[FacelessSenseOfVoid]

Here's my review after listening to the album a few times on repeat.

Critical Thinking:
Musically quite similar to Antisocialmanifesto (which was a decent song). It’s not the lyrical content that makes this but Wire’s sarcastic delivery - “I demand my respect” had me in stitches. I can see why this wasn’t a single but it absolutely deserves a music video made for it, where I can picture Nicky walking down a street Fast Show style delivering his lines. Certainly nowhere near the best songs on the album for me but enjoyable nonetheless and a great start to the album. 8/10

Decline and Fall:
We’ve had this for ages and it took a while to grow on me but I do love it still. Not as good as International Blue, although the keys in the song do have a slight resemblance to that song - but hugely better than Orwellian (which I think is dog shit). Solid first single and nicely placed on the album. 8.5/10

Brushstrokes of Reunion:
I ruffled some feathers when I criticised this song’s production and mixing and I stand by that. Nothing has changed for me in that response. JDB’s vocals in the second verse are fucking sloppily mixed and edited, which I keep hearing every time I listen to it. The whole song needed to be toned down - there’s a good song in there, as was evidenced by the live version and I’m really looking forward to the demo because if it’s the same as the snippet that we heard before the single release then it will immediately replace the version on the album for me on my playlist. 8/10 (but missed potential to be 9/10).

Hidden In Plain Sight:
Easily the best Wire vocal on a Manics album, and I really like some of his stuff. The Long Goodbye, Death Of A Digital Ghost and The Passing Show are all in my top 50 Manics songs (but probably not for much longer as I need to revisit it post KYE-reissue). Again, I won’t go over old ground but this is a fucking good song and the solo after the first chorus is one of my favourites on any Manics track. Great work from Nicky. 9/10 (P.S. Has anyone noticed that the live version is a lot slower than the recording?)

People Ruin Paintings:
I still can’t get over the stock library riff throughout the song but it’s not too offensive to me as the first time I heard it. It’s grown on me a lot since I first heard it and I’d say it’s in the same league as Hidden In Plain Sight now. There are a lot of layers to this song as is evidenced by the album trailer, but still a sense of room and space to the song, which gives it an expansive feel. Some of JDB’s best vocals as well. 9/10

Dear Stephen:
I’m not a Morrissey or Smiths fan and never will be but this is a pretty decent song. On the weaker side of the album, but it’s nice, light and poppy. It will probably grow on me though. Not much more to add at this stage. 7.5/10

Being Baptised:
When I first heard it, it didn’t really register and went in one ear and out of the other (as someone else on here also said). It’s taken me a few listens to get used to it but listening to the album in sequence has helped me enjoy it a bit more. Not quite the 80s pop sound of the rest of the album, but much more 60s/70s in style with that 12 string guitar ringing away. I think this song will grow on me a lot more. 8/10

My Brave Friend:
Again, one that didn’t really register the first time I heard it, probably because I was listening to the album on a bad connection away from home and trying to work at the same time. But since I’ve had the chance to hear it properly - WOW. One of the stand out tracks on the album. Suspect that the subject matter is Richey (as a few others have said). It’s similar in style to Complicated Illusions but infinitely better and absolutely soaring. Love the drums on this song. Reminds me of a mid-80s song but not sure what, exactly. 9.5/10

Out Of Time Revival:
This had the potential to be brilliant after I heard the album trailer (didn’t know which song it was from then) but the chorus really lets this song down. Probably one of the weakest choruses in any Manics song. The rest of the song is great, and I absolutely love the synths in the verses and the solo is good too. Another JDB penned song with missed potential. 7.5/10

Deleted Scenes:
Took a few listens to register but this one is huge. I read a review where it said the song could have featured in a John Hughes film and I can totally see that, which probably has made me appreciate the song more after reading that comment. Pure 80s pop, could have fitted nicely onto Lifeblood. Lovely JDB vocals. Another stand out track. 9/10

Late Day Peaks:
This song hasn’t really been mentioned much in reviews, which is a shame because it’s easily the best song on the album for me. Unlike the others I heard yesterday on a crap connection, this one registered immediately. It’s very Seven and the Ragged Tiger era Duran Duran for me, which is my favourite album of theirs. Think it was Porco who said this is a sister song to A Soundtrack To Complete Withdrawal, which I agree with, especially with the pulsing rhythm, although this song is a bit more upbeat and sparkly in places. Could have fit easily on Lifeblood. Going to listen to this one on repeat I think. 9.7/10

Onemanmilitia:
Dying Breeds Part 2 I’d say and Dying Breeds isn’t a song I particularly liked or listen to much. Weakest Wire song on the album, and for me the majority of Intimism is better than this. Could have taken any one of those and replaced this. Don’t think I’ll be listening to this one much. 6.5/10

In conclusion, this album fuses the best parts of Futurology, RIF and TUVL and combines them. There's a couple of duff tracks on the album but on average I am enjoying listening to more of the tracks on Critical Thinking than I did from those albums on first listen. 8/10 was a fair score I'd say from the reviews.
"Modern day Manics hater?" FUUUUUUUCCCKKKKK THHHHHAAAATTTTTTTTTttttttt