Manic Street Preachers

Mojo · 08-18-2009, 08:34 AM

Well it was obviously a very big chage for them after the Holy Bible and no Richey and I think it was a big achievement for them to come out with such a successful record after that. There are some really great tracks on it and I dig the hell out of their use of strings in places but I think it lacked a little bit in the sense that some of the tracks just slip away into mediocrity for me. Same with the follow up. I prefer the Manics with more of an aggressive edge yet I think Lifeblood had a precise direction and is actually a very strong record whereas EMG lacked in that sense.

Bulldog · 08-18-2009, 12:15 PM

Yeah, you're definitely right about how a few of the songs kinda drift away as they do, Elvis Impersonator etc and Kevin Carter being a couple of culprits in my eyes. Where they go for the more aggressive, rougher-edged kinda songwriting style like on Further Away, All Surface No Feeling and Australia they really do strike gold. The use of string arrangements is a definite strength of the album too - turns songs like the Girl Who Wanted To Be God into superb numbers. The second side is where all the strengths of the album come into affect cohesively in my opinion, which is why it's such a strong half of an album. I wouldn't say there are any bad songs on EMG, just less interesting ones (as you say).

I'm no fan of the two albums which followed. Lifeblood is fantastic though - very underrated album.

Mojo · 08-18-2009, 07:20 PM

There were good tracks on the following two albums, but yes they were pretty poor records! I seem to agree with you with this album for the most part but I have to disagree with Australia. I liked it at the time but I think its one of the poorest parts of the record now. Kevin Carter as well, I like that one but lyrically its bollocks. No Surface, All Feeling however is a proper gem.

TheCunningStunt · 09-14-2010, 06:41 PM

Bump to say I'm listening to The Holy Bible for the first time in a long time, and it still sounds wonderful.

What a great great album, the fact it still sounds fresh after all that time. It's even more of an achievement that I still don't understand what the songs are totally about, I usually like to know exactly what they're about. But I still can't totally figure the meanings out. Wonderful album.

Screen13 · 11-01-2010, 08:46 PM

Bumping this again for the same reason.

The Holy Bible is something I play from time to time, and although there will be some place on the web that can explain the songs, I don't really have this need to find out (just yet), but instead just let the anger and pain play through. In my opinion, the very best of their first three albums, with an interesting choice of samples.

It may seem an unpopular opinion, although maybe not, but I also got into Gold Against the Soul as a road tape years ago. "Roses in the Hospital" and especially "Life Becoming a Landslide" were excellent choices as singles while "Yourself" was good to drive to as well.

The Gutless Wonder · 12-06-2011, 03:30 PM

*bump* Hello! I'm new on the forum and a Manic Street Preachers fan. Thought James Dean Bradfields performance alongside Mick Jones etc for the Justice Tonight gigs was excellent. Brilliant performance of Clampdown!

Sadly, I'm unable to attend the gig at the O2 in London on the 17th which I'm very sad about. I saw them this year at Wolverhampton though and that was an awesome gig. Would say to anyone who is just getting in to the band not to be influenced by by the 'Only with Richey' or 'Only up to EMG' comments. The albums might not all be to your taste but you never know! And there are some proper gems amongst the b-sides as well!

14232949 · 12-12-2011, 08:12 AM

On the contrary to what the popular consensus on here seems to be, they're more modern album, by modern I mean around 2007, Send Away The Tigers was pretty good.

Although it is not possible to say they are the band they were, I don't think it's any reason to neglect anything they've produced post Holy Bible.
Okay, Postcards for a Young Man was pretty ****.

The Gutless Wonder · 12-21-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mankycaaant

On the contrary to what the popular consensus on here seems to be, they're more modern album, by modern I mean around 2007, Send Away The Tigers was pretty good.

Although it is not possible to say they are the band they were, I don't think it's any reason to neglect anything they've produced post Holy Bible.
Okay, Postcards for a Young Man was pretty ****.

I love Postcards! Fabulous record!

Anyone on here see them at the 02? Sadly I was unable to attend.

But I asked someone to get a t-shirt for me and it arrived today. SO pretty!

Two years is gonna be a long wait til their return. Hoping James will at least do something during that in between Dad duties!

Mojo · 12-30-2011, 04:21 AM

I was at the gig at the o2. I loved it. Unfortunately I was rather late getting a ticket so I didnt get standing and I was in the nosebleeds but it was still a great show. Plus I found myself appreciating the sit down considering it was a 3 hour show!

The Gutless Wonder · 01-08-2012, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojopinuk

I was at the gig at the o2. I loved it. Unfortunately I was rather late getting a ticket so I didnt get standing and I was in the nosebleeds but it was still a great show. Plus I found myself appreciating the sit down considering it was a 3 hour show!

It sounds like it got a bit rough down the front from what I've heard. So probably a good thing I didn't go! No fun being squished to death! lol! Glad you enjoyed the gig! I'm missing them already though. Gonna be a long two years, but hopefully we will get something in between all that!

08-18-2009, 08:34 AM	#91 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	Well it was obviously a very big chage for them after the Holy Bible and no Richey and I think it was a big achievement for them to come out with such a successful record after that. There are some really great tracks on it and I dig the hell out of their use of strings in places but I think it lacked a little bit in the sense that some of the tracks just slip away into mediocrity for me. Same with the follow up. I prefer the Manics with more of an aggressive edge yet I think Lifeblood had a precise direction and is actually a very strong record whereas EMG lacked in that sense. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

08-18-2009, 07:20 PM	#93 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	There were good tracks on the following two albums, but yes they were pretty poor records! I seem to agree with you with this album for the most part but I have to disagree with Australia. I liked it at the time but I think its one of the poorest parts of the record now. Kevin Carter as well, I like that one but lyrically its bollocks. No Surface, All Feeling however is a proper gem. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

09-14-2010, 06:41 PM	#94 (permalink)
TheCunningStunt love will tear you apart Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 5,107	Bump to say I'm listening to The Holy Bible for the first time in a long time, and it still sounds wonderful. What a great great album, the fact it still sounds fresh after all that time. It's even more of an achievement that I still don't understand what the songs are totally about, I usually like to know exactly what they're about. But I still can't totally figure the meanings out. Wonderful album. __________________ I don't feel and I feel great. Last FM

12-30-2011, 04:21 AM	#99 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	I was at the gig at the o2. I loved it. Unfortunately I was rather late getting a ticket so I didnt get standing and I was in the nosebleeds but it was still a great show. Plus I found myself appreciating the sit down considering it was a 3 hour show! __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

08-18-2009, 12:15 PM	#92 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	Yeah, you're definitely right about how a few of the songs kinda drift away as they do, Elvis Impersonator etc and Kevin Carter being a couple of culprits in my eyes. Where they go for the more aggressive, rougher-edged kinda songwriting style like on Further Away, All Surface No Feeling and Australia they really do strike gold. The use of string arrangements is a definite strength of the album too - turns songs like the Girl Who Wanted To Be God into superb numbers. The second side is where all the strengths of the album come into affect cohesively in my opinion, which is why it's such a strong half of an album. I wouldn't say there are any bad songs on EMG, just less interesting ones (as you say). I'm no fan of the two albums which followed. Lifeblood is fantastic though - very underrated album.

11-01-2010, 08:46 PM	#95 (permalink)
Screen13 Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,388	Bumping this again for the same reason. The Holy Bible is something I play from time to time, and although there will be some place on the web that can explain the songs, I don't really have this need to find out (just yet), but instead just let the anger and pain play through. In my opinion, the very best of their first three albums, with an interesting choice of samples. It may seem an unpopular opinion, although maybe not, but I also got into Gold Against the Soul as a road tape years ago. "Roses in the Hospital" and especially "Life Becoming a Landslide" were excellent choices as singles while "Yourself" was good to drive to as well.

12-06-2011, 03:30 PM	#96 (permalink)
The Gutless Wonder Groupie Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 13	bump Hello! I'm new on the forum and a Manic Street Preachers fan. Thought James Dean Bradfields performance alongside Mick Jones etc for the Justice Tonight gigs was excellent. Brilliant performance of Clampdown! Sadly, I'm unable to attend the gig at the O2 in London on the 17th which I'm very sad about. I saw them this year at Wolverhampton though and that was an awesome gig. Would say to anyone who is just getting in to the band not to be influenced by by the 'Only with Richey' or 'Only up to EMG' comments. The albums might not all be to your taste but you never know! And there are some proper gems amongst the b-sides as well!

12-12-2011, 08:12 AM	#97 (permalink)
14232949 The Big Dog Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,989	On the contrary to what the popular consensus on here seems to be, they're more modern album, by modern I mean around 2007, Send Away The Tigers was pretty good. Although it is not possible to say they are the band they were, I don't think it's any reason to neglect anything they've produced post Holy Bible. Okay, Postcards for a Young Man was pretty ****.