Album 15

[Son of Stopped]

I prefer Decline & Fall to Bodies Dancing by The Smile as well.
All these accusations of Manics phoning it in, yet that's what every other band release mentioned in this thread sounds like to me!

[savemejebus]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

I prefer Decline & Fall to Bodies Dancing by The Smile as well.
All these accusations of Manics phoning it in, yet that's what every other band release mentioned in this thread sounds like to me!

'From Out Of Nowhere' sounds like phoning it in

well ok then that definitely makes the manics sounding pompously complacent ok then.

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by savemejebus

'From Out Of Nowhere' sounds like phoning it in

well ok then that definitely makes the manics sounding pompously complacent ok then.

Oh sorry, I meant all the new songs phoning it in.
Never meant From Out Of Nowhere. Forgot that had been mentioned due to my focusing on current lead singles from other bands in 2024.
Nothing can touch Faith No More. But nobody then knew what that band had.
A different thread yeah, but I'm heartbroken about Perry Farrell and their reunion antics.
Makes it more amazing Manics still going!

[rosetree]

In my opinion the band aren't really thinking of phoning it in, maybe it's just the critics who are. Richey and Nicky wrote Motorcycle Emptiness at university about alienation, despair and from Patrick Jones Neon loneliness poem. James didn't think about phoning the lyrics with an Abba song, as the video in Japan shows. I also think JDB still has enthusiasm at concerts and festivals, his voice is still great and he talks to the crowd in between songs.

[Son of Stopped]

Balance
I don't think Decline & Fall is as good as Bubblegum Dog by MGMT this year.

[gabo86]

Originally Posted by Bartek Wyre

Yeah, no, not really I mean, they have some really awesome songs, sure, but like I've said, they never developed their signature sound. They always sounded like whatever was in vogue at a given era, and sure, it's understandable, as they always wanted to reach the wider audience with their socialist manifestos (hence the last shot(s) at mass communication). But still, to say they have their own sound is a gross overstatement.

What you wrote is very interesting and something I strongly disagree with, and I'm going to explain why (even though probably nobody is interested).
There are bands who developed their signature sound, but these are bands whose albums are all the same. Some album might be better because of more inspired songwriting, but then they are very similar. For example, I'm thinking about Keane: with the exception of the second album (which is darker and less piano-based), all the other albums sound the same. Of course there are some peaks (the first two albums, for example) but you could trade a song from an album with a song from another album and not hear any discrepancy in the album itself. Is this because of a signature sound? Yes, sure. Is this good? I'm not sure (and i LOVE Keane).
Then, there are bands who do just whatever they want, or whatever the audience asks: they go to some producer (in vogue, as you say) and dramatically change their sound. They change it so much that you could think that, if it wasn't for the singer's voice, it could be another band completely. I'm thinking about Primal Scream, another band I love: the first album is jungle pop, the second is hard-ish rock, the third one is club/house/dub/electronica, the fourth one rock again but more soul influenced, then albums 5-7 are electronic-rock albums. All very different, but in their case it's "too" different not to think that somebody else (producers?) did the main job.

The Manics are halfway these two position. They don't have a signature sound, even though they have something "signature": JDB's voice, his guitar playing, Nicky's lyrics and how this comes together is pretty unique; at least, for us fans, because the casual listener could think that they are "the most normal band, very similar to any other rock band" (in Italy there are very few fan and most of the people I tried to "convert" told me this, and I can get this.
So, they don't have a signature sound, but their changing is not schizophrenic. Each album is some kind of a reaction to the previous one, sometimes doing something "opposite", sometimes less strong, but there is nothing which does not sound like "them". It's always pop-rock, which is ok. Even an electro song" like Europa Geht Durch Mich" it's clearly a Manics song, with a sound that might not be the most "standard" for them, but it's not a U-Turn or something that could have been suggested from outside.
And I don't agree with the direction of their changing suggested by the "in vogue" sound. Maybe with EMG this happened (even though I hate when people put this album in the "britpop" cauldron), but not with other albums.

Of course, this is just my idea, but it's a very interesting topic.

[Son of Stopped]

Bowie's on the cover of Mojo and there's a feature on Album 15 by James explaining.
No idea the size of the article or it's content. But it's out. Was hoping someone might have read it. This does mean I'll have to go out tomorrow and see for myself.

[Europa Gluten Free]

To follow on with Gabo86's points, the signature sound of the Manics is JDB's voice. It is the only real distinguishing and identifiable sound to the average listener.

To the muso, there is a MASSIVE difference in sound between the white Custom Les Paul and the other guitars that JDB plays. You don't noitce it until he plays other LPs or other guitars on the classic white LP songs but it is there (especially if you listen to Glastonbury 2003 or IoW 2004 when he started playing a standard Les Paul). The white LP with the ebony fretboard, different hardware, and the pickups is more cutting and harsh (especially with the old 90s set up). And that's important to JDB's guitar sound compared to the rounder standard LP sound. You can also really hear it in the TIMT anniversary gigs when he plays a range of guitars through the album and then plays the white LP custom for SYMM. It sounds incredible in the solo at the Shepherd Bush gigs. (I think Emily has a video of it up on youtube).

I just think this is so important because the white LP sound is kind of by chance - JDB has said he went for the white LP custom because of Steve Jones etc but actually it's particular sound is key to their sound. (Also watch the BBC concert from TUVL when he plays the p90 Gordon Smith. It sounds dry and has less sustain and is just kinda weird (a good weird)). It just pains me when he plays other guitars rather than the white LP custom or lets Wayne play more and more.

[savemejebus]

Originally Posted by Europa Gluten Free

I just think this is so important because the white LP sound is kind of by chance - JDB has said he went for the white LP custom because of Steve Jones etc but actually it's particular sound is key to their sound. (Also watch the BBC concert from TUVL when he plays the p90 Gordon Smith. It sounds dry and has less sustain and is just kinda weird (a good weird)). It just pains me when he plays other guitars rather than the white LP custom or lets Wayne play more and more.

on the subject of 'Faithful' I think I still have a copy of 'iconoclastic glitter' floating about somewhere with an interview with Andy Cairns where he talks about how amazing that Les Paul sounds and that James is a jammit (possibly speccy) git because he (Andy) tried hundreds of Les Pauls to try and get a good one and James told him he just picked it off the wall in a shop on Denmark street with barely any searching.

I'm still fully of the opinion that the 'decline and fall' of the Manics sound is related to James not having the challenge of carrying all the responsiblity for the guitar sound anymore.

[UEF]

Originally Posted by savemejebus

I'm still fully of the opinion that the 'decline and fall' of the Manics sound is related to James not having the challenge of carrying all the responsiblity for the guitar sound anymore.

I've occasionally thought it changed with the move away from wireless guitar packs and particularly when Nicky stopped playing Jazz bass with a pick (that longhorn one with 3 pickups got sold a few years ago online, presumably to a fan)

But something I learnt a long time ago is that you can't hope your heroes play in a certain sound if they're not happy with it themselves.

[mrvitaminpill]

Well I just downloaded Mojo on my library app.

Not much to report - apparently the album was finished in February, but not due to come out until next year.

There are twelve songs - JDB wrote three of the lyrics, including a song called "Being Baptised" which is about when he met Allen Toussaint. Nicky Wire sings on three of the tracks and one of the songs features Wayne Murray's girlfriend. There is no mention of working titles for the album, but one of the songs is called Critical Thinking.

[Glyn]

Yeah not a huge amount else. The album is still being described as a 'grab bag' with no central theme, but overall has a mostly 80's influence (Waterboys and Bangles get mentioned).
They recorded it around Intimism. Critical Thinking (the song) is about 'empathy and the wellbeing industry' and is one of Wire's songs. I wonder if that is song that Keiran Evans was talking up ?

[*Found That Soul*]

3 Wire songs is all we need

[FacelessSenseOfVoid]

Oh joy. Three Wire vocals. Could be alright, who knows? Wonder why there is such a delay in getting it out.

[Tish]

I always think that songs with James lyrics or Nicky singing are essentially solo songs that they've then worked up to sound more like the band. So if half the album is that, plus Decline & Fall, and no overall theme, it may be a comple mix up of sounds. I'm starting to imagine a shorter Know Your Enemy now.