Album 15

[Glyn]

Originally Posted by UEF

There is that. But you also can’t tell people they must order the album by such and such a date to win a competition/get the super limited bundle/hear the piano versions/get the limited vinyl colour and complain when they then do so.

Along with releasing 4 songs before the album. People have had more than enough information to decide if it's for them or not and it's no suprise that second week sales would be rather low.

[almostfamous]

If this does fall out of the top 100 it'll be the first Manics' album to spend a solitary week in the top 100.

I honestly think if they'd released just "Decline & Fall" a month before the album it might have worked better at building buzz (A-list BBC Radio 2, etc) than releasing four singles over six months but let's be honest sales are 99% hardcore fans at this stage.

[theplague]

And what about releasing songs/singles that are actually good?
And of course a good album too…
That’s what would keep a band like this selling records.

[ForeverDelayed.com]

For what it’s worth, I still stand by what I said - I think this is a fantastic album.

[Bartek Wyre]

Originally Posted by almostfamous

If this does fall out of the top 100 it'll be the first Manics' album to spend a solitary week in the top 100.

I honestly think if they'd released just "Decline & Fall" a month before the album it might have worked better at building buzz ...

... or killing buzz...

[Europa Gluten Free]

Originally Posted by ForeverDelayed.com

For what it’s worth, I still stand by what I said - I think this is a fantastic album.

I agree. My favourite era since JFPL (though admittedly I was a bit out of the loop for Futurology).

I am especially enjoying all the interviews they have been doing - actually revealing a lot more about themselves and their time growing up in the 80s.

[Manic Steve Preacher]

Originally Posted by Europa Gluten Free

I am especially enjoying all the interviews they have been doing - actually revealing a lot more about themselves and their time growing up in the 80s.

Not to mention for us guitar players - we got an hour and a half of James breaking down his amps, pedals and guitars for That Pedal Show on YouTube. I've been in nerd heaven since...

[Europa Gluten Free]

Originally Posted by Manic Steve Preacher

Not to mention for us guitar players - we got an hour and a half of James breaking down his amps, pedals and guitars for That Pedal Show on YouTube. I've been in nerd heaven since...

I honestly thought TPS video was a bit disappointing - was hoping for a breakdown of Comfort Comes! Joking (kinda!) But I get it that they would stick to the hits etc. And TPS is not my favourite guitar youtube channel out there. But absolutely great to see them out there doing interviews and guitar stuff and everything!

[TheUglyLie]

One thing I found that helped me connect better, & have the album ‘click’ as they say, was to just play side B a fair few times on it’s own. It balanced out the over familiarity of songs two to five and made the whole thing feel more cohesive.
Personally I think side two would’ve benefitted from another Nicky sung song in place of OOTR, to break up the James vocal monopoly for seven songs straight. But that’s me being very picky!
Also, and some may see this as a negative, I found it was great to play CT_ whilst doing other stuff, pottering around doing chores etc.

Interesting to see James tell of it nearly being a darker album called ‘Deleted Scenes’ at one point. And for all his explanation’s I still really don’t like or get the phrase out of time revival…It just leaves me cold.


Btw, anyone else notice that ‘My Brave Friend’ is currently heading up the bands top songs on Apple Music?
There’s an alternate universe out there where MBF got released as a single and was huge! Along with Radiohead’s ‘Lift’

[darkanddivine]

Originally Posted by TheUglyLie

Btw, anyone else notice that ‘My Brave Friend’ is currently heading up the bands top songs on Apple Music?

Yeah it's the top non pre-release song on Spotify at the mo.

Of course, because of y'know time, the first 4 songs are the top 4 in terms of plays.

From there, it's:

• My Brave Friend
• Critical Thinking
• Dear Stephen
• Being Baptised

Essentially it looks like people are starting off with the opener, the singles and then after Dear Stephen, some are skipping to My Brave Friend. After that the numbers drop as the album goes on. That's pretty normal, the early songs have a halo effect before the skipping kicks in - but kinda interesting to see.

[Europa Gluten Free]

I haven't listened to the singles since the album was released. I go Critical Thinking and then straight to Dear Stephen and the rest.

[Son of Stopped]

It's not that long an album for me. I'm pretty much halfway through before I know it. Time does indeed fly.

[Son of Stopped]

Nowhere in the top 100. But down to six on the physical. So that's two weeks in the top ten on that chart anyway.

[Porco]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

Nowhere in the top 100. But down to six on the physical. So that's two weeks in the top ten on that chart anyway.