The 'This is My Truth…' Discussion Thread

[SeveredJoke]

Ripped from the others from y2kyle16* but some of the comments made me want to start one for This is My Truth Tell Me Yours.

One of the main criticisms of the album seem to be about it being 'populist' and 'commercial'. Much as with KYE and Lifeblood my recent trawl through the whole Manics back catalogue has made me reappraise my opinions of the albums.

I hadn't listened to 'This is My Truth…' for ages and it was a shock to hear some of the songs when they popped up on random. I'd made the mistake of just associating the album with its singles rather than the album as a whole. I had forgotten how good 'Ready for Drowning' is and have even come round to liking 'Black Dog…'. The tag of populist/commercial doesn't sit well with me when listening to claustrophobic tracks like 'I'm Not Working' and the weirdness of 'Be Natural'.

'My Little Empire' is stunning and one of my favourite tracks and love the sound of 'Born a Girl'. It sounds like it's being played in a lonely arena with all that reverb. Love the music for SYMM but hate the lyrics.

This album was also a soundtrack for my transition to university and I even saw them on tour the day before I was due to move so the album has a personal connection.


*Off-topic I can't read the name Kyle without hearing it in John Lithgow's voice.

[counterlanguage]

The first six tracks are possibly the best line of six consecutive songs on any Manics album, but then it really fizzles out. Be Natural and especially I'm Not Working should be taken off there, along with SYMM.

And of course Prologue should be the last track - I can see why people call it Nicky Wire's Holy Bible because so many of the lyrics are so dark, with an air of defeat / resignation. Prologue would have provided an uplifting end to the album, and a bit of relief.

And I would've put Black Holes on there, so the track list would have been:

The Everlasting
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
You Stole the Sun from My Heart
Ready for Drowning
Tsunami
My Little Empire

Nobody Loved You
You're Tender and You're Tired
Born a Girl
Black Dog on My Shoulder
Black Holes For The Young
Prologue To History

[SeveredJoke]

Originally Posted by counterlanguage

The first six tracks are possibly the best line of six consecutive songs on any Manics album, but then it really fizzles out. Be Natural and especially I'm Not Working should be taken off there, along with SYMM.

And of course Prologue should be the last track - I can see why people call it Nicky Wire's Holy Bible because so many of the lyrics are so dark, with an air of defeat / resignation. Prologue would have provided an uplifting end to the album, and a bit of relief.

And I would've put Black Holes on there, so the track list would have been:

The Everlasting
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
You Stole the Sun from My Heart
Ready for Drowning
Tsunami
My Little Empire

Nobody Loved You
You're Tender and You're Tired
Born a Girl
Black Dog on My Shoulder
Black Holes For The Young
Prologue To History

The B-sides from that time were great. I'd definitely agree with Prologue but 'Black Holes...'? It's not one of the best.

'Be Natural' isn't a strong one but I've come round to 'I'm Not Working' with its menacing synth and bass sound.

I could quite happily skip the first three tracks and still enjoy the album. 'The Everlasting' is a great track but the whole refugee line kills it for me in the same way some people feel about the Godfather 3 reference in 'The Future...' from PFAYM.

[darkanddivine]

I think as with any of the Manics catalogue, when the band don't try too hard to be something they want or what they think people want, they produce their best work.

Rock fans are quite fickle, and it's not surprising that given critical acclaim, mass popularity and constant media coverage that many fans cite this as their Manics moment of moving on.

This is a really really great album though, it sounds really pure, James' voice is incredible and probably for the last time, Nicky lyrics were really up to scratch. I love how it sounds big, yet the band could literally be in the room with you on the slower tracks, and musically there is still a freshness about it, new instruments, new sounds and a new mood.

If it was overrated at the time, it is now underrated in my opinion.

[y2kyle16]

This is my truth is a decent album

Love The Everlasting, You Stole The Sun, Nobody Loved you, and Born A Girl

Not so keen on My Little Empire And Black Holes

[UEF]

I love the more atmospheric second half of the album. Infact I pretty much love all of it except for the singles (and I used to love them, but have just heard them all far too many times).

Black Holes For the Young holds a special place in my heart too, it's an awesome tune and really really weird at the same time.

[counterlanguage]

Originally Posted by UEF

Black Holes For the Young holds a special place in my heart too, it's an awesome tune and really really weird at the same time.

Exactly, the keyboard riff is a bit random which is why it's not on the album because it doesn't really fir in , but I think it's fantastic.

Sophie E-B should have duetted on LBN on the tour 98 tours.

[beautifuldistortion]

Replace - 'Im not working' and 'SYMM' with 'Prologue' and 'Montana/Autumn 78' and this is a classic album :0)

Originally Posted by beautifuldistortion

Replace - 'Im not working' and 'SYMM' with 'Prologue' and 'Montana/Autumn 78' and this is a classic album :0)

that's close to what I would do;
- replace SYMM with Montana
- put Prologue as the opener
- move Everlasting to either last song or take it off entirely...

[Mr Richey]

Originally Posted by grimsbybear

that's close to what I would do;
- replace SYMM with Montana
- put Prologue as the opener
- move Everlasting to either last song or take it off entirely...

"The Everlasting" is a very important song in the Manics canon. I could write an essay on why but nobody would read it. So moving it to the last track would work for me. "Prologue To History" opens the album, replace "Be Natural" with "Black Holes For The Young" and I'm happy.

[pingu]

Originally Posted by Richey83

"The Everlasting" is a very important song in the Manics canon.

I agree - I know it's not universally loved, but I like it very much and I think it was an important one for them too.

[Mr Richey]

Originally Posted by pingu

I agree - I know it's not universally loved, but I like it very much and I think it was an important one for them too.

It's the moment Nicky finally stepped up to the plate lyrically. There is a maturity to that song that I think is severely lacking in SATT and PFAYM.

[Industrial Symphony No.1]

Originally Posted by Richey83

replace "Be Natural" with "Black Holes For The Young" and I'm happy.

You have got to be joking! BHFTY is an abortion of a song, lucky to even have made it as a b-side!

[The Gutless Wonder]

Originally Posted by Industrial Symphony No.1

You have got to be joking! BHFTY is an abortion of a song, lucky to even have made it as a b-side!

You've got to be joking!

[sitdown1985]

Originally Posted by Richey83

"The Everlasting" is a very important song in the Manics canon. I could write an essay on why but nobody would read it.

I would