FIVE YEARS OF "SEND AWAY THE TIGERS"

[sculptureofabloke]

For me I think Send Away The Tigers was more about the timing than anything. Came along in a transitional period in my life. It'd been announced around the time of the XFM gig that work was closing down so I applie to university. Quit work early to go see em in Leeds, got a free ticket off a mate for Sheffield, did Apollo again.

2004-2007 was just weird for Manics in general, Lifeblood was a slow burner for me but it gets in me top 5 these days. I remember worrying that the Past Present And Future tour had some kinda sense of finality to it and I wondered if the solo projects meant that was it. I wasn't on here at the time, only Manics fans I knew were Nasal Scarecrow and a couple of people I doubt have ever been on here. So yeah, didn't get into any of the gossip around then, so when I saw JDB in Sheffield and he ended the set talking about a new Manics album next year that was news to me. I loved the solo albums and they got me well curious cos they were so different to Lifeblood and although James had dabbled in Manics lyrics with Ocean Spray and Firefight by then, I had no idea Nicky was even capable of writing music. Yeah yeah, I know some of you are probably thinking he isn't, but whatever. Just the thought of what could come out of sticking Lifeblood, The Great Western and I Killed The Zeitgeist into a melting pot. I went to XFM and I'm Just A Patsy and Autumnsong were fresh, I loved them at first but again I wasn't here so I didn't get chance to get bootlegs or whatever from the gig. Heard the album not long before release and bought it the day it came out on my way to Manchester to see Roger Waters.

The album... I suppose I kinda wore it out. I loved it at the time, and in all honesty I think I'd have loved just about anything they put out. I'm not into blind faith, I know what I like and what I don't like, they've just got such a great track record with me and I suppose the anticipation helped too. I rarely listen to it these days, but whenever I do go back to it it's better than I give it credit for in the periods I don't listen to it. Fucking great b-sides, mind.