Good b-sides subthread
This Is The Truth.
I think The Holy Bible is an average album. Not in my top 5 Manics albums.
I caught them at those Astoria Shows (having also seen them Richey-less at Reading that summer) - I voted it my favourite ever gig apparently:
But yes, agree - at the time they felt like such an important band. These days, no way am I listening to themā¦
Was quite funny when they wouldnāt let Billy Bragg use their toilet
Itās an āimportantā album far more than itās a good one.
Iāve gone 4/5 at certain points in my life theyāve probably been my favourite band, but are nowhere near that level now. Apart from last album which Iāve never got on with Iāve generally enjoyed most of their others despite some obvious flaws, as others have mentioned journal for plague lovers is great from their post peak offerings.
5/5 for the Richey era, 2/5 for most of what followed, went with 4/5 because The Holy Bible is fucking great and GATS has some wonderfully overwrought self involved lyrics.
Nothing really makes me happy,
Heroin is just too trendy!
4/5
Have a lot of time for them. They may not be everyoneās cuppa, but they do everything well. Think some of the newer stuff is a little underrated tbh. NW is a total plank mind.
Nicky Wire talked about this on Adam Buxtonās podcast. Very interesting hearing him reflect, as a relaxed and balanced middle-aged man, on what the band were getting up to in the 90s.
5/5 for being a huge part of my formative (musical taste) years. Can forgive some of the shit (and thereās a fair amount of it) for all of the gems, and JDB is one of the most underrated guitarists and vocalists and should be revered as an icon.
Be Natural is quality, isnāt it? Probably the best song on TIMTTMY.
His GBOL % should also cancel out any resentment towards the band as a result of Nicky Wire being in it.
Whatās with all the Nicky Wire hate? Heās said some dumb things and some hilarious things. Also he wears a T-shirt with āI hooveringā stencilled on it.
Heās a rock star. Heās supposed to be a bit of a knob.
Do we want every rock star to be as bland as the singer from Keane?
But then there was the Michael Stipe remark
No hate from me - just acknowledging that heās a bit divisive, especially around these parts.
I know a couple of people whoāve met him irl on more than one occasion and apparently heās a total sweetheart.