Manics on Twitter

[riot_star]

Originally Posted by The Gutless Wonder

Never noticed the rags turning on their opinions. The albums they slagged off still get slagged off!

NME does it all the time. I'm sure they'll be taking the piss out of this week's issue after them doing Strictly. Especially after that rant that Nicky did about Rock n Roll being dead.

[The Gutless Wonder]

Bands view recognition in the press as important though. Not saying alot of the bands they champion are great or anything. It's usually because they have so many journos working for them these days that you don't know who anyone is most of the time these days. It's still nice to get positive feedback across the board because it's not just one journo trying to impress or whatever. I don't think most of the journos out there would go out of their way to praise the Manics for the good of their health!

[The Gutless Wonder]

Originally Posted by riot_star

NME does it all the time. I'm sure they'll be taking the piss out of this week's issue after them doing Strictly. Especially after that rant that Nicky did about Rock n Roll being dead.

They haven't slagged Tigers yet!

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

Originally Posted by The Gutless Wonder

They've got the majority of the music mags praising them so they must be doing something right!

The thing is though, whether the press like an album or not is a separate issue to what the fans and people on here think. The two don't have to go hand in hand. As I've said before, I make my own mind up about music; just because a lot of journalists might share one view on it, it doesn't mean I'm going to as well. Journalists aren't any different to the rest of us when it comes to voicing opinions; their views aren't the final word just because they get paid to write about it. It's all subjective whether you're talking about the NME's verdict on something, or someone's opinion on this forum.

[Beat Poet]

Anyone remember Proevpete? At least those of us that don't like the album haven't carried on like he did.

[riot_star]

Originally Posted by Beat Poet

Anyone remember Proevpete? At least those of us that don't like the album haven't carried on like he did.

I remember him....where's he gone anyway?

[Frozendiva]

Originally Posted by Beat Poet

Anyone remember Proevpete? At least those of us that don't like the album haven't carried on like he did.

Friendly guy.

[hummingbird]

while good reviews doesn't mean i'm going to like an album I'm still interested in what they have to say. They do influence people as do end of year lists. There's been lots of albums that have had critical acclaim that have bombed commercially and vice versa. No guarantees but you still need the journos.

[The Gutless Wonder]

Indeed. Don't always agree with journos but they have their purpose of giving people an idea of what an album is like. It can help people decide if they want to buy a record or not. The proof will always be in the listening of course!

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

Originally Posted by hummingbird

while good reviews doesn't mean i'm going to like an album I'm still interested in what they have to say. They do influence people as do end of year lists. There's been lots of albums that have had critical acclaim that have bombed commercially and vice versa. No guarantees but you still need the journos.

I'm sure they do influence some people, but my point was they don't prove anything any more than us lot on here saying we like/dislike something. So to make the point 'But it got positive reviews, so it must be good' in a debate about the quality of an album is pretty redundant.

[pennyroyalty]

i was surprised how well the album appeared to do critically (although it hasn't exactly distinguished itself). the Manics tried for an obvious, controversy free (if unfashionable) sound though and frankly a lot of journalists were clearly on autopilot. by that i mean that if you play the album a lot, try to bring it into your world in a way that a critic doesn't have time for, i think it's clear that PFAYM isn't the album many of these people are describing- whatever your opinion of its quality, this big cheesy bunch of orchestrated widdly widdly pompous anthems they're talking about is the band's hype but only half the story. i can't take seriously any assessment of the album which doesn't acknowledge that it sounds like the band ran out of money halfway through.

also in 2010 an album being 'critically acclaimed' doesn't mean much anyway, when online communities like various forums and rateyourmusic are more reliable (*cough*) if you're too lazy to just download and make up your own mind. not to be an ass but a lot of the ways people try to judge the success of this album here, following chart placings and worrying about singles and videos and what boring dudes in papers who know less than us write, it feels a bit outdated.

i strongly disagree with Gutless Wonder because PFAYM itself is not a record that people are discussing and debating really. you're not seeing much nuanced criticism from journalists or listeners, you don't see fans of the record pointing out things that detractors have missed, something that makes you think. the record is what it is and you like it or you don't. the melodies and some quaint opinions on modern life. we're all just shouting opinions at each other, because the qualities or otherwise of the record are as plain as the nose on your face and there's not much to say about it. for me it's probably the least discussion worthy thing they've ever done. that's the worrying thing, not that some of us think the album sucks, but that the album doesn't matter. even as i write this i'm thinking 'why care and get melodramatic about a band that makes such a routine record, you know you could be listening to Kanye West and browsing redtube right now'. brb

[Takk]

The music press is very fickle and doesn't seem to rate albums based on the album, but more what they think of the band at the time. Since SATT, the manic coverage has been largely positive and friendly, and that's why this album got reasonable reviews - it didn't do anything to offend or detract from that general sense of positivity SATT and JFPL created. If you put it after KYE I bet it would have been seen differently.

[Nikolai]

Originally Posted by franny

Don't take this the wrong way, I like you and hope you stay but don't go making this into a personal vendetta against you. I can think of no situation when people have told other people to 'fuck off' from the board but countless times members have decided that that's what they're being told and done so anyway, you have to do a lot more than disagree with someone to be hated to that extent.

Stay and post your opinions and everyone else will do likewise, people clash but wishing the person you're arguing with wasn't on the board is cowardly and it's also wrong for you to make it appear like that's the case.

Thanks Franny. You're absolutely correct in what you're saying there. I've read a fair few posts by you on here and you seem like a cool person. Thank you for being the first ever FD'er to welcome me on here too.

[Nikolai]

Originally Posted by Blue Cat

I like you. But if you want to leave, then leave. *shrug* It's not some big conspiracy against you, you just seem quite pissed off that the argument has come about because you two don't share the same point of view. But errr, why should they? You can't convert them to liking it, they can't convert you to disliking it. If you don't like that people dislike it, and don't change their opinions, and argue their point, then put them on your ignore list. Its as simple as that. No one thinks you're a troublemaker, And why do you say that your opinions are constructive and negative opinions are unconstructive? that's just a bit rude, frankly. And I don't whine and bitch. I'm a bitch that thinks the manics are a billion time better than what they released.

That last line in your post made me smile and it also makes me understand where you're coming from a lot better than I could probably achieve with a lot more words. You've got a lot of 'tude on you, Blue girl. I like it. x

[Nikolai]

Originally Posted by MSPKYE

Yeah I'm sorry for telling you to fuck off, that was going a bit too far so I apologise (though please don't correct the SPAG, I'm an extremely poor typer at times and too lazy to check over my post before pressing submit ). But as people have said it is just as annoying people being overly negative as people being a wall of positivity, blind to the band's faults. I get annoyed by most of the 'oh it's shit , they're done for' remarks too, but with this album I've found it hard to defend along with the decision making going on with the promo etc. No amount of being told I'm wrong and it's the greatest record EVAR!!!!!!! will change that

But just cause I think they've made a poor album doesn't mean I'm just going to give up on them or that I've fallen out of love with them, many people criticise because they love them, they're not above it, no band is. They're a frustrating bunch of bastards but then we probably are to them alot of the time

I'm sorry for that spelling comment, I cringed at that when I read it back subsequently as it was a very uncool thing to say. Silly of me to say that too as I make a million typos and cock-ups in my posts when I'm rushing.

Your own personal passion for the band is obvious and I've just noticed how many posts you've made on here - blimey! You wouldn't do that if you didn't care very deeply about MSP.