Zombies on Broadway (album)

Vocalist/pianist Andrew McMahon released his debut solo album, under the moniker Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, in October 2014 through independent label Vanguard Records.[1] Single "Cecilia and the Satellite" was a top 10 hit on the Alternative Songs chart,[2] and became one of the most played tracks of 2016.[3] Additionally, it performed well at the adult album alternative and hot adult contemporary radio stations; "High Dive" had minor success at alternative stations.[4] During time off from touring, McMahon was in New York City at the same time as two writer/producers that he wanted to work with for a while,[5] Gregg Wattenberg and Derek Fuhrmann.[6] In mid-2015,[7] the trio held a writing session, coming up with the track "Fire Escape".[5] In August 2015, McMahon revealed had been writing a lot of material for the next album and attempting to build a strong group of songs that he can work on following the touring cycle.[8]

In December, he was halfway through the writing process for his next album.[9] Later that month, and running into January 2016, McMahon's band Jack's Mannequin reformed for an anniversary tour for their debut album Everything in Transit (2005).[10] By this time, McMahon had four or five unfinished songs for his next album. Following this, he spent February to April writing new material.[11] Around this time, McMahon had been travelling around the country finding a place to record.[12] After learning that a lot of New York-based writers/producers had migrated to Los Angeles,[6] and having had a positive experience writing "Fire Escape", he relocated to New York City.[5]

Recording lasted from May[13] until September.[6] In between sessions, McMahon supported Weezer and Panic! at the Disco on their headlining US tour.[14] The majority of the album had been written and recorded in New York City in between tours.[15] He was apprehensive about working here as it was the place where he was diagnosed with leukemia after working on Jack's Mannequin's Everything in Transit. He had planned to make the second Jack's Mannequin album in the city, but "wasn't really in a position of strength" and abandoned that idea. Eventually, he returned to the idea for Zombies on Broadway.[12] He went to the city with a handful of songs, before writing a couple more and started recording.[6]

He stayed in a Bedford apartment and took the subway to the recording studio in Times Square.[16] Wattenberg served as the album's primary producer.[6] While in the city, the bars would remain open till 4am, which "got the best of [McMahon]", and he subsequently went home to continue working on the album in California.[12] Following this, McMahon wrote "Brooklyn, You're Killing Me" and "Island Radio",[7] before he returned to New York and came up with five more new songs. McMahon hung out with former Jack's Mannequin's guitarist Bobby Anderson, who lived in the city. McMahon who wanted to a guitar solo on one of the songs invited Anderson to a session. Anderson subsequently tracked guitar for some of the songs.[6]

A lyric video was released for "Fire Escape" on September 8,[29] and a day later, the song was released as a single.[34] On September 26, a music video was released for the song.[6] The video, directed by Jon Morris and Michael McQuilken,[35] features two inflatable dancers falling in love around Brooklyn. The Windmill Factory, who produced the clip, had previously worked on McMahon's stage visuals during performances. The inflatable dancers in the video were created for McMahon's tour with Weezer and Panic! at the Disco. McMahon wanted to show their personalities and come up with a love story between the two inflatables in the video.[6] On November 10, Zombies on Broadway was announced for release, and the album's artwork was revealed.[36]

The cover shows two images of McMahon, connected at the center of his face. The first sees him standing in front of a red backdrop, while the second sees him wearing a space helmet with the backdrop of the New York City skyline behind him. The original idea that McMahon had for the cover was based around the album's seventh track "Shot Out of a Cannon", and would have featured a person being fired out of a cannon. Within an hour of booking the flight tot this shoot, McMahon's superiors vetoed the idea. Ultimately, McMahon and photographer Brendan Walter rented a studio and shot the final cover with a spacesuit.[37] "Brooklyn, You're Killing Me" was released as a single on November 18.[38] "Walking in My Sleep" was released as a single on December 16.[39] "So Close" was released as a single on January 6, 2017.[40]

"Don't Speak for Me (True)" was released as a single on January 27,[41] prior to the release of Zombies on Broadway on February 10[36] through independent label Vanguard Records.[42] The Japanese edition, released on June 7, featured the demos "Throwing Punches" and "Rich Kids with Summer Jobs" as bonus tracks.[43] Between mid-March and mid-May, McMahon went on the Zombies in America tour across the US with Atlas Genius and Night Riots.[36] On May 18, a music video for "So Close" premiered through Billboard's website. The clip sees McMahon performing as an astronaut-wannabe, attempting to sell treats on the street. He then gets involved in a love affair with another astronaut-wannabe.[44] Later that month, McMahon embarked on a brief UK tour. McMahon supported Billy Joel for two shows, in June and July, respectively.[42]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	74/100 [45]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[22]
Alternative Press	[26]
The A.V. Club	C [23]
The Breeze	[32]
The Hoya	[24]
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel	Favorable [30]
Melodic	[46]
Rolling Stone Australia	[47]
Sputnikmusic	4.2/5 [19]
Substream Magazine	[48]

Zombies on Broadway charted at number 43 on the Billboard 200.[49] It also charted on two additional component charts: number five on Alternative Albums,[50] and number 12 on Digital Albums.[51]

Zombies on Broadway received favourable reviews from critics.

Citations

Sources