Random Manics thoughts... - Page 153 - Forever Delayed

Porco · #**2281** 10-04-2017, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Richey

I am currently re-evaluating Lifeblood for some reason.

For better or worse?

That sounds like you're marrying it, sorry.

Mr Richey · #**2282** 10-04-2017, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porco

For better or worse?

That sounds like you're marrying it, sorry.

I've not listened to it for years but the last two days I've been listening to the b-sides from that era. Apart from "Quarantine", "Voodoo Polaroids" and "Failure Bound", all of which don't really fit the atmospheric sound of the rest of that era. I realised that I quite like the cold, disenfranchised sound of the b-sides and wondered if that sound actually carries over to the album proper but so far it seems that only "Always/Never" and "Fragments" really keep that style. Not sure that any of what I'm writing is making sense. There's definitely something here, a sound or an emotion that I'm picking up from these songs that I'm not sure I've experienced before. Will continue to investigate.

Mr Richey · #**2283** 11-04-2017, 00:05

Furthermore...I think that "Askew Road" might be one of the saddest songs the Manics have ever recorded.

AK47 · #**2284** 11-04-2017, 12:09

I've not listened to Lifeblood since 2015. Not a single track apart from "Nixon" at the 02. I love the album but i've just found it calling out to me. To me it will always be a Manics winter album - I can't listen to it in any other season. Askew Road is indeed a sad song.

Europa Gluten Free · #**2285** 11-04-2017, 19:58

As someone quite cleverly remarked here on FD a while back, Lifeblood is the Manics' last "serious" album. And it's brilliant. The simple fact that it didn't sell and was widely overlooked/rejected is why they don't like it. Plus the Lamacq session is the best they've ever done with great versions of This is Yesterday and Motorcycle.

IntlDebris · #**2286** 13-04-2017, 19:44

I think they didn't really enjoy the recording of it. It's a shame really, one of my favourites (was probably my favourite of theirs in the few years following its release).
The b-sides definitely have a darker tone to much of the album. The Japanese 2CD version is one of my most treasured items, a really wonderful collection of tracks. 'Askew Road', 'Everyone Knows / Nobody Cares', 'Everything Will Be', 'All Alone Here', 'Dying Breeds'. All incredible.

Porco · #**2287** 13-04-2017, 20:37

I'm fine with them never making another album that sounds like Lifeblood if they don't feel moved to make one, I just wish they didn't 'wee on the cornflakes' of everyone who likes the one we have quite so much.

Maybe they will reappraise it at some point and soften their stance on it. I hope so.

Tim · #**2288** 14-04-2017, 21:24

The US navy is sending an armada to north korea.
China says conflict is imminent.
⊥rump is fulfilling his promise to "bomb the shit" out of foreigners.
Thermonuclear war feels a daily existential threat.

Send away the tigers (the song) is pretty great though! I have a new appreciation for it.

Automatik · #**2289** 17-04-2017, 20:29

Listening to the JFPL remixes tracks. There's still some fantastic ones in there.

Automatik · #**2290** 21-04-2017, 18:08

Adore the bit from 1.17 to 1.54 in Welcome To The Dead Zone with the riff and 'I'll be the guide and you'll be the sinner / A meeting of minds all coming together / I'll bring the book and you'll give it a title / You'll be the typist and I'll be the writer...'.

Perfect match of sound, word and substance.

Automatik · #**2291** 21-04-2017, 21:21

The opening 17 seconds of Melancholyme are wondrously ominous and barely relate to the remainder of the song.

Son of Stopped · #**2292** 28-04-2017, 21:49

Cranberries are being complained about for an off key version of 'Linger'.
At least the Manics haven't given up and re-recorded old versions of their songs. (At least not an entire album of that!)

AK47 · #**2293** 04-05-2017, 11:07

I really hope the next album is a showcase of technical musicianship and not straight forward melodic fair like PFAYM or SATT. I want to hear solos that sound like they are difficult to play, I want curious word/chorus structures. And a trumpet.

sculptureofabloke · #**2294** 04-05-2017, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK47

I really hope the next album is a showcase of technical musicianship and not straight forward melodic fair like PFAYM or SATT. I want to hear solos that sound like they are difficult to play, I want curious word/chorus structures. And a trumpet.

I still can't work em out, think the only thing we can safely guarantee is it won't be like Futurology cos they do have a tendency to run as far from their last album as they can.

I loved SATT when it came out, but with hindsight I think that was as much to do with anticipation as anything and relief that they were actually carrying on as a band cos for a while I was worried that they weren't going to. Since then I've listened to both TGW and IKTZ loads more than SATT. Spent ages wondering what James Nicky were going to bring back to the table from their solo projects, and loads of time since wondering what if. Now that James has done a horror soundtrack (when the fuck was that ever gonna happen?!) I wonder if that's going to influence anything he wants to do with the band, and how responsive Sean and Nicky would be to any ideas he might have. Then again, I wonder if they'll just draw a line and start again...

AK47 · #**2295** 04-05-2017, 13:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by sculptureofabloke

I still can't work em out, think the only thing we can safely guarantee is it won't be like Futurology cos they do have a tendency to run as far from their last album as they can.

I loved SATT when it came out, but with hindsight I think that was as much to do with anticipation as anything and relief that they were actually carrying on as a band cos for a while I was worried that they weren't going to. Since then I've listened to both TGW and IKTZ loads more than SATT. Spent ages wondering what James Nicky were going to bring back to the table from their solo projects, and loads of time since wondering what if. Now that James has done a horror soundtrack (when the fuck was that ever gonna happen?!) I wonder if that's going to influence anything he wants to do with the band, and how responsive Sean and Nicky would be to any ideas he might have. Then again, I wonder if they'll just draw a line and start again...

From what I gather from various comments made by the band in recent months the concensus seems to be on making a big rock record. It could be awesome or it could be the manics playing "safe"