[raven]

Originally Posted by Marat Sar

The tonal shift between the chords in the bridge and the opening chord of the chorus is very natural, especially for how sudden it is. Clicks into place, propelled by the bouncy rhythmic bass note joining. In accordance, the percussion shifts to double time compared to the bridge -- notice that the drums had already gotten busier in the bridge to set this transition up. To me the transition gives off the effect of an 80s TV style montage of someone taking photos, then the photos splashing on the screen. Joyous and cheesy, enforcing the theme of heavy ideas / melodic playfulness the album represents.

The "Vivian!" utterance is followed by a guitar melody that completes the melodic gesture of the chorus. People saying the chorus is repetative -- only one word! -- fail to make that connection. That it's a full melody started by vocals and then completed by the guitar line. (I can't understand how. Must be the same crowd who don't like Kevin Carter.)

There are no such incomplete choruses on the album, it's there to give respite from the otherwise stocked-full-of-words refrains.

There is, in fact, a full chorus in the song too, only it's saved for the end. Later, when backing vocals are laid atop the guitar line (in the penultimate chorus), it becomes clear that the full chorus was: "Oh Vivian, did you ever realize / Oh Vivian, the history you left behind" and so on. Only it was revealed in bits, as the whole song is: one fitting piece after the other, interlocking into place: the double time chorus into the sparser verse via the bridge, lyrics from the bridge onto the chorus later on. And finally, in the "solo" part an ascending little guitar line fills in the chorus completely, and remains there until the end of the song (every second chord change).

I can recite all this from memory, without even listening to the song -- that's how structurally solid and memorable it is.

Oh, and even the people who don't understand the craft it takes to move from complex + fragile to repetative + dynamic, like this song does, seem to understand the ascending / descending loungy melody in the verses. It's not exactly the first melody you come up with when you pick up a guitar at 16.

This album is all about craft. Seasoned technical constructions, both melodic and production-related (soundscapes), need to step up because JDB-s vocals alone don't carry like they did in the nineties. A lot of bands aren't able to do that -- compensate for the loss of physical youth in their singer's vocal chords (this is usually what the fans mean by: the magic isn't there), and disband. They're not doing that.

Tl;dr -- just because you don't like it doesn't mean it isn't technically accomplished songwriting.

Originally Posted by Scout Finch

That was the most condescending thing I've ever read. 'Just because you don't understand' - get over yourself. Nobody cares whether it's a 'technically accomplished' song or not, they care about whether it's good to listen to and engaging on a personal level. I could write a 'technically accomplished' book and it could still be shit.

Also, 'stocked-full-of-words refrains'? Where? It's not like People Give In or HMLAH are falling over themselves lyrically in the vein of anything off JFPL.

Originally Posted by Scout Finch

It's not the technical analysis of the song I particularly mind to be honest, it's the whole tone of the post being so up their own arse, condescending, and judgemental. Yes ok my 'nobody cares' was a generalisation and a heated response to the tone and I can admit that. You can discuss a song technically without sounding like you think yourself superior to others reading it. It was very 'you little people just don't get it but I do and therefore you're wrong'.

I enjoyed his post. Sorry Scout I suspect he plays guitar/reads music....I have no clue about the technicals so happy to have help.... and just wanted to bring over his passion for the song.....sure I can see how in response to your post, had it been my post, I might have got a bit 'gerrova y'self n have a drink kid' but no I wouldn't take any offence cos I really don't read any there to take. It's hard sometimes too on a forum where you have to put your feelings into words and words are all you have (oh God...did I just go Boyzone???) whereas when you're in front of someone you can pick up so much else ....I know that's obvious....but I worry sometimes over things I've written and how they may be taken...when someone doesn't know I take the pee more than I take or mean offence

Originally Posted by rosetree

I have to say I think people like Marat Sar who take time to write good reviews and detail their thoughts are more inspirational. There is nothing derogatory I've read in his post and I don't see anything wrong in a person articulating their views. I think a lot of negative opinions are condescending to others. I have always had faith in the Manics and as a working class girl I have always believed in them. I go to concerts on my own because they inspire me so much in their art, the song writing and how they perform, their fallability as people and the reality. In the new album I think there are lots of reasons to back them up in their art and work, which is always nice to read about, in a world of a such destruction and ruling.

Perfectly put

Originally Posted by everlasting

Album dropped to No.13 from last week's No.2.

Shurrup. Nicely please.