Well here's something I don't think I knew about - it's not only Freedom of speech which features Kevin Shields, it's Dead Martyrs too! It's not a surprise when you think about it, there's a screaming guitar part which must be his.

Believe it was sourced from a Dave Eringa comment. Pretty sure it was in this thread.

Ooh! That's a new one to me. I was thinking that new outro didn't sound like James.

After a day and a half of listening all I can say is brilliant is the new mix of Epicentre? Seriously, how was it been completely overlooked to be performed live over the past twenty years?

Been getting into Solidarity today. It's like Nicky Wire's THB. They never went on to make a more harder rocking collection of songs -- and (arguably) didn't make one before.

The main thing about it is how damn beautiful and great Baby Elian and My Guernica are! Pure bliss. The vocals on those tracks, god damn... And both mixes are beautifully holographic too. Might be their most accomplished mixing yet -- JDB finally keeps his promise to widen the sound field, a la War on Drugs. The drums especially sound incredible. I feel touches of Lifeblood in the electronic effects, and tracks like Automatik Technicolour in them too.

My god, imagine if they gave Automatik Technicolour and Forever Delated that treatment? I'd have a heart attack.

Super interesting stuff -- total filler songs have become showstoppers. The full fuzzy rockers fare a bit worse, as the master is really, really bassy (wish it was a bit less bassy -- I had to switch out my IEM tips for light no-grips that drastically reduce bass).

PS I totally don't get the hate for DTTS, the song. I think it's like a better This Sullen Welsh Heart and fits perfectly after SWSS. And, like, we already have the old version! Which is an orphan anyway, doesn't fit anywhere in their discography -- try putting it into any tracklist. Just doesn't fit. JDB had a really good idea how to use it. The strings would totally ruin it here, no strings anywhere on either album and then they're on this? Nah. Just focus on the microdetail of JDBs timber, feel the lyric delivery. It's almost like a Dylan song, if Dylan could sing. Doesn't have to be bells and whistles -- the chords, the melody and vocal delivery are so rich they're more than enough on their own. I actually think its richer stripped down. The lyrics alone paint the images.

I love DTTR as an album and I think it was a possibility to release an album in that vein in 2001, however Solidarity doesn't makes sense outside of a pipe dream. It's just shuffling the rest of the tracks that rock harder than Epicentre. In the end the band was a mess and wanted to do both things at the same time but didn't had the patience to keep going with the double album plan. A lack of a pop single also hurt the album[s](masses being a stand alone single took expectations to unexpected levels, in the long run and made them doubt).

Hey folks, it's been a while.. (hi Donkey, miss you!)

It's been a rollercoaster ride with some of recent MSP releases, I haven't really enjoyed SATT or TIMTTY reissues and I still haven't decided if I like the last two albums at all.

I wanted to listen to KYE 20 without prejudice just out of curiosity and to rehash some of those old memories - it was one of my first MSP albums.

Man, the first disc is fantastic! I love the remixed songs, Ocean Spray sounds great and there are some interesting details all over the first cd that were buried before. I can imagine this might become my favourite album for this Autumn. DTTR without strings sucks a little bit, but I can understand why did they include this version. The one with the strings should be included on Lifeblood, to be honest.

On the other hand, I'm not too fond of the Solidarity "album". I'm probably in the minority, because I've always loved Miss Europa and Wattsville Blues. I miss the original outro in WB. Another thing I don't like at all is why did they included Bourgeois? It doesn't fit at all. I know people on here prefer the nex mix of Elian, but to me it sounds weird and maybe too much spacey if you know what I mean, almost like US mix of THB.

Overall, I'm loving this release and it's fun to really listen to all those differences - maybe it would be cool to list all of those when compared to the original mixes? First disc is awesome and even though I have some issues or WTF moments with the second one, I still like it.

That violin in SWSS remix towards the end is one of the best manics musical moments, honestly

By and large the new mixes are fabulous and it's great to have all these options. I'm less keen on the new Guernica. Sounds a bit more like a demo to me. I could still live without the covers being considered part of the 'main' albums but overall this is one hell of a reissue. Absolutely brilliant and worth the wait.

So can anyone clarify is the signed insert for the vinyl actually including within the packaging of the sealed vinyl? I don't plan on opening it but I'm not sure if they've forgotten to send me one, or if indeed I need to open it to get my hands on it.

Mine was inside the sleeve

Yeah, I thought they hadn't sent it. Checked the packaging found nothing.
Oh well, two new old Manics albums. Opened up and there it was behind the booklet.
Not sure where it's hidden in the vinyl version.

In front of Inner Sleeve A/B on mine

Mine (finally arrived today!) was inside sleeve. The wrapping had already been opened, I presume to put in the signed insert.

Not impressed with quality of t-shirt print, real 70's old school stuff that cracks & peels off:(

I wouldn't be surprised if every note of Masses Against the Classes 2022 is new. It sounds too informed by the way it's played now.

My Guernica Rehearsal has the little wobbly sound at the start that went into the final version - what is that, anyway? Sounds like the start of a studio tape being played back (EMG era rehearsal tracks have something similar on them)