While it isn't perfect, it doesn't seem to have the woeful lyrics similar to autumnsong anywhere. It was always going to be difficult to follow Journal but it seems like they have done a decent job. Billion balconies is a belter...and by the looks of things I'm the only person who likes I think I've found it.

Certainly looks like it :lol:

Just wrote up a review, my opinion = largely positive (and much more so than expected! :D):
http://www.afutureinnoise.com/2010/0...ards-from.html

Good write up there, I enjoyed reading that :D

ballard. debord. hints of baudrillard. strings that sweeps naturally. some cringeworthy wire phrases. some grandiose melodies. anything but trendy musical inspiration. moments of purified beauty. this is surely an album that feels "manics", compared to SATT that felt "the manics covering the manics"...

... but no matter how nicely crafted some tunes are, it has nothing on THB, EMG or JFPL. i think i will work out and run a lot with this album in the iphone. but i doubt i will ever - with a couple of exceptions - really sit down and listen to it.

but, when it comes to pop, that is not necessarily a bad thing.

7/10

My only real complaint about it is that it seems to suffer the "Young Modern" dilemma: we're making a huge rock record because we can make a huge rock record. They played it safe and did what they know how to do really well, but without getting really ballsy and experimenting and it lacks that element of danger and risk, I didn't ever really feel like I was being strapped down for an audio ass kicking. To enjoy it, you have to love it for what it is, rather than what it isn't, and it's very much not edgy self-psycho analytical Manics. The whole central theme of nostalgia certainly hits some buttons with me right now, but only one track really does it to great effect ("Some Kind of Nothingness", I feel, honestly sounds like what it feels like to look back and miss growing up and that has very much struck a chord with me). I guess it's important to note it isn't necessarily supposed to reflect how I look back at things, but rather how they do. It's THEIR story. I know that sounds like it can ruin the whole thing, but I do really enjoy it and I'm looking forward to some awesome shouty pointy action in October. This record is PRIMED for that kind of thing.

Cheers! I see we have similar top track selections, scrolling up. :) Meanwhile, I'm trying to sort out how I'd place it in my already ever-changing line-up of Manics albums...:

1. Journal for Plague Lovers
2. The Holy Bible
3. Generation Terrorists
4. This is My Truth, Tell Me Yours
5. Everything Must Go
6. Lifeblood
7. Postcards From a Young Man
8. Know Your Enemy
9. Gold Against the Soul
10. Send Away the Tigers

I've heard everything except the title track. I'll have a review on my blog just after the album officially comes out. A few thoughts - the most cohesive album to date. I didn't hate anything. An outstanding pop album. Favourites - Auto Intoxication, A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun, Some Kind of Nothingness, All We Make is Entertainment, and The Descent. Felt that 'The Descent' was one of the more muscially/sonically ambitious songs from the Manics. I kept thinking 'this belongs in a rock opera' - with a few minor lyric changes, perhaps the closing song to an Act 1. Pure theatre.

1. The Holy Bible
2. Journal for Plague Lovers
3. Everything Must Go
4. Postcards From a Young Man
5. This is My Truth, Tell Me Yours
6. Lifeblood
7. Send Away the Tigers
8. Know Your Enemy
9. Gold Against the Soul
10. Generation Terrorists

Hilights for me would be SKON and Golden Platitudes. Musically, I think there is a lot more going on here than we usually hear from them. Quite ambitious...and they mostly pull it of.

POSTCARDS FROM A YOUNG MAN IS SUPERB
 

FOR ME POSTCARDS ARE THE BEST MANIC ALBUM AFTER THE TWO GREAT JEWELS LIKE THB/EMG. THE SINGLES FOR ME
1-IT´S NO WAR
2-SOME KIND
3-POSTCARDS
4-HAZLETON AVENUE

AND MY AVERAGE
1- IT´S NO WAR 8
2-POSTCARDS 8
3-SOME KIND 9
4-THE DESCENT 8
5-HAZLETON 9
6-AUTO 7
7-GOLDEN PLATITUDES 8
8-I THINK 8
9- A BILLION 9
10-ALL WE MAKE 8
11- THE FUTURE 5
12-DON´T BE EVIL 6

Nice to read this, enjoy it :)

surely this is conclusive proof that the Caps Lock key is one of the most excellent inventions ever.

Exactly, there's no real need for him to shout!

Nice point! :lol:

1. The Holy Bible
2. Journal for Plague Lovers
3. Everything Must Go
4. Postcards From a Young Man
5. Send Away The Tigers
6. Generation Terrorists
7. This is My Truth, Tell Me Yours
8. Know Your Enemy
9. Gold Against the Soul
10. Lifeblood