I should have specified in America. In America, the Manics are underrated as a whole. Did you ever listen to Lifeblood, if so what did you think of it?

THB - The critics rate it highly, but I can see their point - It was the year of Parklife and Definitely Maybe (no dismissal, just to let you know ahead of time...you know who I feel about those albums), and here was an work that was certainly not a party album and not an easy ride, something that was up there (some even say beyond...but I view them equally) with Nirvana's In Utero as something that seriously gave the listener a mind-slap of angry and dark honesty. With THB being released shortly after Cobain's passing, and with the public showing not much interest, it quickly turned into that album Critics rate immediately, and we know how they certainly love to give such albums their words to let listeners know that such a work that was one of the dark sides of 1994 lives up to what most listeners say - maybe a little over rated Critic-wise, but certainly ignored chart/public-wise, and criminally largely still is despite all of the write-up we see on a regular basis.

I can understand those who don't view it as high as Generation Terrorists and (I say) the singles from Gold Against the Soul (Who can forget their TOTP performance of "La Tristesse Durera" once seen?). Overall, The Manics are really at their best when they bring in the listener into their driving Rock, or Glam-driven image and sound of the very early days, and THB certainly is something that can divide the listeners down the line with most being on it's side. Still, to me, it was the classic moment when they decided to throw themselves into a dark space all the way, and I salute that as it turned out to be a great album (possibly their best) - For a Pop Culture comparison see the epic TOTP appearance of the aforementioned with the classic controversial THB-era appearance when they were promoting "Faster".

As for EMG - I don't really see it as their Britpop album, more like THE moment when Post-Britpop was started. EMG was released when the "Death of the Party" was in the air, and with Spice Girls quickly shoving most Britpop nearly off the Smash Hits magazines, EMG pointed a way to the future of Rock in The UK/Wales. Although there were not many musicians who followed quality-wise, it was at least a right move for the band, and an album along with (In '97) Radiohead's OK Computer, Blur's S/T, and (in '98) Pulp's This Is Hardcore to understand why something like Oasis' Be Here Now sounded empty and most of the rest of Britpop hardly mattered to most listeners beyond the few still-listening (I was one, but you know what I mean).

i stopped at "This is My Truth, Now Tell Me Yours"

i like Gold Against the Gold marginally better than THB, at best

they still had that Glam swagger, and the hooks were still

yes the TOTP of "La Tristessa Durera" is good, but have you ever heard and seen it live, when Richey was still around?

i did - it was orgasmic

Did you stop at "This Is My Truth..." because you didn't enjoy it? Too subdued for you?

i was already starting to lose interest by EMG

TIMTNTMY just put the nail into the coffin

P.C.P is one of my favourite songs right now. Just love the plain overdrive on the guitar and the chord progression is satisfying to listen to.

Lifeblood was a change of direction that worked very, very well. I think its a great record. It isnt glam by any means, if thats what you dig, but its a solid record.

Definitely! I also like TIMTTMY alot. The atmosphere and lyrics on Lifeblood are great. In fact, the lyrics of the Manics have been pretty solid throughout their career.

maybe i'll check it out

but at the moment, i have about 2-3,000 albums in the queue waiting to be heard

Wait, do you mean that figuratively or do you mean that as in you've downloaded 2-3000 albums and haven't listened to them yet? :laughing: