played it too the other day, i really enjoyed it, except "its not war". i always start with song two.

p.s. underdogs and its not war are the only two manics songs i skip.

1. postcards from a young man
2. the future has been here 4 ever
3. auto intoxication
4. i think i found it
5. hazelton avenue
6. all we make is entertainment
7. some kind of nothingness
8.billion balconies
9. don't be evil
10. the descent
11. golden platitudes
12. it's not war

I find if I listen to the album with a decent pair of headphones, with the expectation of it being shit, I'm pleasantly suprised. I think its easy to overplay this one as many of the songs are musically and melodically very straightforward and glossily produced. But there's some half decent stuff on there, with a few highlights.

Think of it as a 'pop' album, without looking for the emotional depth of much of there other stuff, and it works pretty well. I think the likes of Postacards from a YM, the Descent and INW have some of the best melodies written that year.

After the first six listens I had it as an 8/10, then it dropped all the way to a 5/10 (as I was simultaneously listening to Jouranl for Plague Lovers - Apples and Oranges :-).

Now I'd give it a 7/10. Its a decent pop album.

My ranking of this album. The first album where I really detest 2 songs. Just can 't listen to The Descent or Billion Balconies. But the first tracks in my list make it up for it.

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

It's the beswt produced album since EMG ,sounds wall of soundish when played reaaly loud.
No real stinkers in my opinion, just one or two average trracks (Dont be Evil and Hazelton Ave)
The title track is epic, shouikld have been the first single and pushed heavily by the label.

This was my review of the album - though in hindsight I tried to forced meanings onto certain songs to get them to fit into my overall reading of the album - please check it out and give your opinions:

http://www.misformusic.com/2010/09/p...eet-preachers/

Just came across this review. Sorry if it has been posted before but I think it makes quite a few good points -

http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2010...m-a-young-man/

A good review. It does make some good points, but nothing we haven't heard before. Good though :)

Personally, I really like the album. It's what Lifeblood could have been.

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

I saw the standard edition for £3 in HMV earlier today

wow, the cheapest I've seen it in HMV was £6! i'm gonna buy the deluxe version when i get round to it, it's on amazon for about £8 :)

Still loving it and disappointed that we haven't got to hear more of it live!

I agree with that. A Billion Balcolnies has only been played a couple of times, but not at the gigs I went to - no All We Make Is Entertainment, and they made T-Shirts with "DON'T BE EVIL" on and never played it live! I like Don't Be Evil!

Don't Be Evil live would have been fantastic!!

It's the first Manics album I haven't bought since I got into them.

Seems to be £12.49 on Amazon

Cheapest I can find it is £9.47 from Tesco.