That is very, very kind of you. I will very likely DM you sometime soon!

I noticed this today - I guess it's the end of the previous song, and they have a crossfade. Sounds… interesting … like a bit of Wham! if you ask me.

It’s a sample from That Petrol Emotion’s Song Creeping to the Cross (1987): https://youtu.be/WdSXyhGFv7E?si=UkUI-h-BP8CPbyB_

Which I think is very cool as those guys are from my hometown and I didn’t know about their post-Undertones band.

This didn't get enough credit!! :D :D

I think it was played on the Jools Holland performance, so I assume it's on the album version as an intro sample but not on the single edit.

Bit quiet but just wanted to say it'll be next month I'll buy that shirt, cassette and double CD (with signed art print!) next month. Definitely. As we were then!

Like several others stated, it's a bummer the 7" is only shipping within UK only. I'm an avid collector of these and often in the past the b-sides have been real gems! Been getting the LPs on the past few releases, but this time I may just settle for the CD book. I'm a bit tired of everything being bundled. Especially with getting two copies of the album, just with one being the alternate cover. As far as signed stuff, I have so much autographed Manics stuff now I've lost track.

I'm not bothering for the signed stuff as got stuff signed over the years. I've asked my parents to get me the book CD as a belated Christmas present and I'll buy the vinyl myself from HMV as I have some vouchers to use up.

I watched the Jools Holland performance again, they sound amazing and I wonder if they might make the New Year show there.

That would be amazing. I notice that Wire is posting a lot of Instagram videos of JDB playing guitar. Why would they be in the studio....?

I hope so it seems ages since they were on Jools at New Year. I think James was in 2004 when he did Out Of Time from Lipstick Traces, Hopefully with the album imminent they'll be there this time.

How much time do they need to rehearse for ahead of playing their first live gigs in a while? Depending on what they are all up to over Christmas this might be their only chance to prepare for the Japan dates in the new year.

I wonder if the teases of Faster and Sleepflower mean we'll be seeing them live next year or if James just likes to rock out in the studio.

Argh! Just remembered a question I want to ask them!
Which song of theirs is banned from rehearsals because it causes too many arguments and infighting?
I reckon it might be something off KYE. But can't think which.

There’ll be a blood records exclusive vinyl for this… let’s see. I don’t think it’s a picture disc as there’s already the Amazon one. I’d assume this is a different color/perhaps alt cover as well.

Blood records LP:

NEW DROP! @Manics return with ‘Critical Thinking’ pressed to black dust LP, limited to 2,000 copies and hand-numbered to order:
http://www.blood-records.co.uk/products/manics

https://blood-records.co.uk/cdn/shop...g?v=1731865344