Journal for Plague Lovers (Dlcd)

Manic Street Preachers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Columbia / Dmz
• ASIN: B002KLAL9W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,232 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Peeled Apples

2. Jackie Collins Existential Question Time

3. Me and Stephen Hawking

4. This Joke Sport Severed

5. Journal for Plague Lovers

6. She Bathed Herself in a Bath of Bleach

7. Facing Page: Top Left

8. Marlon J.D.

9. Doors Closing Slowly

10. All Is Vanity

11. Pretension/Repulsion

12. Virginia State Epileptic Colony

13. William's Last Words

Editorial Reviews

Manic Street Preachers return with their ninth studio album, Journal For Plague Lovers. The album follows the hugely successful and critically acclaimed 2007 release Send Away The Tigers, and the induction of the band into the NME s Hall Of Fame with their naming as the "NME Godlike Genius" for 2008. Produced by Steve Albini and recorded live at Rockfield Studios in Wales during the Winter of 2008, the album features lyrics left behind by former guitarist Richey Edwards across all 13 new tracks. An original piece of Jenny Saville s art is the cover of Journal for Plague Lovers, whose painting graced the cover of 1994 s The Holy Bible . Musically the band draw on their classic Holy Bible sound with elements of Nirvana s In Utero, as well as a delicate, beautiful acoustic side. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A career highlight, June 2, 2009

By 

V. C. Castillo (Glendale, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Journal for Plague Lovers (Audio CD)

Everyone will be talking about the lyrics left behind by Richey Edwards, but it's the music on Journal for Plague Lovers that makes the album really worth listening. The Manic Street Preachers have long been masters of soaring choruses and catchy hooks, and this album combines the brash hard rock of their younger years with the pop sensibilities culled from their maturity and wisdom. "Marlon J.D.", whose melody was significantly contributed by Nicky Wire, and hidden track "Bag Lady" are some of the best examples of this formula; and are sure to go down as classics. Steve Albini's mix brings to the forefront two of the Manics' best musical assets--James Dean Bradfield's mighty voice and oft-unsung drummer Sean Moore's efforts. May be a difficult initial listen, but repeated spins will be rewarded.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, bonus tracks however..., October 5, 2009

By 

Joseph R. Marrero Jr. - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Journal for Plague Lovers (Audio CD)

I would like to begin this review by writing about how much I admire the Manic Street Preachers and how I am fortunate to own every album of theirs especially the Japanese versions which usually include fantastic songs that are usually unavailable anywhere else (unless you "find" them on a file sharing network:) Unfortunately I was a little disappointed with the two extra songs on this version. I think the rest of the album is phenomenal. It is second only to "The Holy Bible" lyrically and musically. The first extra track "Alien Orders/Invisible Armies is a brief instrumental that could have been great if it had lyrics to it. The title comes from a line in Richey Edwards diaries which I guess did not include anything further to turn into a memeorable vocal melody. It's a letdown since the track is a fairly driving song with an ethereal breakdown. Worth listening to once but is fairly inessential. The other song is a cover by the obscure 1980's indie group Felt who were once signed to the pre-Oasis era Creation Records label. I have never heard the original version since most of Felt's records are extremely difficult to locate even in the UK. James Dean Bradfield does a splendid vocal (as always) and it is an acoustic based slow song whose chorus: "Oh you should see, my trill of disgrace, it's enough to scare the whole human race" could have been something Richey Edwards (who is responsible for all the lyrics on the rest of the album) might have come with.

After this song their is a few moments of silence before the "hidden" track "Bag Lady" (which is available in the standard editions of the album) begins. The Japanese booklet contains the lyrics (by Richey) for this song in english, which is a nice bonus I guess.

I am not going to go into any detail about the other tracks. You can read all about them in other Amazon reviews and elsewhere. If you are like me and must have all the rare Manics CD's it might be worth paying the extra cash for this edition. Anyone else is better off purchasing the other editions of this album and save some $$$.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpectedly good..., September 28, 2009

By 

Akazgea - See all my reviews

This review is from: Journal for Plague Lovers (Audio CD)

This is the first time I am listening to a Manic Street Preachers album. And I greatly enjoyed it. I mostly pay attention to the music and the harmony within, so lyrics come a distant second for me. The album felt like warping through the time, sound of multiple generations. Different styles meshing together. I guess that is what made the album greatly enjoyable for me. Also, this album feels like a mainstream converted version of Dream Theater or Faith No More albums, with Pulp added to the mix. Strong sound, softened at times to remind its origins...A fitting entry to my collection of great music.