70 songs of self indulgence?

[2004567]

^ Exactly the same as me

[hibbytam]

is there such thing as a song that isn't self indulgent in some way? Like any song written assumes that someone somewhere would be interested in what you have to say slightly.

[StarBright]

Originally Posted by Flint

Anyway, in relation to the actual topic at hand, I'm kinda starting to get my hopes up about this. The recent b-sides and outtakes hint at a more 'experimental' (for them; basically, outside the usual Manics box) route with all the heavy use of electronic elements and such, Nicky's songwriting pen has genuinely blossomed recently and all the talk about being self-indulgent and doing something they've yearned to do for a while sounds very good to me. I know KYE is not a popular album in the fandom but I'd adore an album in a similar vein - something that's not afraid to dabble in unknown waters and try hands at anything that comes to mind. I liked PFAYM and JFPL but I would really find it lovely if they could bring out that wilder side of theirs to the table again, the one not afraid to try different things: it's that side of theirs that's all over their golden 98-05 period (and even earlier!) and return to that mindset would be ace. Hell, maybe even go beyond three and a half minutes .

I doubt it's going to be a double album though, I can't see this band going so far. 70 songs is downright absurd and I'm fairly convinced it was just a random number he pulled from his head as a way of explaining they're aiming for something colossal in scale, rather than an exact number of songs they're working on. But who knows, they might surprise.


And I really, really hope it would never come to this. Stage-releases annoy the hell out of me. Just release the git at once.

I am certain Wire mentioned going one better than the Magnetic Feilds " 69 Love Songs" album as the inspiration. It certainly is a tall order by the Manics standards

[StarBright]

Originally Posted by Takk

I don't think rough/demo is good though...if it means it's not overpolished that's great - but not if they make a concious effort to be rough, then it sounds kinda crap.

I didn't really explain it well enough, sorry fella. I meant maybe they should make it sound like KYE should have been. 1 take on each song.

[StarBright]

Personally, I absolutely love KYE If I had a wish list for the next album it'd be something like this:

1: Experiment with the sound used on "Everyone Knows/Nobody Cares".
2: Lyrically, they should write songs on whetever they want - get out of this political/social commentary box Wire has been in for the last few years.
3: Write some love songs - Further Away was amazing
4: If Nicky Wire is struggling with lyrics at any point, drag in James and John Niven
5: write some accoustic songs
6: Use a lot more piano (one of my favourite instruments rarely ever gets used in the manics music)
7: release it as a box-set ala The ESSENTIAL Bruce Springsteen album.
8: Do a few new cover songs
9: vary the instruments used - think about world music

[StarBright]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

It's not so much their talk about 70 songs that bothers me, it's their claims of "There's only so much melody stored in your body"?

Fast forward a couple of years: Oh this album got us back in touch with our melodic side.

*Facepalm

I don't mind them taking a break, the PFAYM single b-sides don't offer much clues (well from the samples I've heard) and I'm not ruling out the album being brilliant in it's own way. I don't know. I don't think the band do either.
But if they'll have no excuse or arguements to make an album to win back casual fans if it blows up in their faces.

Don't worry be happy don't worry be happy!

All I want to hear is a song on the radio that sounds amazing but strange and for someone to have to tell me it's the Manics so my jaw can drop

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by StarBright

Personally, I absolutely love KYE

Respect!
Did you ever sit down and try to read the message painted in black?
But on topic, there would have to be an acapella track. All three of them singing at the same time. They could record the album by putting small weights on the fretboards and recording the strings by peeling off masking tape at different speeds for the rest of the album for all I care if it means we get at least one acapella song?
My wish list anyway.

[StarBright]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

Respect!
Did you ever sit down and try to read the message painted in black?
But on topic, there would have to be an acapella track. All three of them singing at the same time. They could record the album by putting small weights on the fretboards and recording the strings by peeling off masking tape at different speeds for the rest of the album for all I care if it means we get at least one acapella song?
My wish list anyway.

Lol, one of the first things I did I would love to hear James' Falsetto come back again.

[StarBright]

Engage With Your Shadow is NOT the way to go

[Dancing Kirby]

Originally Posted by StarBright

Engage With Your Shadow is NOT the way to go

Yeah, come back mass communication, all is forgiven. We'll take 70 generic pop songs with love in the title.

[Charlie12]

i hope they'll go for a less polished sound and atleast try not to aim for mass communication..

[StandAndStare]

Just hope they don't go take the electronic path...

[Phil C]

Originally Posted by StarBright

Personally, I absolutely love KYE If I had a wish list for the next album it'd be something like this:

1: Experiment with the sound used on "Everyone Knows/Nobody Cares".

I would love them to make a proper pop album at some point. I'm not knocking 'Lifeblood' but most of it wasn't pop of any sort.

Originally Posted by StarBright

2: Lyrically, they should write songs on whetever they want - get out of this political/social commentary box Wire has been in for the last few years.

But what if they *want* to write socio/political songs? Should they carry on because they want to, or stop because you want them to? Plus they haven't been in that box for 'the last few years' - 'Postcards' is their most political album in years, and Nick's last set of lyrics (for SATT) only contained a couple of political songs - and every Manics album has at least a couple.

Originally Posted by StarBright

3: Write some love songs - Further Away was amazing

'Further Away' is pretty naff. I'd rather they stuck to writing the kind of political songs that other bands don't do rather than just write love songs like everyone else.

[QUOTE=StarBright;2220911]4: If Nicky Wire is struggling with lyrics at any point, drag in James and John Niven[QUOTE=StarBright;2220911]

I think 'TGW's lyrics show my James sticks to the music to be honest.

Oh, and I love KYE too.

For the next album? Less polished production, gospel influences sitting alongside rock'n'roll (like having 'Found That Soul' and 'Let Robeson Sing' on the same album), more trumpet, at least one Nick vocal, lyrics reflecting the unrest of the times and that recognise the wider world - not an album of Nick moaning about being miserable. And no string sections. Maybe the sound could be a bit more '3D' as well, like the way the sounds seems to loop around on 'Tolerate' and 'Everything Will Be'.

Stuff like that.

[StarBright]

[QUOTE=Phil C;2221006]I would love them to make a proper pop album at some point. I'm not knocking 'Lifeblood' but most of it wasn't pop of any sort.



But what if they *want* to write socio/political songs? Should they carry on because they want to, or stop because you want them to? Plus they haven't been in that box for 'the last few years' - 'Postcards' is their most political album in years, and Nick's last set of lyrics (for SATT) only contained a couple of political songs - and every Manics album has at least a couple.



'Further Away' is pretty naff. I'd rather they stuck to writing the kind of political songs that other bands don't do rather than just write love songs like everyone else.

[QUOTE=StarBright;2220911]4: If Nicky Wire is struggling with lyrics at any point, drag in James and John Niven

Originally Posted by StarBright

I think 'TGW's lyrics show my James sticks to the music to be honest.

Oh, and I love KYE too.

For the next album? Less polished production, gospel influences sitting alongside rock'n'roll (like having 'Found That Soul' and 'Let Robeson Sing' on the same album), more trumpet, at least one Nick vocal, lyrics reflecting the unrest of the times and that recognise the wider world - not an album of Nick moaning about being miserable. And no string sections. Maybe the sound could be a bit more '3D' as well, like the way the sounds seems to loop around on 'Tolerate' and 'Everything Will Be'.

Stuff like that.

Personally, I wouldn't say that PFAYM was strictly political at all. The only elements of a political/social edge for me were Golden Platitudes and All We Make Is Entertainment. I mean sometimes it feels because of their rich history there sometimes feels a need to put in a political song but you're right, they should right whatever they want. I'm nowhere near close to getting bored with the manics. Personally, I loved Further Away. I loved the lyrics, the feel of the song. I think the manics could do a belting love song.

Personally, Lifeblood for me had only had a link to pop with TLORN. The rest of it was just a solid set of songs. Again, just my opinion. I would like to see the band write music that isn't following the current trend or trying to fit into a particular box.

[Phil C]

Originally Posted by StarBright

Personally, I wouldn't say that PFAYM was strictly political at all. The only elements of a political/social edge for me were Golden Platitudes and All We Make Is Entertainment.

Depends on your definition of 'socio/political'. 'A Billion Balconies Facing The Sun' and 'Don't Be Evil' are both social critiques, so I would add those to the two above. 'Auto-Intoxication' is based on a political pamphlet called 'The Coming Insurrection' by The Invisible Committee (which I haven't read yet but which is on the table in front of me).

Other songs are more 'soft' but have interesting elements. One of the inspirations for 'End of Love' was Auden's quote about millions living without love but no-one living without war, which fits in with the current zeitguist around the Bush/Blair wars.

It's very much a 'half and half' album - half (at times over) polished ballads, half rock songs. Half vague lyrics, half pointed. But that's a better balance than has been seen since 'KYE'.