Very Impressive Manics blog

[who's responsible?]

Stumbled across this one last night;

http://manicsdiscog.wordpress.com/

Very in depth comments and I must admit I've found it a good read. The author is up to TIMTTMY material at the moment and seems to be working through the whole back catalogue.

[wireobsessed]

Thanks I take a look at that, always good to see something new.

[Takk]

Seems good, found a mistake already. hehe.

[who's responsible?]

lol
Manicsfan pedantry ftw...

Incidentally the author has registered and is currently waiting to be let in if anyone who has the keys to the door is reading..

[darkanddivine]

I like the idea of sites that look back and review music from a distance outside the hype bubble. The way in which the web is a race to be first when reviewing music often misses the point on good/terrible music, which means stuff like this is often much more fun to read.

[RookUK]

Hey everyone, I'm Andy, author of the site. As I just told responsible by email, I've been lurking on Forever Delayed on and off for a few years, so it's great to see that you guys have been having a look at the site (I've had more views today than I've ever had, so thanks so much).

The idea behind this is that, basically it's my version of a combination between Flint's excellent 'Manic Street Preachers: Track By Track' blog and Ian MacDonald's book on the Beatles, Revolution in the Head. The difference is that my work is a bit more in-depth, detailed and more about the references than Flint's site, and much less in-depth, detailed and musically literate than MacDonald's incredible efforts. I guess the basic idea is that for all the (often fascinating) talk about the Manics as an entity and about Richey's disappearance, their songs have never the analysis or coverage that they deserve. I'm a huge music fan, and I'd struggle to think of even one other band that I feel deserve this treatment (given that the late MacDonald already did the Fabs).

I'm going to be covering every Manics studio recording, and at the moment I'm posting one track per day (today's track coming up soon - 'I'm Not Working'). What would be amazingly cool would be for me to be able to hear what other Manics fans think of these songs as I cover them and of my write-ups. Manics songs hit different people in different ways - this site is just my interpretation, so if something catches your eye please do comment, email me, or post here. You can also subscribe to the blog and get emails each time I post, if you don't get enough spam yet!

Finding mistakes and letting me know is also great, although please be warned that if you notice that I've left a track out of the sequence and the classification numbers are wrong, then I might actually cry!

[amnesic]

Excellent site

darkanddivine - I love your signature. I use to have the give a damn one but have since lost it somewhere

[UEF]

I love Revolution in the Head... been waiting for something like this, looking forward to checking it out!

[exopotamie]

Well done, RookUK! It's always great to see a new Manics fan site. Welcome to FD, too.

[RookUK]

Originally Posted by UEF

I love Revolution in the Head... been waiting for something like this, looking forward to checking it out!

Ha, I'm really glad I wasn't the only one!

Thank you all for the kind words, they mean a lot. While I'm here, I've just posted my thoughts on the track T108, 'I'm Not Working'. I've always loved this song and for me, it marks the start of a series of several incredibly good songs on This Is My Truth.

[The Gutless Wonder]

I look forward to reading all of this when I have time!

[Takk]

It's cool. only thing I noticed was the thing about further away being unique as a japan-only single. I believe Nobody Loved You also fits into that?

[Marwood]

Really nice idea, and a lovely website

Completely different to the way you've approached it, but over the last several months I've been listening to the Manics' back catalogue in order myself, one release every few days.

I suppose that towards the tail-end of the Postcards period, I'd begun to feel a little worn out. I've been a fan for eighteen years - literally more than half my life - and the SATT to National Treasures period felt oddly busy and intense (though really, they weren't any more or less hectic with releases or tours than at any other point in their career), and by the end I was just wiped out. Which worried me a bit, because they mean so much to me and have been such a significant part of my life for so long.

So after the O2 gig, when they took a break, I did too. I went several months without listening to a single note of their music (where usually I'd listen to them every day), and then in early September or October of last year I began listening to one release every few days, in order, from the start. I'm currently at Nicky's solo album...should be up to date by Festival No 6!

It worked too. I do feel like I've rediscovered them, and rediscovered my love for them.

I think it's quite rewarding to experience things in context. I've done it before with TV shows or authors that I like, and it's a worthwhile experience. It does affect your response, particularly having taken a break and not having heard these songs in a while, and it's even altered my opinion on quite a few tracks. I suddenly really like 'La Tristesse Durera' for the first time in... well, ever. I can now listen to 'A Design For Life' again, where I'd heard it so many times that it had gotten to the point where the only time I could bear it was when they played it live.

It's also quite nice just to occasionally re-experience your initial reaction at the time. For instance I'd forgotten how utterly bizarre 'The Love of Richard Nixon' felt the first time I heard it, and hearing it again a few weeks ago I felt exactly the same sensations as when Jo Whiley first played it back in 2004.

There have been a few casualties. I seem to have lost all affection for 'Know Your Enemy', even the bits I used to cherish. But that in itself is quite an interesting development (to me anyway).

Anyway, I'll shut up now. But yes, I applaud your effort, and for doing it in more depth and with more intelligence than me, and for actually making the effort to write about it. I look forward to reading the rest of the site.

[Lone Architect]

You recognise the beauty and brilliance of 'The Everlasting'. On that basis this blog must be good.

[RookUK]

Originally Posted by Takk

It's cool. only thing I noticed was the thing about further away being unique as a japan-only single. I believe Nobody Loved You also fits into that?

Thanks, Takk - I'd actually never heard that, but I've just checked and apparently it was released in place of 'The Everlasting' in Japan (in the same way that 'Further Away' was released in place of 'Kevin Carter'). I'll update the post.