The "Plague Lovers" Discussion Thread

[love made out of hate]

My favourite Manics album.

[UEF]

For me personally it was great to see them release a balls out brilliant album in 2009, to both critical and fan acclaim. That hasn't happened, imo since 1996/98 and indeed since JFPL...

[darkanddivine]

After my casual fan friends found solace in the Manics being "back" with SATT, I always thought they were still shy of doing something great, and to be honest I was beginning to think it was past the moment when they were capable of it. I was a bit nervy about the use of Richey's lyrics but I had the feeling it would be OK.

Fortunately it was much much much better than that. While there have been great moments, some great tracks, with the exception of Lifeblood they had yet to make that elusive brilliant album since the late 90s. We know this was earmarked as the album that could sit inbetween THB and EMG, and it it mixes the Manics new sound with their old wit, has no dodgy lyrics and is in many places a straight up rock record.

Just listening to it, the thunderous bass, James awesome vocals and wall of guitars with Seans best drumming for ages all really shows how they upped their game for this. The songwriting is fantastic, as is the poppy but gritty production throughout.

The gigs were a real treat, seeing every single song off the album played (a real rarity these days) I am very surprised it only gets a token track on tour now, it is certainly worthy of 2 or 3 at least, however it seems to have been consigned to the "experiment" bin by the band. This album stands head and shoulders above just about everything they've done since Truth.

[Hennus]

Originally Posted by Flint

...the small keyboard figure in the back of Doors Closing Slowly is practically nonexistent in the album version whereas on the demo it's constantly there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCkOmcIl79s

00:12

[PCCCP]

Originally Posted by Flint

Actually, song-wise the only complaints I've got are that I prefer the chorus vocal melody that's in the demo of Pretension/Repulsion over what got into the final version, and that the small keyboard figure in the back of Doors Closing Slowly is practically nonexistent in the album version whereas on the demo it's constantly there. Which are tiny things.

+1!!!
That's exactly what I think are the two moments where the demo versions
are better than their counterparts on the actual LP.
Uncanny that...

[Nature's Discontent]

Love the album. Doors Closing Slowly is the only track I don't like too much, although I suppose I simply never really 'got' it.

[Masochist Revol]

This is my 2nd favourite Manics album.

Being a Richey fan just as much as I am a Manics fan, I got all skittish and nervous about listening to it when it came out. It went beyond my expectations musically and lyrically - I thought it would sound like SATT Part 2 musically, and wasn't expecting much from Richey's lyrics, given his frame of mind at the time, and that Nicky and Sean had previously said the lyrics he left behind weren't particularly coherent or usuable.

There isn't a song I dislike on the album, and my favourites are All is Vanity, She bathed herself in a bath of bleach, Doors Closing Slowly, Facing Page: Top Left, Peeled Apples and.......well I am going to end up naming the entire tracklisting!

Though it will never match THB, it is like it in the sense it is personal for me.

I love it!

[Mr Richey]

My star ratings for JFPL:

1. Peeled Apples - 5/5
2. Jackie Collins Existential Question Time - 5/5
3. Me And Stephen Hawking - 5/5
4. This Joke Sport Severed - 5/5
5. Journal For Plague Lovers - 4/5
6. She Bathed Herself In A Bath Of Bleach - 4/5
7. Facing Page: Top Left - 5/5
8. Marlon J.D. - 5/5
9. Doors Closing Slowly - 4/5
10. All Is Vanity - 5/5
11. Pretension/Repulsion - 4/5
12. Virginia State Epileptic Colony - 4/5
13. William's Last Words - 4/5
14. Bag Lady - 5/5

Easily the best album they've done this century. But will it be the last great Manics album?