On 2017’s After the Party, the Menzingers raged against the fading light of their glory days and tried to figure out how to grow up without going dark and dead inside. Existential agitation also informs the lyrics on their new album, Hello Exile, but the band sounds more settled than ever, their fest-bound pop-punk inching ever closer to the heart of palatable radio rock. Although bittersweet anthems like “Anna” and “Strangers Forever” will surely inspire sodden dudes to join sweaty singalongs in polite pits, they are also perfect soundtracks for tired souls who have to squeeze all of their feelings into the vanishingly brief span between dropping the kids off and punching the clock. Because growing up is really just a matter of scheduling your good cries. by Chris Stamm