Album 15

[savemejebus]

Originally Posted by *Found That Soul*

The last I knew about mass communication was 2010 so not sure how it’s relevant to the new music.

Motorcycle is probably my favourite song they’ve done, the same old people would moan if that came out fresh today.

If an album or song ticks a minimum of four out of the six categories that Dancing Kirby so beautifully identified in their summary of PFAYM then, to me, it's classed as 'Mass Communication' bollix. Recent manics output definitely falls into that category for me.

Originally Posted by Dancing Kirby

The music was awful.

The lyrics were awful.

The production was awful.

The cover was awful.

The videos were awful.

Nicky's interviews were awful.

Apart from that it had a lot going for it.

[Bartek Wyre]

Originally Posted by *Found That Soul*

The last I knew about mass communication was 2010 so not sure how it’s relevant to the new music.

Well they might not have been all that explicit about taking last shots at mass communication since 2010, but the stuff they've released since sure does sound a lot like a PFAYM re-hash, sooooo...

[*Found That Soul*]

Originally Posted by Bartek Wyre

Well they might not have been all that explicit about taking last shots at mass communication since 2010, but the stuff they've released since sure does sound a lot like a PFAYM re-hash, sooooo...

It’s obviously not to your taste but I love PFAYM and all the albums since

[Son of Stopped]

#65 on the single downloads chart.
https://www.officialcharts.com/chart...20240913/7000/
Still, three weeks is a better performance than their recent singles. And I'm still right here for whatever comes next.

[Porco]

[Donkey]

I'm a bit surprised. Usually it was...at least I thought.... me saying, the new release is shit and the rest saying something between great and best or..."it's my second favourite Manics album after x" with x being something as ridiculous as Know Your Enemy, Lifeblood or Postcards.

It seems like this time it looks different.

[Donkey]

Originally Posted by Bartek Wyre

:-)

But actually, with a crazy exception of Journal, it's soon gonna be three decades ago that Manics made a really good music the last time. There is no way, they can suddenly start again. But that's ok. I'm glad the old albums are there.

[Routine Builder]

Originally Posted by Bartek Wyre

It's not really Nick to be honest. James has gone on at length at trying to create the perfect 3 minute pop song.

[Bartek Wyre]

Wasn't Nicky the one obsessed with chart positions?

[LA ex]

Originally Posted by Bartek Wyre

Wasn't Nicky the one obsessed with chart positions?

Let's just say that at the National Treasures gig at the O2 he corrected James story at the position that Suicide is Painless achieved!

That said, I'm not sure how much chart positions mean to the band - whether securing a top forty/ten single is something that they strived for or still do.

[Marat Sar]

Sad to join the pile-up, but this is really not a good song. If I would know someone from the band I would suggest they return to the drawing board and not continue with release of this material. Just no point.

My second rec is they need to work with the producer who made JDB's Even in Exile.

And this comes from someone who quite liked Resistance is Futile and Ultra Vivid Lament.

[Porco]

Opinions vary. I love the song and am excited for the next album. As always, I feel bad for those disappointed and wanting something different.

[Routine Builder]

Originally Posted by Bartek Wyre

Wasn't Nicky the one obsessed with chart positions?

Yes but more as a status symbol that the band is still relevant. I think James is still in love with singles as a concept and feels the need to try and create the perfect one with every album. On average, he usually hits it out of the park, International Blue and The Secret He missed being the most recent examples.

Despite getting stuck in my head, I have no desire to relisten to Decline for Life. In terms of singles, probably sits close to the bottom of the well alongside It's not Love, Distant Colours and Autumn Song.

[Son of Stopped]

But it's definitely Nicky on the song going "implications... So much for the decline and fall" isn't it?
Even if it's a low voice live. On the track it's Nicky

[FacelessSenseOfVoid]

Originally Posted by Routine Builder

Despite getting stuck in my head, I have no desire to relisten to Decline for Life. In terms of singles, probably sits close to the bottom of the well alongside It's not Love, Distant Colours and Autumn Song.

Each to their own and all that but Distant Colours is my favourite Manics single but I am well known for my (extremely) hot takes.