Everything Must Go Survivor

[WhatsAManic]

Everything Must Go escaped from history.
No-one Knows What It's Like to Be Me has gone, so we're down to the final 5 B-sides.
Album: http://www.strawpoll.me/15046203
B-sides: http://www.strawpoll.me/15046218

[Suicide Aldi]

Gonna have to br no surface for me. As much as i love it.

[WhatsAManic]

Kevin Carter has click click clicked its way out, so it's down to the final three: http://www.strawpoll.me/15054102

First Republic guillotined its own head: http://www.strawpoll.me/15054169

[Son of Stopped]

Shouldn't First Republic have gone to play in your PAL-ASS RU-INNS!!?

That was my favourite to win the b-sides.

[Automatik]

Pfffffft. Small Black Flowers on its way out ahead of No Surface? Good one.

Dead Trees and Traffic Islands and Sepia are the EMG b-sides par excellence, so I reluctantly must wish away two songs I utterly love (Black Garden - swing - and Mr Carbohydrate, the crisp lover's anthem) to make room for them.

[Son of Stopped]

It's weird Black Garden. It would be a highlight of any other band.
But clearly showed why the band couldn't make THB 2- This time even more holistically biblical

[WhatsAManic]

Small Black Flowers has gone, so it's the final day of the album!
A DESIGN FOR LIFE vs NO SURFACE ALL FEELING
http://www.strawpoll.me/15061182

Mr Carbohydrate needs its crisps.
It's not the final day for B-sides yet- http://www.strawpoll.me/15061185

[Automatik]

As overplayed as Design For Life has become, I can't fathom why No Surface should have survived so long in this poll. It's a good song, of course, but better than Kevin Carter? Small Black Flowers? Removables? The Girl Who Wanted To Be God? Interiors?

It would seem so. Time for a well-known Voltaire quote, I fear.

[WhatsAManic]

So, A Design for Life is everything but a shallow piece of dignity.
Dead Trees and Traffic Islands' tolerance slipped away.
B-sides are still going for one more day ( http://www.strawpoll.me/15068326 ) but that's it for the album. Come back on Friday, when I'll be asking you for your truth.

WAM out

[Europa Gluten Free]

Originally Posted by Automatik

As overplayed as Design For Life has become, I can't fathom why No Surface should have survived so long in this poll. It's a good song, of course, but better than Kevin Carter? Small Black Flowers? Removables? The Girl Who Wanted To Be God? Interiors?

It would seem so. Time for a well-known Voltaire quote, I fear.

NSAF does have a special place in Manics fans' hearts.

It has a certain mystery surrounding it being that it was one of the first songs from the first EMG sessions when Richey was still around. And, of course, the rumour that Richey played on it.

It's one of Jimbo's favourites.

It has a great riff and a great outro solo. It's fantastic live.

It is their arguably the best closing song on any album (PCP anyone?)

A worthy EMG winner.

[masquerade]

I would have been pretty happy either way with the last two, but I voted for NSAF (to win). It's just such a great powerhouse of a track and (as said above) not as overplayed/overheard as ADFL.

[Automatik]

Originally Posted by Europa Gluten Free

NSAF does have a special place in Manics fans' hearts.

It has a certain mystery surrounding it being that it was one of the first songs from the first EMG sessions when Richey was still around. And, of course, the rumour that Richey played on it.

It's one of Jimbo's favourites.

It has a great riff and a great outro solo. It's fantastic live.

It is their arguably the best closing song on any album (PCP anyone?)

A worthy EMG winner.

Of course I am fond of NSAF - just as I am of all the other tracks I listed. I love its exhausted, brittle, end-of-tether sound. I appreciate its lyrics, which are heartfelt without being indulgent. As you rightly point out, the guitar work and riff is wonderful, and you're equally right that it's a perfect conclusion to EMG as a whole.

But - mileage varying warning - I don't feel that it's the best song on the album. It may be as good as the tracks I listed - that I would agree with - but a nostalgic association with Richey and the fact that JDB likes it is not enough for me to elevate it above the other high points of the record.

tl;dr? Person on internet has opinion. I have others!

[Son of Stopped]

I was amazed Removables was voted off.
I think a Removables Further Away vote off would have been interesting.
So who's joining me for a "Vote off the singles" tactic from here on in then?

[WhatsAManic]

So that's it. Sepia has been voted FD's favourite EMG B-side.
Thanks to everyone who voted, and see you again on Friday!

[hummingbird]

Sepia won? Major Tantrum averted.