Anyone else think `Zeitgeist` is a complete masterpiece?

[CraigFairlie]

I think it's a truly amazing album. I really like it, it's something different.

[everlasting]

I have the album on currently, flicked through the booklet to brush up on the lyrics, and it's actually a lot better than I remember. Oh shit, as I type track 8 just started and that is the worst thing ever, have to skip this one!

[MRK]

Nicky Wire should never be allowed to sing, he should cease handling guitars and should never be allowed to make another solo record again.

That's my contribution. Hated this record so fucking much.

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by MRK

Nicky Wire should never be allowed to sing, he should cease handling guitars and should never be allowed to make another solo record again.

That's my contribution. Hated this record so fucking much.

I think there's a certain charm to it. I suppose the significant thing is he didn't try and make another record. But I can't see it as a failed experiment.
It will always have a place in my heart if only for the "Pls fuk off n die" look I got from the HMV member of staff when I bought it!

Originally Posted by everlasting

I have the album on currently, flicked through the booklet to brush up on the lyrics, and it's actually a lot better than I remember. Oh shit, as I type track 8 just started and that is the worst thing ever, have to skip this one!

Is it wrong that I can still remember what track 8 is even though I haven't heard it for ages?

And "Goodbye Suicide", I love the country-ish tinges of that. Listen to the album in full now though? Oh no, no no. No not just yet thanks!

[Geranium Terrorists]

I love it, except for the aforementioned 'track 8'. "ssSO MUchhhh FAW deh FuUuURTUre".
The Shining Path's chorus ("And I want you to know.."), the whole of Nicky Wire's Last and "Hold on, hold on..." are all great moments. Even if you are one of Nicky's greatest detractors you have to at least agree that he has vocally improved massively since IKTZ.

[hummingbird]

He's a terrible singer but i like the album.. i'd be interested in him doing another one but with the vocals mixed down a bit so my ears don't scream. Sorry Nicky

[Suicide Aldi]

I love this album. Always have. His singing iant that bad. I actually prefer Nickys solo album tomJames's.

[Aestivate]

Only paid something like £3 for it, listened to it once and sent it to Room 101. It is alongside that polaroids book, which also cost me £3.

[Automatik]

Had it on repeat over Easter weekend. Still love it.

I Killed The Zeitgeist, Stab Yr Heart and Bobby Untitled in particular are all utterly exquisite.

I once met Nicky after a gig shortly after IKTZ was released. I told him I really liked the album and he looked all bashful and said, 'Aw, you didn't have to say that...' as if I was just being nice/obsequious but I genuinely did and do still think it's a wonderful album.

[circle-the-wagons]

Its a masterpiece in tone deafness!! mind you...he's a better singer than the one from Embrace haha!!

[Phil C]

I love IKTZ - overall a better record than 'The Great Western' which has a few bland tracks on it. And in typical Manics fashion, he left one of the best songs off it, the beautful 'Derek Jarman's Garden' which is up there with the heartbreaking 'Bobby Untitled' and the surprisingly epic 'Everything Fades'. A complete surprise of an album, and a total delight.

[slop101]

If you take Zeitgeist, mixed it with a dash of Great Western, with James singing and playing guitar on the whole thing (basically, make a Frankenstein's monster equating to an MSP album) it would be far better than the sum of the parts.

[Phil C]

Originally Posted by slop101

If you take Zeitgeist, mixed it with a dash of Great Western, with James singing and playing guitar on the whole thing (basically, make a Frankenstein's monster equating to an MSP album) it would be far better than the sum of the parts.

I disagree. It'd be like if James had sung 'Williams' Last Words' - it just wouldn't have worked. The fragility of Nick's voice is what makes tracks like 'Bobby Untitled' so affecting, and prevents 'Everything Fades' from being too bombastic. I think Nick's voice suits the rough-and-ready sound of the album - that's presumably why Nick's vocals are mixed so highly on various 'Know Your Enemy' tracks, to counter the purer tone of James' voice.

[slop101]

You're probably right, but I don't hear things that way. I'm way too simple in that I just gravitate towards the "nicer" sounding voice, one that better carries the tune.

[Automatik]

I think every one of us has fantasised about how that great 'missing' Manics album comprised of the best of IKTZ and the best of TGW - with James singing on the combined stuff for the most part - would have sounded.

That said, Nicky's voice definitely suits certain tracks, both on his own album and in the Manics' catalogue. (I'm thinking primarily of Lady Lazarus, not just William's Last Words and Wattsville Blues.)