They’re just as big as the music backing them, with blanket statement choruses, deep diary-entry styled verses and plenty of emotion. Where the album loses a little is in the lyrics. What makes this album big are the lush 13-piece orchestral arrangements in songs like ‘Simple Math’ and ‘Pale Black Eye,’ coupled with very metal riffs in ‘Mighty’ and indie singer-songwriter tendencies throughout, but most noticeably on ‘Deer,’ ‘Pensacola’ and ‘Leaky Breaks.’ There’s also a few shout outs to Pink Floyd in the production of ‘Virgin’ and a ‘Comfortably Numb’ reference in ‘Mighty.’ These 10 songs show a robust and ambitious range of sound, but not enough to give the feel of deliberate copping every song is distinctly Manchester Orchestra, with lines and hooks that get drilled into your head and don’t leave. At 10 songs and 45 minutes, it’s pretty standard fare (and coincidentally the length of a ‘Lost’ episode sans commercials. If it doesn’t end up on best album of the year lists, it’s a shoe-in for biggest albums of the year lists. These songs are powerful.’ And their third, Simple Math, released last week, takes the pop and the chops and adds a few handfuls of massive soundscape. I’m going to keep listening.’ Their second, Mean Everything To Nothing, says, ‘Oh shit, this band has chops. Manchester Orchestra’s third album, Simple Math, is kind of like the third season of ‘Lost.’ For those on the Manchester train, their first album, I’m Like A Virgin Losing a Child, says ‘This band puts out heavy but catchy pop songs. Ok, harsh and beside the point, but bear with me. It’s like watching ‘Lost’: the first season intrigues you, the second wins you over, the third, fourth and fifth overwhelm you with awesome and the sixth leaves you with a face that could have just as easily been triggered by constipation. Watching a band that you like progress is infectious. Tasty Tracks: April Fool, Pensacola, Simple Math