15 years since Know Your Enemy

[jambo_stud]

I remember buying So Why So Sad and Found That Soul singles, sure it was snowing heavily that day.

Brings back good memories of a special time in my life, first Manics gig, first love and just good times in general. I rarely listen to it now!

[Suicide Aldi]

I simply adore this record! Brings back so maney good memories of listening to it on my mini disc player while doing my paper round.

[UEF]

First new one I bought, was in college at the time. Very happy memories of that and learning to play guitar using Ocean Spray and So Why So Sad.

Also some great b-sides and stunning remixes - Locust Valley, Groundhog Days, Avalanches Remix of So Why So Sad. The video of Ocean Spray in Cuba where James fucks up the guitar at the start.

Then going to uni, putting an enormous A0 poster of Ocean Spray on my wall, and discovering that no one else in the entire uni liked them and everyone was into Nu Metal and dressing like they lived in a post-apocalyptic dystopia.

Good times.

[roi]

Was enjoying Royal Correspondent recently, the clunky 'smarter than the rest' lyric bothers me less than it used to.

Same for the awkward lyrics in The Convalescent (although the post about Wire wallowing in the failure of it makes an excellent point). Either way the New Order-ish guitar solo/outro is amazing.

[Manicben]

Originally Posted by UEF

Then going to uni, putting an enormous A0 poster of Ocean Spray on my wall, and discovering that no one else in the entire uni liked them and everyone was into Nu Metal and dressing like they lived in a post-apocalyptic dystopia.

Good times.

This pretty much sums up my last year or so of school. Bleak times.

Very fond of KYE, even if I don't listen much anymore. Sprawling mess of an album, and that's why I love it.

And yes. B-sides are also pretty damn fine. The Ballad of the Bangkok Novotel, anyone?

[Mr Richey]

Musically, "Intravenous Agnostic" is still one of the best songs the Manics have ever recorded.

Lyrically, "Intravenous Agnostic" is still one of the worst songs the Manics have ever recorded.

[Donkey]

Haha, Kye, this is the first Manics really hit the ground.
A lot of their worst lyrics is there.
A lot of their worst music is there.
A lot of the worst production is there.
It is too long.
The best songs were leftover for b-sides.
But sometimes it happens: everything goes wrong. Including weight

But it is possible to create a semidecent album off the songs. Decent musically and still bad lyrically. Would still be one of their worst albums though.

1. Found that Soul
2. Intravenous Agnostic
3. Pedestal
4. Wattsville Blues
5. Miss Europa Disco Dancer
6. Dead Martyrs
7. Just a Kid
8. Locust Valley
9. Royal Correspondant
10. Freedom of Speech Allows Wire to Write Lyrics

[maradona]

15 years? I suddenly feel really, really old.

[Marconi Delorian]

My first album as a die-hard fan - felt a bit underwhelmed by it at the time, think it's because the songs leaked in dribs and drabs, always a bad way to hear an album you've been dying to hear. I now love it, apart from Let Robeson Sing. The Convalescent is such an epic song. Might have to give it a good listening to, along with its b-sides.

[Flint]

TIMTTMY introduced me to the band and EMG re-iterated that they were a good group, but it was Know Your Enemy that turned me into a full-on fan. Which probably explains a lot about me.

Fantastic album. Love love love love love it to bits in all its manic, schizophrenic craziness. A lot of utterly immortal moments and should-be live classics. Their third best album. And loads of fantastic b-sides too. Golden period.

[Glass Angel]

I'm afraid KYE turned me off for years... It just seemed that they were trying too hard to be 'the Manics', and somehow didn't capture their own sound. I like it more in retrospect, I have to say.

[Son of Stopped]

I didn't even have a computer to hear the leaks! But I did go through an underwhelmed feeling on first listen. I think I did for the next couple of albums that came after that. But they knew what they were doing.
And I had no problem getting into the last two. So I've finally adjusted!

[Automatik]

Miss Europa Disco Dancer is, without hesitation, my least favourite Manics song.

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by Automatik

Miss Europa Disco Dancer is, without hesitation, my least favourite Manics song.

To be honest, I always hated "Epicentre". It's got a great ending but the first few lines make me think of... Sting!
I'm probably being irrational.

[Flint]

Both Miss Europa and Epicentre are some of the best songs on the album... !