A massively crowded New York City backdrops Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness’s second album, “Zombies on Broadway.”
Following fronting two successful punk bands, Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin, McMahon moved into his solo project in 2014 with a fantastic eponymous debut, featuring the hit single, “Cecilia and the Satellite.”
Now, McMahon takes to his life in New York City for inspiration. And while the timeless innocence of his debut has shifted to city life ballads, his music is nonetheless as catchy and heartfelt as ever.
The album sets the mood with a 27-second ambience of the literal hustle and bustle of city life before transitioning to the aptly named track, “Brooklyn, You’re Killing Me,” in which a hyper accelerated McMahon laments about the troubles of “That air conditioned nightmare” living in NYC brings about. It still features the hypnotic keyboards that have become McMahon’s signature, but they’re warped up as if this is a dance number.
But the rest of the album resembles McMahon’s past work much more than song one would suggest. The thumping charm of “Fire Escape,” is just as soaring as “Cecilia and the Satellite.”
Songs like “So Close” and “Dead Man’s Dollar” are the same sugar sweet love ballads that were right at home on his first album, but there are fun detours, like the unique “Island Radio,” which pounds steel drums like there’s no tomorrow.
The album closes on the bittersweet “Birthday Song,” which takes a nostalgic look back at the youthful past while projecting a bright and thoughtful future at the same time, before the album bookends with more city street ambience. Fitting, seeing as McMahon seems to be growing up from the punk rock background of his youth and is writing more mature and thoughtful reflections on his experiences.
“Zombies on Broadway” is the extension of McMahon’s debut. A surprisingly mature and deep set of songs that appeal to all manners of listeners, it’s an enjoyable follow up that should satisfy fans.
Bradley Burgess can be reached at [email protected]