[darkanddivine]

I know some of you have had the album for a bit now on account of an Administrative Error™ but I’m coming to it fresh today.

Any band into their 3rd decade shouldn’t rightfully be producing albums this good. After the last decade I’d all but given up on the band ever doing more than a couple of songs that I add to my big ol' Manics playlist. But this is an album. A proper album. There are wonderful bits of nostalgia, heaps of influences both old and new, some of Jimmy best guitar in years and a Wire song that isn't utterly shite.

Of course, there are still lots of things I'd probably whinge about (this is a Manics album after all.) But as a whole it’s an album that feels like microcosm of their history. Frustrating in patches, but ultimately charming, honest and full of life. I’ll post more about the specific bits later on - but for now I think it's a simple thumbs up from me. Best record since Journal for sure.

PS: MOAR COWBELL!