Album 15

[Europa Gluten Free]

It's a great song and lovely concept.

[theraven1979]

Pretty average really. I think it's about time they killed the keys/synths that make every song sound like an advert for kitchens or some Saturday morning TV theme tune.

[Lee]

It’s nice but I agree with theraven about it being nearer average than great.

It’s better than People Ruin Paintings but nowhere near as catchy as the first two singles.

[UEF]

The thing to remember about the singles is that for the most part, they are not for us. They are hooks to get new people in. It’s a bonus when you like one (International blue)

[savemejebus]

Originally Posted by UEF

Brushstrokes of reunion video with boxing James!

https://youtu.be/kHZz14abQmU

Just my 2 cents but I think I'd have prefered a Kieran Evans or Lyric video. It looks like they asked a film student to shoot something in the style of a Paul Greengrass 'Bourne' fight scene. I'd imagine at some point it's supposed to show James struggling with the difficult subject topic but far too many camera cuts and jerky camera shots (except for the sync on the last shot and the end of the song which is ok).

Going back to what Son of Stopped asked about ranking the songs. Hiding in Plain Sight is the only one that I've gone back and listened to multiple times for pleasure outside of giving the others a few plays to 'give them a fair shake' and I really think it's because it is the only one of the released tracks that carries any emotion.

Based on the topic I was expecting James voice to carry some emotion in Brushstrokes of Reunion but no, it sounds like he could just have easily been singing International Blue or Decline and Fall. The songs are so overproduced and polished now that, to me, only Nicky's singing lifted Hiding in Plain sight because it still has emotion and you can almost sense the uncertainty in his voice (both at topic and at his position as lead singer on the song)

I'm looking forward to hearing the other Nicky tracks (and I usually don't like his singing).

[theplague]

Originally Posted by UEF

The thing to remember if the singles is that for the most part, they are not for us. They are hooks to get new people in. It’s a bonus when you like one (International blue)

Of course.

But in that sense these songs are an even bigger failure.
They’re at par with the bands weaker b-sides throughout their entire career.

[Porco]

I’m sat on the beach of ‘Manics Still Good Island’ sipping a cool drink through a straw, it’s funny how differently people react to art, which is maybe kind of particularly apt with these last two songs.

I find it difficult to rank the 4 songs so far because in my head I can make powerful arguments for every combination of rankings - how they have affected me emotionally might be the opposite of how I would rank them trying to objectively (as far as possible) analyse the complexity of music/lyrics/production success… but I love them all.

Hiding In Plain Sight is, as much as I love it, probably my least-favourite right now, and Brushstrokes of Reunion is currently my favourite, but that could be recency bias. Really looking forward to hearing and reassessing the songs in context of the album, and I already feel like there is way more connective tissue between the songs both lyrically and musically than they had given the impression of in early interviews.

I don’t like that the album has been delayed twice like it has been, but at the same time I wouldn’t trade the experience of getting another single like we have done to have got it on its original release date.

Massively looking forward to the 10 more new tracks coming up.

[FacelessSenseOfVoid]

Originally Posted by savemejebus

Just my 2 cents but I think I'd have prefered a Kieran Evans or Lyric video. It looks like they asked a film student to shoot something in the style of a Paul Greengrass 'Bourne' fight scene. I'd imagine at some point it's supposed to show James struggling with the difficult subject topic but far too many camera cuts and jerky camera shots (except for the sync on the last shot and the end of the song which is ok).

Going back to what Son of Stopped asked about ranking the songs. Hiding in Plain Sight is the only one that I've gone back and listened to multiple times for pleasure outside of giving the others a few plays to 'give them a fair shake' and I really think it's because it is the only one of the released tracks that carries any emotion.

Based on the topic I was expecting James voice to carry some emotion in Brushstrokes of Reunion but no, it sounds like he could just have easily been singing International Blue or Decline and Fall. The songs are so overproduced and polished now that, to me, only Nicky's singing lifted Hiding in Plain sight because it still has emotion and you can almost sense the uncertainty in his voice (both at topic and at his position as lead singer on the song)

I'm looking forward to hearing the other Nicky tracks (and I usually don't like his singing).

The video is embarrassingly shite. Easily their worst one yet. It's borderline unwatchable and doesn't even make sense.

The chorus is another knock off of International Blue isn't it, just as Decline and Fall was. I was sat in bed this morning pondering what the weak link is and all roads lead to Dave Eringa (and possibly their own studio). Worth pointing out that Dave Eringa mixed this song, unlike the other three which were done by others. Double Dave is a recipe for disaster.

[Porco]

Originally Posted by FacelessSenseOfVoid

The chorus is another knock off of International Blue isn't it, just as Decline and Fall was. I was sat in bed this morning pondering what the weak link is and all roads lead to Dave Eringa (and possibly their own studio).

I hear lots of bits of other Manics songs in Brushstrokes of Reunion, but International Blue wasn’t one that hit me so far.

I get vibes/reminders of:
Misguided Missile
A Billion Balconies
Boxes and Lists
Black Square
Cardiff Afterlife
& at least one other track I can’t quite place yet.

Non-manics wise:
Take On Me (Ah-Ha)
Because of You (Dexy’s Midnight Runners - song used for old TV show Brush Strokes(!))

I will happily listen to Eringa-produced Manics for as long they continue to make records, but also agree it would be nice to shake it up a bit, give the man an album or two off.

[FacelessSenseOfVoid]

Originally Posted by Porco

I hear lots of bits of other Manics songs in Brushstrokes of Reunion, but International Blue wasn’t one that hit me so far.

I get vibes/reminders of:
Misguided Missile
A Billion Balconies
Boxes and Lists
Black Square
Cardiff Afterlife
& at least one other track I can’t quite place yet.

Non-manics wise:
Take On Me (Ah-Ha)
Because of You (Dexy’s Midnight Runners - song used for old TV show Brush Strokes(!))

I will happily listen to Eringa-produced Manics for as long they continue to make records, but also agree it would be nice to shake it up a bit, give the man an album or two off.

Oh yeah, I was specifically referencing the keys in the chorus which have an IB feel to them. The rest of the song doesn't sound like it, although the vocals have a similar type of processing applied to them.

Musically the opening bit of the song sounds a bit reminiscent of Push by The Cure or most other things by them from around 1985.

Don't get me wrong, I like Dave, met him twice and he's a lovely guy and I'll happily admit that Distant Colours is one of my favourite Manics songs which he played a big part in producing. Think he needs a break for an album and they should bring back Greg Haver or someone like that to give them a chance to reset and not fall into Manics-by-numbers again.

I sound really negative but the three other songs are brilliant. BOR is still 100 times better than the two singles off TUVL which I thought were dog shit.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by UEF

The thing to remember about the singles is that for the most part, they are not for us. They are hooks to get new people in. It’s a bonus when you like one (International blue)

Yes of course, but their single choices have been weird for years - probably going all the way back to She Is Suffering. If we’re not keen and there are catchier songs on the album then you ain’t getting new people in.

[Scarecrow]

Brushstrokes of Reunion thoughts:

The band in inertia. Pleasant but predictable and safe. Another potentially good song which is just missing something to give it an edge or a more memorable hook or fleshed out intro. Not awful but can't imagine I'll be revisiting these in years to come, ranks down with their most average older b-sides.

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

So how would you rank the singles from the album?

Treading water:

Brushstrokes of Reunion / People Ruin Paintings (interchangeable)
Hiding in Plain Sight

Cringe-inducing shit:

Decline and Fall

[savemejebus]

Originally Posted by FacelessSenseOfVoid

all roads lead to Dave Eringa (and possibly their own studio). Worth pointing out that Dave Eringa mixed this song, unlike the other three which were done by others. Double Dave is a recipe for disaster.

I think Dave plays a role here but only in that he's friends with the band, he won't push back against the big problem which is James being far too content to just arse around the studio and do things because he can. Pro tools means the decisiveness and urgency of tape is gone and James is quite happy to just play around in the studio until a song has become obese with overdubs, strings and unnecessary production wank.

[Europa Gluten Free]

For me:

HIPS - One of the best realised song, lyric, and video they've done since forever.
PRP - Musically my favourite. Lyric concept on point as well.
BOR - Nice song. Great concept and sentiment again.
D&F - AI Manics.

[Son of Stopped]

It's the busiest single they've done. Still trying to get a grip on it! I'm thinking of an entirely different song to the one I'm hearing. Need a better sound system.
Tried singing the melody and got something else. Hahaha I appreciate being made to work for it on this one. It's ok but I'd like to like it more. But I can't do that until really heard it. A fuller volume it is then.