Heyday Media Group.
The album was recorded at KooP in Queens, NY, Kingsize Sound Labs in Chicago, IL and Grandma’s Warehouse in Los Angeles, self-produced by the band. Man’s Body consists of vocalist Greg Franco (Rough Church), and J. Niimi (Ashtray Boy) on guitar as well as guitarist Marco Obaya, the former residing in Los Angeles and the latter two in Chicago. On the new album, they’re augmented by drummer Fredo Ortiz (Beastie Boys, Gogol Bordello, Los Lobos), violinist Kaitlin Wolfberg (H.E.R., WIld Honey Orchestra), and a host of other guest musicians.
A Set Of Steak Knives is filled with the group’s post-punk sound, a blend of rhythm-heavy, grinding, yet intensely melodic, guitar-driven rock, inspired by the likes of seminal 90’s Indie Rockers like Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., and early Lemonheads. This heady brew is sweetened with organic accents of mandolin, strings and acoustic guitar among other instruments. The music provides a richly textured backdrop for thought-provoking yet seemingly effortless lyrics.
“The Natural Host” is celebratory and anthemic with emphatically lush guitars, resounding, layered vocals and expressive strings. “Contact Sigh” contemplates how social distancing necessary during the pandemic evokes the bittersweet pangs of unrequited love, expanded to a global scale. “Hit The Bricks” is meant as a tribute to Mark E. Smith, the late frontman of iconic UK Post-Punkers The Fall, replete with a sing-along refrain.
Greg Franco is a veteran rock and roller born in Hollywood. At 16 years old, he formed The Blasphemous Yellow with his stepbrother and left his suburban life for the grit of the East Hollywood underground music scene. His next band, Ferdinand, was part of emerging Silverlake scene, and they would tour the Pacific Northwest with acts like Smart Went Crazy and Possum Dixon. In 2004, Franco quit to travel to New Zealand and record Southpawwest with David Kilgour and Robert Scott of The Clean. Returning to Los Angeles, he formed Rough Church and would issue eight albums with them.
J. Niimi has been involved in the Chicago music scene since the late ’80s as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, luthier, and music journalist.
The video for “40 Oz. Kid” was filmed in Los Angeles by Steve Hanft who directed Beck’s “Loser” video, his big breakthrough.
Check out the video ’40 Oz. Kid’ here:
