Artist To Watch: MJ Lenderman
Ok so this isn’t really an Artist To Watch since MJ Lenderman was on just about everybody’s Best of 2024 list; it’s more so an excuse to enjoy his body of work ahead of his Colorado string of shows later this month. He’s playing Fort Collins at The Aggie, but I’m a dummy who forgot to buy tickets in time, so I’ll be waiting until the fall to see him at Mission Ballroom. At any rate, even though he’s probably more famous now for his solo record, I first heard of MJ Lenderman as a member of the band Wednesday.
Unfortunately, do to the limitations of the Squarespace app, I am unable to fill this post with direct links to songs, but I’ll do my best to include them so they can be cut and pasted into a browser.
The first time I heard MJ Lenderman was when Wednesday covered Drive-By Truckers (a band they also name-check on their excellent 2023 album Rat Saw God, but more on that later). Wednesday’s 2022 covers album Mowing The Leaves Instead Of Piling ‘em Up is probably best known for their take on The Smashing Pumpkins’ tune “Perfect,” but the song I heard first was “Women Without Whiskey,” which is a top 5 DBT song in its own right. Here, MJ Lenderman takes lead vocals and absolutely kills it.
https://open.spotify.com/track/0PdyVtG25TlaRuOn4eZcDU?si=K__0M99wQuOga1-pIgv0KA&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A0MMXVgaB5WFWLEbaRpgUlA
When Wednesday released Rat Saw God in 2023, they were delivering on their promise as a buzz band, and boy howdy did they do just that. The album was widely critically acclaimed, and I included it at number 2 on my best of 2023 list, just behind the Boygenius record. Rat Saw God included a number of standout tracks, but my personal favorite is “Chosen To Believe,” a jam that captures growing up in the suburbs perfectly with lines about drinking too much before teaching Sunday school and doing it in the back of an SUV.
https://open.spotify.com/track/1c2meJL1RaGILGSw9Lnj0P?si=Hv1iooXkQKmzP7Dugv1qRQ
2024 brought MJ Lenderman into the forefront of just about every music inclined person, and Manning Fireworks is a show stopping record that was loved by everyone from Pitchfork to St. Vincent. Here at Chris’s Picks, it landed at number 6 on the Best of 2024, which in hindsight feels too low despite an incredible collection of music released last year. While Manning Fireworks contains a ton of killer songwriting— Kaluah shooter / DUI scooter— the best song for my money is “Wrist Watch.”
https://open.spotify.com/track/1c2meJL1RaGILGSw9Lnj0P?si=Hv1iooXkQKmzP7Dugv1qRQ
He also featured on Waxahatchee’s fantastic single “Right Back To It” from 2024’s Tigers Blood. It was a record I missed on its initial release, but one that’s caught a lot of deserved attention
https://open.spotify.com/track/17Zzi8qsn8mdm0t0JTGeQo?si=DTo2cUSPSSmr84tj4W_7mg
As a bonus, I’m including a live recording from the 2023 release Live And Loose by MJ Lenderman and The Wind. The live album concludes with a cover of “Long Black Veil” that ranks as one of the best versions of the traditional tune. It’s the kind of jam that makes you wanna crack open a couple cold ones and try to cover in your buddy’s living room, which means it’s the best kind of song to play loud.
https://open.spotify.com/track/5mdMfJJUo41hyyojjuu7ws?si=5emu7AT6SkmgdQB1e88dqw&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A269ipbHgbvO1kxtwhwY3XR
