Perhaps but what percentage of those commenters do you see as realistically having pre-ordered the album or even buying it on the day or after release compared to here?

That happy happy joy joy "community" is likely made up of those people that go to the gigs and only come alive for 'a design for life' and 'you stole the sun' while shouting loudly to make themselves heard as they chat away to their mates or watching something on their phone for the rest of the gig blissfully unaware or simply not caring that they're annoying the people around them.

Not sure how you can make that assumption if someone just makes a positive comment on a video.

Aaaah, yes, and according to youtube's comments section almost every single fucking band, Manics included, is "criminally underrated." :lol: I've said this before, I'll say it again: Manics have more UK No.1 hits than - say - Depeche Mode, and no one calls Depeche Mode criminally underrated...

My assumption about the composition of the community is based on the type of comments they make, not the positivity. Many people here make unfailingly positive comments about the band, yourself included, but I don't include you/them in this catagorisation.

As the band believe in freedom of speech anyone can make negative comments, though certain good comments are more likely to be categorised? The band often make negative interviews, though I take the rough and smooth with the Manics, the songs, how they play live and regard people's thoughts on them, which makes them a true authentic band in my opinion.

Day 684.
With still no sign of land but with healthy enough provisions. I fear the tribe is beginning to fight amongst themselves. How I curse the King of our homeland who banished us from the country we love. In fact wasn't it a Queen when we left? Been at sea so long beginning to think I'm cracked in the head. I confide in my pet stone that I am to marry when we reach land. But even these days the stone has stopped talking to me. Ever since that "No you actually can drink seawater. I saw a TikTok" video got sent to my inbox.
By my curse-ed splintered buttocks how I live to dance with my granite bride. That thought keeps me sane through these troublesome seas.

:lol:

Yahh… tales upon tales of crisps upon crisps, moanings about moaning and moanings about not-moanings, and now forced to drink seawater. Perhaps this be the saltiest of Manics eras for many a year.

The Rime of the not so Ancient Manics Fan :D

There are now, by my account, 7 variations of the vinyl available

https://assai.co.uk/products/manic-s...ed-colour-2025

https://assai.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/M...g?v=1738670105

Have their been any Japanese vinyl versions before?

Edit: answer is still no. This looks like the red vinyl version available from independent stores just with an extra red band?

That’s about right, yes https://youtu.be/DaOgZwk9rN8

The band have also signed the hat/obi strip

Endless variants and reissues... Bit of a cash cow, innit.

The assai obi, as previously discussed, is just an extra little thing, and although collective because of the signatures, the vinyl is exactly the same. This is something that they have come up with to sell more vinyl in their stores. Wax & Beans in Manchester have their own thing too (a magnetic strip with title/logo, although not for the Manics)

After going down a David Hurn rabbit hole, I happened across the ‘Arizona Trips’ book. It contains the ‘highway’ picture used for the CT album cover, and some other cool shots. Found signed copies available here https://www.martinparrfoundation.org...arizona-trips/

Just back from NZ, looks like we're waiting until the 14th.