Still think it is a very poor album, but to be honest i haven't had the chance to hear much of it in a live setting. Maybe they would work much better then like stuff off Generation Terrorists does, i'll never know.

Darn, was hoping for a 'Radiomanic now loves Postcards!' type post! :(

Trust me it's a grower!
I listened to it relentlessly on release and when you know the tracks by heart, they sound a lot better :)
I gave it one listen and to be completely honest, I wasn't blown away, but after 3 or 4 listens Golden Platitudes really grabbed my attention and I fell in love with Billion Balconies.
Lyrcally (I now this doesn't 'make' an album) there are some very impressive lyrics on there.
I understand that strings and choirs are not for everybody and that some have issues with over production, but I think a lot of the hate was a bit over the top (just my opinion remember).
After hearing It's not war live at the Brixton XFM show, I was pleasantly surprised! From where I was the crowd mostly seemed to know and like it!

I also think it will be criminal if PFAYM isn't released as a single as it is a catchy little sing-along number :)
Whilst I think Platitudes is the best song on the album, it is to similar in tone (not subject) to SKON. Hopefully this will be like lifeblood for some, and appreciated in later years as a very decent record.
I know the band are capable of better and can understand frustrations, but this needs to be judged on it's own merits and the band are clearly happy with it - it stands as a monument to the band at tis point in time, for that it should be embraced.

Have to agree with you on the lyrics beautifuldistortion, most songs are superb with one or two weak lines, but overall it's very good on that front.

^^ What would you say was the best song lyrically on the album?
I would go with either Golden Platitudes due to 'why colonise the moon' being beautifully written and sung
Or Balconies "a perfect answer to camouflage our screams" that sentiment sums up the song, regardless of whether or not the subject matter is agreed with it nails the point of the song for me.

Golden Platitudes is absolutely wonderful on all points, flows so nicely, so it's a contender lyrically.

I really enjoy the melancholy lyrics of Hazelton Avenue though, despite the chorus lyric not making much sense in that respect. I may be tempted to say The Future Has Been Here 4ever despite the terrible Godfather 3 line haha.

Ahh that line makes me giggle :) I understand his sentiment, but he done it much better with the 'carlito's way' line from Black Dog On My Shoulder.

I quite like the rousing - 'I will not give up and I will not give in' from Postcards, always cheers me up :)

It is a good album, fairly solid, lets all agree to like it in the future when all the fuss has died down ;)

I rate it as a good-ish album, just under KYE and Lifeblood. So they did better than average anyway :P

I don't even know the full lyrics to Golden Platitudes cos the lyrics aren't even in the deluxe booklet! What is the booklet like in the standard album version?

A T.S. Eliot quote on the back, pics on the left hand side, lyrics on the right hand side.

It's not a grower. I do know the tracks off by heart musically, but they're just very poor songs. I cannot bring myself to listen to it any longer, bar It's Not War which i always liked. It's their second worst album for me, such a disappointment after JFPL. SATT was disappointing as well, but at least that had Underdogs, Indian Summer and Rendition.

Interesting to compare initial thoughts with those 3 months later...

1. Golden Platitudes
2. Billion Balconies.
3. The Descent.
4. It's Not War
5. The Future Is Here 4ever
6. Postcards From A Young Man
7. All We Make Is Entertainment
8. Some Kind Of Nothingness
9. Don't Be Evil
10. Auto Intoxication
11. I Think I Found It
12. Hazleton Avenue

So not huge changes but some promotions and relegations going on!

Played it rather loudly at work today! And some of the b-sides too! Sounded fab! :D

The next single confirmed: http://www.nme.com/news/manic-street-preachers/54410

Cool, looks good. Hopefully this one will do better, I personally think it's a better song than SKON or INW anyway.