Outside of the stellar band name (you’re lying if this one didn’t catch your eye immediately), Mannequin Pussy is a pretty exceptional punk rock band. I first heard Patience earlier this year and was immediately gripped by its earnest accessibility. The album strikes a balance between chaotic energy and profound vulnerability, filled with intricate melodies that clash with an almost rustic approach to punk rock. Guitarist/vocalist Marisa Dabice, guitarist Athanasios Paul, bassist Colins Rey Regisford, and drummer Kaleen Reading illustrate the virtue of pop punk patience, making you wait for the payoff and subsequently making it all the more impactful when it happens. The pacing of the album is superb in this sense– from the brilliant transition from the end of the opener “Patience” to “Drunk II” (I must have re-listened to that falsetto which slowly changes BPM about 40 times over the last few months, it legitimately lives in my head rent free) to the quiet/riotously loud back and forth journey that the album takes you on over the remaining 25 minutes, it’s an experience that has stuck with me since first hearing it.
Lyrically Patience is filled with urgency as Dabice grapples with toxic relationships, often feeling dissociated from her body. She candidly shares experiences of objectification and violence (particularly on “Fear + Desire”) and explores complex themes of femininity, strength, and fragility all at the same time. Songs like “Drunk I” oscillate between rage and softness, while “High Horse” delivers a cathartic release, culminating in Dabice’s powerful declaration of self-worth. As she confronts heartbreak in “Drunk II,” Dabice reflects on love and loss with raw honesty. The track “Cream” showcases her determination to embrace self-love, even amidst harshness. It’s all here in a brutally honest display of vulnerability.
Despite its darker moments, Patience remains enjoyable, filled with explosive energy and colossal riffs. Patience exemplifies the best of what punk rock can offer– an exploration of personal growth and resilience amidst tragedy. It’s one of my favorite “first listen” punk records of this year, an impactful journey that feels transcendent.
Standout Songs: “Drunk II”, “Fear/+/Desire”, “High Horse”, “Who You Are”, “F.U.C.A.W.”, “In Love Again”
