I dont hate it "now" I never liked it in the first place ! I don't like Balconies either.

I really really love the "Sean horns" on Future, & the Hitsville UK-esque chorus. There I said something positive about it.

The lyrics on this one have improved so much from SATT-time Nicky stuff (and I'd say superior to JFPL as well) - I was reading the booklet on the way home after buying the album and kept thinking excitedly that there's a lot of moments there where Nicky seems to have actually found the way of the word again. Lots of great quotables. Far from flawless, but good enough to make me interested in Manics lyrics again.

Although the moments he's trying to be critical of stuff are pretty terrible, ie the Balconies/Don't Be Evil/Entertainment line etc.

Is Auto Intoxication the rip off of XTC's Stupidly Happy?

The worst line on the album is "We're so postmodern / We're so post-everything". What a ridiculously sounding statement.

Why? I think it's a good line, and kind of provides an answer to anyone wondering about how many similarities there are to other songs.

Very little music these days makes anyone discuss anything. Critical thinking and disagreeing or questioning what the band is saying is good.

My review is at my blog at www.spetrusz.wordpress.com. If you're interested, check it out.

I like entertainment but still meh about i think ive found it and the future but hopefully with a few or listens they'll grow

It didn't grab me on the first listen, in fact I really didn't like it at all, on the second listen it sounded like a album of decent quality b-sides. Several listens later and I think it's absolutely brilliant in every way, well apart from the crappy booklet. I can listen to the whole album all he way through and enjoy every song which hasn't happened for a long while. For me personally it's the most satisfying Manics album since TIMTTMY, I love it!

THIS IS ACTUALLY VERY TRUE.
Nicky's just not that excellent at lyric-writing. he's good but that's all and James and Sean's music constantly surpasses him.
And for the good of the band and the majority of the fans, he NEEDS to stop singing!

When the hell does this officially release? I've been listening to it for so long I thought it was already out. I keep wondering why my order hasn't arrived. (ordered the deluxe edition from Townsend records)

Came out yesterday. I guess it'll take a bit longer to reach you overseas.

Zee, you and I are in the same boat. Waiting.

The only main fault with the album is that it's a bit too sugary, both in terms of the production and of any of the individual songs having a bit of 'bite'. I think the songs are decent enough individually, but it just feels a little bit too sunny for a Manics album when taken as a whole. A couple of slightly darker tracks, possibly acoustic, to replace a couple of the upbeat rockers (descent, evil, found it, balconies, entertainment, etc) would have made for a more better album.

It's growing on me more now after a few listens today,although I find Platitudes a bit bland still.Would of loved to have the B Side Distractions on the album as I think it's bloody Brilliant.The Manics are so good a B Sides.That song would of been better on the album then Descent for sure.