The prevailing criticism of Manchester Orchestra’s Mean Everything To Nothing is that it’s juvenile, repetitive, and melodramatic; descriptions that also define rock and roll. Sure, Mean Everything can come off as a series of tantrums by adolescents nearly debilitated by the perceived significance of every moment. The beauty of Mean Everything is that it channels this secretly relatable state of mind into a dramatic rock opera-esqe experience with no pretension.

Dark riffs bang relentlessly around catchy melodies while quieter moments are interspersed as calming deep breaths before the next outburst. The members of Manchester have perfected the loud to soft dynamic and aren’t afraid to over use it. The lyrics match this spirit, bursting with epiphanies that capture the neediness and urgency of insecurity. Still, there’s enough self-awareness to know the object of affection is just a temporary fix.

For example, lead singer Andy Hull screams, “Oh God, I need it!” at the crescendo of the album’s last song, “The River.” When the music calms down, Hull collects himself and, resigned to his true instincts, sings “I’m gonna leave you the first chance I get.” Hypocritical? Yes. Immature? Yes. But more importantly, it’s painfully honest and powerfully cathartic.