[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by IntlDebris

Surprises me just how few downloads and streams there are in there. I know Manics fans are generally older and thus more likely to buy physicals, but I barely know anyone my age who buys records anymore, my friends are almost all Spotify users in their early 40s, so for the digital stats to be that low is remarkable to me.

Other than anyone monitoring their socials or fans big enough to be on here/following whatever they do, it wouldn't surprise me if a lot of more casual or former fans don't even know they have a new album out.

I know a few people who like them, have been to see them, know their history, but generally checked out in the last 10-20 years besides a couple of gigs. I met one friend recently who admitted he didn't bother listening to RIF or TUVL and only attended one gig after 2011.

Maybe in time it will build some momentum, who knows!

Originally Posted by bgdaniels

International Blue is one of their best singles since their glory days. I don't find it cringe in the slightist. Great riffs, really interesting subject matter (to someone like me who isn't European and not steeped in art history), and a killer final chorus. Maybe the keyboard part is a bit cheesy but they've *always* been a bit cheesy. What do you find cringe about it? Also maybe my perspective is different as I'm American and probably have a different emotional relationship with the band than people in the UK, but just curious.

Well to be honest, I find International Blue to be exactly the antithesis of "one of the best singles since their glory days", it's scraping the barrel with this kind of unimaginative, cartoonish version of a commercial faux anthem that they think fans want (see also: It's Not War, Autumnsong, Decline and Fall, Your Love Alone Is Not Enough).

I find the songwriting lazy and predictable, unmemorable average melodies, a lazy James riff going down a scale instead of crafting something really strong and unique, the lyric being an example of Nicky referencing art without really saying anything of substance (and probably thinking it's intellectual or thought-provoking as a result). Overall, yet another song that sounds like they could have typed "write a Manics anthem" into an AI song generator and then had it mixed for playing on a phone or laptop. The best thing about hearing it live was knowing it would be over and out of the way soon.

Originally Posted by Bartek Wyre

Ever heard of toxic positivity ? It's a thing, google it! Lotsa peeps barfing rainbows here and in the Decline & Fall youtube comments section. But yeah, each to their own.

I've seen comments on Facebook and YouTube from those who love the new material and have replied expressing as such, but I guess I didn't take it any kind of excessive adulation. There are artists out there who do seem to fall into that "they could release an album of farts and fans would still say it's genius" category but I don't think the Manics are in that territory, definitely not these days.

The boys have some songs that seem to be fairly unpopular with fans so that's why I had some mild surprise at the praise on here. But far be it for me to try and convince anyone otherwise, people often look at me as if I've sprouted a second head when they hear that I love S.Y.M.M. and Gold Against the Soul!

Originally Posted by Abstract Unknown Girl

I’m by no means a Sabrina Carpenter fan, but I can’t open social media without seeing something about her lately. She performed at the Grammys, she was just on SNL dancing with Pedro Pascal this past weekend and she duetted with Dolly Parton. I don’t follow anything to do with her yet I’m aware this has all happened in the last couple of weeks, so it’s fair to say she’s having something of ‘A Moment’ right now. A band like the Manics obviously can’t compete with that, nor should they try, so a number 2 album is pretty good going in the current music landscape.

Every word of this. Also the landscape and industry have changed, I don't think the Manics' perception of success has moved with it.