Philadelphia’s own Mannequin Pussy made a bold leap forward with their third album, Patience, released in June 2019 on Epitaph Records. Produced by the ever-reliable Will Yip, the record finds the band sharpening their edge while expanding their range. At its core, this is a punk album through and through, furious, urgent, and cathartic, but it also brushes against the textures of pop, indie rock, and the spirit of nineties alternative.
Drunk II quickly emerged as the band’s calling card, and it’s easy to hear why. On record, it’s a gut-punch of aching sentimentality. On stage, it transforms into an anthem moment for the band, as it's the kind of song people scream with both pain and joy. It’s a standout moment on a record filled with them.
Across Patience, lyricist and vocalist Marisa Dabice delivers with a mix of ferocity and vulnerability. Her performance drives the album, sometimes searing, sometimes fragile. Dabice’s direct, poetic lyricism, a trademark of the band, feels especially powerful, showing traces of anger, heartbreak, and resilience.
Tracks like the smoldering High Horse showcase the band’s ability to stretch, layering trauma and tension into a slow-burning atmosphere. Meanwhile, the self-titled opener slams the door wide open, setting the tone with blistering urgency. Throughout the record, the band balances physicality with brilliant arrangements that reveal new details on every listen.
Patience is an album that grapples with the body, emotion, and survival, yet it never feels weighed down. At all times, it pulses with vitality and joy. It’s loud and hopeful, and simply put it has proven to be one of the fiercest and most vital punk records of the past few years.
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Mannequin Pussy
Epitaph Records
Cover photography by David Brandon GeetingVideo directed by Marisa Dabice
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