Doubt we'll see a proper video from them again, they seem to be a thing of the past - Suede had their biggest album in 25 years and didn't do any promo videos for it, record companies don't think they're worth doing.

Sorry folks, no more Kieran generated footage of the band looking bored in a field or a woman looking moody in the Welsh landscape.

I think it might be partly down to the audience - younger bands of similar size to the Manics seem to get videos, but anything aiming at millennials and older doesn't really seem to bother these days.

True, no doubt links into which new releases get the high streaming figures too. So yes, younger artists generally.

The weird thing about music videos now is… Whose benefits are they for? They used to be a tool for advertising artist to people that didn’t know much about them. But there are no music channels that people watch all day anymore, no top of the pops… you might get recommended a video on YouTube, but what’s the point in putting serious money into that?

Lyric video… https://youtu.be/-P2xhwcH-2A?si=UAp6_BjIejyn8vh_

So I've just heard Decline & Fall. Hate it. Cheesy as hell, uninspired, Manics-by-numbers kinda track. Really wish they'd close up shop instead of taking subsequent dumps on their legacy by constantly rehashing SATT and PFAYM. "One last shot at mass communication" my ass!

Thanks, nice obscure video. Love this upbeat song.

Every album of theirs has had hooky singles. You need those to bring new blood in otherwise you’re just selling to a diminishing circle each year.

For every you stole the song from my heart, there is a my little Empire

I honestly don't think that formula works any more. I mean, who are songs like Decline & Fall exactly targeted at? Cheesy boomer crap like that certainly won't win over any young fans, who probably prefer more edgy, dark & gritty stuff. Are there any Oasis, Blur or Suede fans left to be converted?

And it's bound to piss off their existing, middle-aged fanbase, yours truly included :P

Maybe poor decisions behind their current artistic direction are the reason behind the diminishing circle?

Again, probably generational. YouTube is effectively a social media site these days, so it's a bit draw for younger people. Also, videos are designed to clip well so they can be used on TikTok, Instagram Reels and so on. It's very common for a song to drop before the video these days, and often pop artists build up a lot of hype for the video, posting brief clips and stuff. Fans seem to buy into it so it's definitely a pretty successful technique.

Song is pure AI Manics. Lyric really bad (though not as bad a It's Not War...). Don't like any of the choices they made musically. Really uninspiring.

I think the new songs and albums arent particularly targeted for certain groups anymore, maybe they once were but their songs being quite definable as Manics tracks. Like Oasis fans the many normal people and new blood who enjoy their albums know the songs and buy tickets to see them play festivals, concerts. Fans who have grown up knowing their journey and appreciated them as artists and a band who lost their lyricist, not so much pedants but have quite demanding jobs and live in the real world. It's just an insult to the band to expect them to stay in the same vein or stuck in the past. They lost their gifted edgy lyricist and respect him every time at their concerts. There's nothing going to come again from pre THB without him.

I get it but Decline and Fall sounds in the vein of other lead singles which seems once again geared to attract the over forty crowd that buys a couple of albums per year. If they haven't been listening to the Manics over the past 35 years they are not going to start now. Every single for the most part seems like they are re-assuring the public that they haven't changed much EMG or SATT which probably puts off a lot of people as well. I just wish they'd put out more singles that reflect the creativity of their albums (opinions will differ).

Well hopefully they'll make an appearance on the download or streaming charts this Friday.
Live Forever by Oasis is meant to be number one! For all the Top of the Pops theme flashbacks it's at least a bit more futuristic.

Edit: That went in! It got posted!
Edit Edit: No seriously who the fuck hasn't got a copy of Live Forever on something.

to see some critics by fans, it is a point of pride and surprising at the same time. nowadays you can not criticize taylor swift or blllie eilish while you like them at the same time:)) That's why I love that community, being a part of The Manics society...We all still want more of them because we have loved them for 30 years.