Review: The Manix - "Stay Low and Go"
The Manix of Minneapolis (not to be confused with Manix of Long Island) are probably best known nowadays in relation to guitarist and vocalist Corey Ayd’s “other band,” Banner Pilot, even though they’ve been at it almost as long, toured the country, and have their own healthy catalog to boast. Released earlier this year, Razorcake predicted Stay Low and Go might be one of those discs that doesn’t grab you right off the bat, but eventually ends up at the top of the playlist, and that appears to be its exact effect. Though the Manix’ brand of Midwestern pop-punk is rooted in the tradition of its forerunners with catchy guitar leads, members pulling multiple vocal duties and compelling group sing-alongs, they’re certainly no derivative product of their environment. The first five seconds of “I’ll Fill It In” are rather unassuming, a three-chord progression over a stiff rhythm that quickly breaks into the frenetic pop-punk the Manix display over the course of the next 20 minutes. Ayd and g...