I loathe Judi Dench....

What time will we know who has a number 1 album? Sad I know but I might buy some Cava.

You could keep it.....just make it accessible to all....not via the tinternet for that would be pretending technology made us equal....so you'll just have to be sure you play it frequently and very loud so the hungry huddled masses can hear it

Could do but it will most likely scratch the disc.

So I finally hooked myself up with a copy of the album - import was available at HMV so I shelled out far too much for the regular copy (probably slightly less then what I would have paid had I had the deluxe edition shipped from the UK), but I saw it and got a wee bit excited - the most excited I've been since hearing anything about this album, including the few tracks I've heard here and there - so I just went with my gut and bought it. Not that any of this is important, but I thought I'd share anyway. :)

Listened to it for the better part of the day and I have to say, it really is a good album. I was scared that all the songs would have the same annoying string section throughout (hey, I like the sound of a string section as much as the next person, I'm just not into strings that sound like they've been sampled from a 70's disco hit or worse, one of Rick Astley's vomit inducing non-classics), but I was happy to hear they only pulled them out for a couple of tracks (the strings do work really nicely on The Descent and Golden Platitudes...they feel like they 'belong' on those tunes - very organic - while on songs like It's not War they just sound too much like filler). It's actually quite a heavily guitar based album which very much reminds me A LOT of Bowie (Hunky Dory era specifically, but also a Ziggy sound in much of the guitar work clearly influenced by Mick Ronson's own unique style) and some obvious Beatles influences too. Over all, it's a really lovely sounding album, but I still think the lyrics are a bit shit and the 'everything but the kitchen sink' approach to some of the production really was over the top and completely unnecessary.

Best song: Golden Platitudes. So beautiful that it makes me want to cry.

Edit: No idea where there is a sad face at the top of my post. I must of hit something by mistake. In a nutshell, it's not meant to be there so just ignore it.

Perhaps Nicky needs better taste in dresses.

Great Pretender, I popped in to my local HMV. Only Manics CD was a copy of JFPL. Perhaps one of the other shops has a copy.

The album is very good.

Just slightly ahead of its time. A year or so from now, the early to mid-70s sound will probably be 'in'.

Got the album Wednesday - after about 3 or 4 listens it comes alive. Was fearing the worst as I found SATT pretty bland and was expecting a continuation of that.

Overall not bad,Probably won't make my top 3 manics albums but probably top 5. Favorite songs is Entertainment, Balconies, Auto Intoxication.

Auto Intoxication actually brought ears to the eyes a couple of times! I was blown away and so proud.

Best Nicky lyrics since TIMTTMY. Didn't cringe too many times at the lyrics.

Still not got my deluxe version from CDWow. Now shipped so hopefully will arrive this week. Been listening to the album on Spotify and love it. Think it does tail of towards the end.

Gave it a first listen this morning and have to say my over riding feeling is one of disappointment.

Other than the single nothing stood out.

And what's with the strings on almost every song?

Fingers crossed that it's a grower.

I was going to ask this actually. Does anyone think they overdid the strings and/or choir?

Definitely. Both. Golden Platitudes I find especially cringe-worthy. Demo version is much much better in my opinion. But I do understand why they've used them, just need to be toned down a bit

Agreed. Slight overkill.

YES !!!!!

Perhaps generally there's a bit too much of both on the album, but I don't really mind either. In a good way and a bad way, though, I find the strings have most of the control of the best songs - I'd prefer the best bits to be from the instruments the band plays themselves.

They used the choir way too much, and some of it doesn't sound very good. For example, the choir on SKON shouldn't have come in until after the n n n n never stop bit, if at all. It seems such a lazy approach to production to just smear strings and a choir all over an album and think that automatically makes it sound epic. Some of it sounds pretty shit. Mike Hedges might have done a better job of it.

I agree that strings are fine but gospel choirs should have been used very sparingly, if at all.