Random Manics thoughts...

[Marat Sar]

I finally *got* Journal For Plague Lovers last year, one night. Just put it on, listened through it and understood. After ten years of being puzzled by its lyrics, compositions, mood and most of all, its popularity among fans. It's not in my top five, or even seven, but I get it now. For me -- it's 100% all about the concept and almost 0% music. It's a truly strange collection of short tunes -- a between-albums lyricist's scrapbook, set to strange, short pieces of rock music that flow into one another. It's half-formed, dark, funny, at times cold like metal, stuck to your tongue in the dead of winter.

And, it really can't be understated -- the man who's notes we're hearing became one of the biggest unsolved disappearances of all time. I mean, c'mon it's Britain, how big is it? How is it possible to *vanish* here?! Anyway, this is the manics at their weirdest. It's perhaps even more unsettling than The Holy Bible in a way. It's just ungainly at times. The lumbering off rhythm of Doors Closing Slowly, the nonsensical bonhomie of Jackie Collins.

These aren't top notch Richie lyrics in any way, they truly have all the signs of a lyricist transitioning from one topic to another. But they're still very, very interesting. Truly unlike anything else.

My opinion on it is pretty much the same as James'. I saw an article where he ranked manics albums and put it in the lower half, saying the idea was more important than the music that time. I almost never agree with them on their own work, but this time I do.

Also, it's really, really critique-proof work. What can anyone say against something so unique and idiosyncratic?

[UEF]

The song that sums up JFPL for me is Bag Lady, which is a shame as it isn’t on it

[IntlDebris]

I was totally opposed to JFPL as soon as it was announced because it felt like such an intentional step backwards (especially with all the Holy Bible comparisons from the band and press), and following the already somewhat backwards-looking SATT it really felt like they'd given up on doing anything new after Lifeblood flopped and were cashing in on their past. I gave it one listen and immediately concluded it sounded like KYE b-sides and never listened again.

It was only with the hype around Futurology that I felt able to really get excited about the band again, and revisited it and it clicked immediately. I don't claim to have any real understanding of the lyrics - I'm a child of EMG and never found the earlier albums that accessible or interesting - but I think it hangs together pretty well and is mostly really solidly written. So I stopped calling it Journal for Plague Bibles (to fit alongside Gold Against the Tigers, Postcards Must Go and This is My Film, Rewind Yours).

[Porco]

I think RIF is possibly the best Manics album title acronym. This is what they make me think of:

GT - A racing car, or a gin & tonic (don’t mix the two!).
GATS - Nickname for a cricketer.
THB - Some kind of dangerous chemical.
EMG - Some sort of European regulatory body.
TIMTTMY - A Mary Poppins song about chimney sweeps (Tim t’t’mee).
KYE - What a dyslexic person might use to unlock a door etc.
L - Hell ((‘ell) for the band, apparently).
SATT - Past participle of ‘sit’.
JFPL - Some sort of American sporting division. Jump Far Premier League?
PFAYM - P’Fame - dismissive tutting about celebrity.
RTF - Rich Text Format computer file.
F - Expletive.
RIF - A catchy, often repeated hook, frequently played on or associated with the guitar.

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by Porco

I think RIF is possibly the best Manics album title acronym. This is what they make me think of:

JFPL - Some sort of American sporting division. Jump Far Premier League?

Presented by Jiff Pluh for overseas broadcasts!

[Porco]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

Presented by Jiff Pluh for overseas broadcasts!

Jiff Pluh... lol

Sounds Australian!

G’day, today on the Jamp Far Primier Lege we’ve got a rimarkible clip where a funny litle marsupial wandered onto the fild...! I’m Jiff Pluh!

[Marat Sar]

The working title "Idle European" (from the Truth & Memory doc -- freeze frame when panning lyrics sheets) was a much better title for Valley Boy.

European Miracle was a much, much, much better title for Europa Geht Durch Mich.

Had they staid with them they'd have a European trilogy now (with Miss Europa)

[Mr Richey]

Very sad to read on Facebook just now that John Slatex is retiring Manic Street Mania after 20 years. He’s been such an integral part of Manics fandom and has put so much hard work into it and he was one of the first Manics fans that I ever met.

[Velocitygirl]

Originally Posted by Mr Richey

Very sad to read on Facebook just now that John Slatex is retiring Manic Street Mania after 20 years. He’s been such an integral part of Manics fandom and has put so much hard work into it and he was one of the first Manics fans that I ever met.

Really? This is very sad news, indeed.

[LA ex]

I can't remember reading this before, but enjoyed reading back on the recording of GATS, including Richey's first guitar playing!

http://www.foreverdelayed.org.uk/msp...17th_July_1993

[Tim]

Originally Posted by Mr Richey

Very sad to read on Facebook just now that John Slatex is retiring Manic Street Mania after 20 years. He’s been such an integral part of Manics fandom and has put so much hard work into it and he was one of the first Manics fans that I ever met.

That is a shame to read. It feels like the manics fan is a dying breed these days - this place being swallowed by social media, long time fans shutting up shop or selling off all their stuff, books being written by vindictive opportunists...
Actually, does half the stuff that gets talked about on here even come up in zuckerberg's creepy little sandpit?

[hummingbird]

Originally Posted by Tim

That is a shame to read. It feels like the manics fan is a dying breed these days - this place being swallowed by social media, long time fans shutting up shop or selling off all their stuff, books being written by vindictive opportunists...
Actually, does half the stuff that gets talked about on here even come up in zuckerberg's creepy little sandpit?

Is it cos we're all getting old?

[Tim]

Originally Posted by hummingbird

Is it cos we're all getting old?

Maybe, but that argument seems a tad too simplistic to me, of course the fanbase is getting older and they have been a cult band for most of their existence; yet they sell out gigs pretty quick and the crowds don't seem that old for a band at this stage in its lifespan. Nicky has often talked about there being a lot of new blood in the audience. I also think their luddism when it comes to the internet really has not done them any favours, they should have embraced it from the beginning but then they've always had an uneasy relationship with the fan community (to put it lightly).

I suppose what i wanted to know, as someone who doesn't use the big social medias, is - have the topics and theorising and appreciation and random thoughts and all the rest of it transplanted to social media or is this really all there is? Is this is as good as it gets?

[hummingbird]

Ludditeism in what way? That won't have anything to do with why this forum is quiet

[IntlDebris]

Originally Posted by Tim

It feels like the manics fan is a dying breed these days - this place being swallowed by social media

This in itself (and I know it doesn't cover your entire point) is sadly the case for just about everything. 10-15 years ago I was a member of maybe 30 message boards: on some I was a regular, others barely more than a lurker. But now half of those forums are gone, a quarter are almost embarrassingly dead, and the remaining quarter are like here: busy enough, but nothing compared to the past. The worst thing is the social media versions are always shite because they're partially populated by casual fans, and although there's nothing wrong with casual fans, they hinder the existence of in-depth discussion. Forums have always been about nerds, and it's harder and harder to find nerd-friendly places.