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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unfairly maligned, February 13, 2005
Most of the press reviews of the Manics' latest effort, Lifeblood, a polished but rather tepid effort, made a point of dissing this album. I'll say right from the outset that this album has its flaws: a few tracks could probably have been left off (and Miss Europa Disco Dancer definitely SHOULD have been); it was recorded quickly, most songs in three takes or so, and some of the arrangements could have been more developed; also, Wire's lyrics are not always at their best, either oversimplifying the complex (Baby Elian) or making a fairly commonplace observation totally incomprehensible (Intravenous Agnostic).
But the one criticism of this album I refuse to give any credence to is that it is a failed attempt to return to past glories. It's hard to see what justification there is for this claim - the recording style is more basic than the preceding This Is My Truth (an inferior album to this one; six good songs and a bunch of turkeys), but that's hardly 'returning to their roots' - their first two albums were extremely lushly produced and they sounded more like Guns 'n' Roses anyone else.
The musical influences are different too - early Manics, in addition to Guns, had traces of punk, particularly the Sex Pistols, in the songwriting. Here, they've clearly been listening to REM and JAMC. It's not a Holy Bible rehash either - it's far too warm and organic.
One of the best things about this album is the sense that, unlike with the albums that preceded and followed it, the band are really following their own muse. This does lead one obvious dud, the aforementioned Miss Europa, a terrible attempt to make a funky disco song. But the REM-influenced tracks, particularly the infectious The Year Of Purification, are a joy.
There are several excellent tracks towards the end of the album, right when things could be getting dull. My Guernica is an excellent rock song with a load of cool Mary Chain-style noise over the top, The Convalescent is a brilliantly arranged pop song, the keyboards, guitars and vocal parts meshing together in an inspired fashion - both melodic and exhileratingly rock 'n' roll. Epicentre has a slightly folkish edge to begin with, until you reach the bridge and chorus, which are pure Manics, and gloriously catchy. Baby Elian has a slight melody but makes up for it with a soaring chorus, and Freedom of Speech is a great slice of punkish pop with a piercing synth and genuinely witty and incisive lyrics.
I don't like the fact that I am compelled to give star ratings to albums - I don't think they're particularly helpful. Four stars is probably a bit much, objectively, it's more like three and a half. My message here is: if you like the Manics, but have been put off this by negative reviews, you could well find some of the songs on here become favourites. It's not perfect, but somehow I don't think it's intended to be. What it is, is an enjoyable and underrated album from an excellent band. For those of us who enjoy rough edges, it's a particular treat.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I admit that it's not a facile firstlisten, however..., May 27, 2001
By A Customer
It should grow on you like most other Manics albums. It's such an ignominy to see a Manics album rated three + a half stars @ Amazon.com along with "artists" of Britney Spears' ilk merely because people didn't give it further listenings. Someone on the radio said that it took him sixteen or seventeen listenings to appreciate it, which substantiates what I just said. I have to admit that the album isn't impeccable- Many of the lyrics lack the strength of their precedents (Richey James, anyone?) & it's also significantly intricate to read them in the booklet; Also I could do without the secrettrack "We Are All Bourgeois Now", which sounds much like other songs on the album notwithstanding being a coversong (It's about time bands will abstain from putting songs reminiscent of other songs on the album as secrettracks- Placebo did it on their latest effort aswell & it just sounds inopportune + flatulent). However there are some songs here that sound really good on their own ("Found That Soul", "Ocean Spray", "Intravenous Agnostic", "So Why So Sad", "Dead Martyrs", "My Guernica") & some others where Nicky Wire shows his ability to write great acerbic lyrics ("Epicentre", "Baby Elian" & "Freedom Of Speech Won't Feed My Children"- The two formers aren't listed on this page, perchance some wanky bloke in the recordcompany decided to censor them off of the American release. How daft). MSP fans will purchase this album @ any rate, for the other ones I'll recommend to startoff with Generation Terrorists & then move forward chronically.PS "Miss Europa Disco Dancer" is a precious little novelty. Too bad there aren't more songs akin to this one on the album... Ah well.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good,Bad And The Pretty Ugly!, April 26, 2001
They've been around for more then ten years now and still I'm not sure what to make of the Manic Street Preachers.Are they really the angry group some of their lyrics claim they are or are they just thirty somethings trying to seek credibility in a style of a young fresh group?Are they a group who really shun hype and limelight or were gigs in Cuba just one big publicity stunt?.Are they a stadium filling band or is the music better suited to dingy halls? Why are they so big in the U.K. and Ireland and yet remain virtually unknown outside of these islands?Have they made great albums which will be remembered for a long time or have they just written a few catchy rock anthems?Yet after listening to their 6th album my questions are still unanswered.Once again the Manics have delivered a c.d. of stunning tracks and also a c.d. of the plain awful!This has been the pattern for all of their c.d.'s in my opinion-the only difference this time is that the bad tracks really are total turkeys. The first really bad song on this c.d. is track 3 "Intravenous Agnostic",lyrically it's complete rubbish.It's a loud protest angry song very much akin to their early stuff from the Generation Terrorists era.Wattsville is sung by Nicky Wire and I have to say he doesn't really have a great voice at all and should really stick to playing bass.It starts off with a drum machine and synth-quite different for the Manics-it's sort of their poor attempt at doing a Kid A.In fact to their credit they do experiment quite a lot more on this c.d. then they have ever done before.This is most obvious on the next song Miss Europa Disco Dancer-which actually starts off with a really neat disco guitar and bass riff-it even has the Chic like strings coming in.It could have worked only for the ridiculous rant at the end by Bradfield where he repeats "Braindead Mother....." over and over.It just spoils what could have been an interesting song.Then there are the songs where they are as the group says 'preaching' at us a bit.I don't know maybe it's just me,but I do find it irritating when mega rich rock stars start preaching about the evils of money and generally ranting on about the capitalist system!The song Baby Elian also has lyrics that go slightly over the top.Here the Manics describe America as "the devil's playground".I wonder would they be doing this if they'd achieved any great success there?Apart from that seeming hypocrisy it's actually not a bad song. Many of the songs on this c.d. are certainly a return to the louder and more brash sound of the Manics in the early nineties.This will no doubt please many of the die hard fans-who may have thought they sold out a bit with their last c.d.Songs like Dead Martyrs and My Guernica are loud,full of all sorts of distortion and are definitely an attempt to regain the sound of the early years.This will I feel effect the sales of this c.d.The last c.d. was built on many radio friendly adult rock anthems-which don't dominate as much on this c.d.But these are the songs that have this group filling stadiums!These are also the songs that for me are the undoubted highlights of this c.d. Once again as with all of their c.d.'s I have there are some brilliant songs on their c.d.'s.The first track "Found That Soul"-which was one of the two singles released is a great "bar room" rock song.It's got a chorus that starts this c.d. off really nicely.The second song "Ocean Spray" is another great song.It's quiter and has an acoustic feel to it-it sounds like some of the stuff they did on their last c.d."So Why So Sad " has a real sixties feel to it with a real Beach Boy sound especially the vocals and harmonies-it's another superb song.The next song about Paul Robeson has a Byrdsy sixties feel to it also.Lyrically it's not a nonsensical rant and they are quite good.They use acoustic guitars and hammond organ on this song and it's also very good.Track 6 I really like also-it isn't angry,it's got great guitar work and more harmonies in the vocals.Then we have a few awful songs that set the whole c.d. back a few steps.That's the really annoying thing about this c.d.-it goes from excellent to rubbish-so I'd advise listeners to have the remote control handy when listening to this c.d.Track 13 "Royal Correspondent" is the Manics at their classic story telling best.Very like some of the singles released from their last two c.d.'s-the song is dominated by a sound similar to the distinctive sound of New Order bass player Peter Hook."Epicentre" is one of those anti-politician songs-lyrically and musically it's quite good-with the group using a piano to back up the overall rock feel to this song. So there we have it 16 brand new songs.If they could have taken off the some of the dreadful songs I think it would have made an excellent 10 track album.Unfortunately for me the bad songs really do stop me from saying this is terrific.But I am glad I bought this c.d. because at least 8 of the songs are really excellent.The one really good aspect to this c.d. is that it caters for all types of people who have liked the Manics-the loud and angry to the big full on anthems.All in all though I would have to say that this is not one of their best albums.
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