"She's Leaving You" by MJ Lenderman review

MJ Lenderman sneaks in with the song of the summer.

On a warm Monday in June, MJ Lenderman announced a date for his new album, Manning Fireworks, which is something I’ve been eagerly waiting for. It’s only fitting that *by Labor Day 2024*, Lenderman’s new record will be playing as the sweet smell of fresh burgers and dogs fills the air.

His second single, “She’s Leaving You,” arrives almost a year after his first single, “Rudolph,” was released, and is accompanied by a new music video. The music video features Lenderman on stage at a talent show, performing to an audience that is more impressed by the other acts which feature a magician, cheerleaders, jugglers, and more. The aesthetic and lighting of the video feel similar to the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video and also features a slow-motion audience that starts out displeased and becomes a sort of chaotic and monolithic organism by the end.

The song itself is about a man in a midlife crisis of sorts whose wife is leaving him. The midlife crisis about renting a Ferrari is not the only dead giveaway to the midlife-ness of the song’s subject, but more aptly, believing that Eric Clapton was “the second coming.”

Like so much of Lenderman’s catalog, this song has all the trappings of a modern classic with its grungy, yet softened chord progressions, and sharp lyrics, backed by Wednesday lead singer, Karly Hartzman. He and Karly have been dating for a while, I don’t know exactly how long, but the two of them truly create the most breathtaking indie rock music that’s out today.

Being the “dude” in his mid-20s that I am, Lenderman’s lyrics speak to me emotionally, comically, and overall connect with me on a level of nostalgia that I think is unique to our age group. It’s one that loves to reminisce about the NBA we grew up with (both of our favorite players are Allen Iverson), and I too used to draw on my arms to give myself tattoos like Iverson.

Like Bob Dylan’s music, I’ll be adding this song to the ever-building MJ Lenderman playlist that I’ll listen to when I wanna remember how it feels to be the dude that I’ve always been.

Manning Fireworks comes out on September 6 via ANTI- Records.

*The album will be out right AFTER Labor Day 2024*