Esso – Everything You Ever Wanted – Album Review

Jared Mancuso had a name problem. Releasing previous material under his own name, he found this to be problematic when announcing his band during live shows; it didn’t quite roll off the tongue, or properly capture his musical mystique. During a conversation with friends regarding “significant others,” Jared recommended a more palatable acronym: “S.O.” Although the new label didn’t stick, there was something compelling about the phonetic pronunciation (and “S.O.”, coincidentally, were the last two letters in “Mancuso”). So, as if by fate, the phonetic “Esso” became the new name for Jared Mancuso’s latest, and forthcoming, musical endeavors.

Case in point: the approaching, highly anticipated album, Everything You Ever Wanted. Releasing May 24th, this particular album, along with a name change, begets a change in style. Feeling quite nostalgic, Jared musically articulated past feelings, struggles, relationships and experiences. And while revisiting his past, he embraced the music he grew up with; the music that provided initial inspiration, setting a course for perpetual music creation. And so, leaning on old favorites like Weezer, Smashing Pumpkins, Everclear, and other groups of their time and ilk, he gifted the world Everything You Ever Wanted. Ready to dig in for another expression of that dependable Mancuso magic? Excellent. Let’s hit the highlights.

What we’re digging….

The album kicks off with “Significant Other,” a prologue played on what sounds like an upright, “old-timey” piano; something performed in less boisterous saloon settings. It creates an emotional entrance, and prepares one for future travels throughout Jared’s musical musings.

“Starting Over,” with its Weezer-like tough chords and intermittent feedback breaks, absolutely harnesses the nostalgic sounds Mancuso seeks to address. But there’s a more potent energy here; the chugging verse, and its slightly playful leanings in the chorus, are much like his revisited influences…but turned up to 11 on the often overlooked “emotional urgency” knob. Powerful beginner, and I’m inclined, strongly, to keep listening.

“Only Wanted Your Love” features playfulness in the initial chords, but a dark chugging angles lower, underlining the endeavor’s seriousness. And the chorus? It’s uplifting; it enlists falsettos; it’s a reaching out from the bleak to the promised better. Incredible number ending in a slowly fading and fuzzy hum. This may be my favorite track…

“The Greatest Song You Never Heard” is slightly comedic; it’s a rapid-fire barrage of rhythmic lyrics and perhaps some poking fun at a musician’s aspirations. It features a chorus that’s almost cheered while it expresses a bit of artistic frustration.

“I Don’t Feel Good (Featuring Aliya Rose)” features that early post-punk beat regularly wielded by Everclear. And entering with an almost post-rock attack of dense guitar chords, it rests on its longing, briefly acapella verse. The chorus? It’s a crying out of initial octaves, and then harmonies. It’s powerful; it’s a proclamation; it’s a demonstration of one’s shortcomings when inevitably alone. And Aliya’s octave-higher support really lends a feminine element, like the longing is understood and equally protested by all parties involved.

“Life Left for the Taking” takes a breath, and begins with quiet acoustic guitar. And when the electric guitar kicks in, you know feelings are back where they belong – tattooed directly on one’s sleeve. With accompanying “Aaahs” in the chorus, this gentle tune, although punctuated by an aggressive handful of bars, comes back to the quiet from which it came; to the line of introspection that may induce another aggressive break.

“About the How” starts with gentle strumming, and a vulnerable utilization of Mancuso’s voice. It’s put upon, hurting, fragile, but trepidatiously optimistic. Possibly my second-favorite track, it appears purposely devoid of aggressive guitars …until the 2:58 mark, where a spike of anger, as dirty electric guitars, quickly slams open the door, overturning the furniture but dispersing as quickly as it came.

Album finale “This Is Only the Beginning” doesn’t hesitate; it just kicks right in with upbeat percussion, thick and drilling electric guitar, and 1950s-1960s, Weezer-inspired sensibilities. There are some great starts and stops here; some breaks to catch a breath as this particular anthem, powered by positivity, continues to cheer itself on to a rather promising future.

But is it good?

If you like the bands Jared leans on, but think they’re lacking a certain degree of urgency, Everything You Ever Wanted will give you EXACTLY what they lack. Jared doesn’t play half-inspired slacker rock that may be considered an afterthought; he fully commits to, with great feeling, each and every song, and this energy, this passion, propels his music to something positively outstanding. The songwriting is solid, the playing tight, and the production/recording tonally pristine. Seriously, this album, in my opinion, surpasses his inspirational contemporaries, and I find myself, as a new fan, more moved by his music than those that were held aloft as great. HIGHLY recommended, folks.
—-

BELOW: Listen to Esso and check them out on Soundcloud, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, and Bandcamp. Please support Esso by visiting them online and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.

(Want to have your music reviewed on The Ark of Music? Click HERE.)