The next step

[Radiomanic]

I'm hoping that whatever it is that it is whatever they feel they need to do. With PFAYM i get the idea that they did it for the sake of winning fans, which is a completely un-Manics thing to do. No doubt in a few months they'll be saying they 'lost their way', the next album will be a reaction to that. Normally that means, it's going to be good. Really good. Kind of how good THB sounded after GATS, or JFPL after SATT.

[cameron33]

I think the problem with the Manics is Nicky Wire. JDB revels in writing and singing tunes to the darker lyrics but Wire is incapable of writing them - when he tries they always turn into heavy handed sarcasm.

EMG minus Richies lyrics wouldnt be such a good album. JFPL, THB . . . No Wire. I'm not saying that Wire can't write decent lyrics (some of TIMT were great, such as Everlasting, Tolerate) - only that they only sometimes inspire great music. The Manics rely very heavily on JDB's musicianship. On THB and JFPL his guitar and vocals are fucking awesome - on PFYM (and his solo album to be fair) he just sounds like a decent singer songwriter.

I just dont see another classic Manics album with 12 Wire lyrics I'm afraid.

[Mr.Selfdestruct]

The thing i don't understand about Postcards, is that they were never going to win any new fans with this album. People who bought EMG and Truth when those albums came out and have not bought a manics album since, may well have bought it. I would have thought they would have had more of a chance of gaining some real new fans by continuing to evolve on the great work they did on Journals.
The thing is, i really like Postcards, but they still went a little backwards with it. And if it was all for the sake of making sure the masses care about them and they sell some records, then they have totally misread the music buying public.

What is really promising is that, in Postcards and Journals, they have made, i think anyway, their two best albums since 1996, in the last year and a half. So hopefully they will now see themselves on some what of a roll and not take too long to head back into the studio.
I just hope they leave Dave Eringa at home for the next one.

[withdraw/retreat]

I agree i think that Postcards From A Young Man was a step backwards. Don't think it was ever likely to be the success that the band hoped that it would be, i think that Nicky has alienated a lot of people over the years. Most rock bands would struggle now days to have a hit record without a large amount of commercial support.

In terms of what the next step for the band should be, i would like to see an quadraphinaesque album that they promised a few years ago. I hope they don't continue in the vain of PFAYM and SATTS, i also can't see them making another JFPL. James has always said that Richeys lyrics takes the band musically to places that Nickys can't.

[The Gutless Wonder]

Postcards has had loads of praise from the media so that's something. I shall deliver it to the masses from my car during the summer!

[Mr Richey]

Originally Posted by withdraw/retreat

James has always said that Richeys lyrics takes the band musically to places that Nickys can't.

I have serious doubts about this, I always have. Something just doesn't sit right about it...it's almost like an excuse. I don't know, I just fail to see why James can't write JFPL style music unless he has Richey lyrics.

Plues, I remember an interview back in 98 where Sean or James said that the folder Richey left them had almost 60 lyrics in it. Which means there has to be lyrics they still haven't used for songs. Why not use them?

[The Gutless Wonder]

Originally Posted by Richey83

I have serious doubts about this, I always have. Something just doesn't sit right about it...it's almost like an excuse. I don't know, I just fail to see why James can't write JFPL style music unless he has Richey lyrics.

Maybe in his mind he's always kept the heavier side of things for Richey so now it's just Nicky he writes the songs for he doesn't have that same feeling for those lyrics. He's always saying about there being two sides to the band. Richey's involvement (when he was there and then with his lyrics for Journal) seems to spur him on to write heavier music.

[Mr Richey]

Originally Posted by The Gutless Wonder

Maybe in his mind he's always kept the heavier side of things for Richey so now it's just Nicky he writes the songs for he doesn't have that same feeling for those lyrics. He's always saying about there being two sides to the band. Richey's involvement (when he was there and then with his lyrics for Journal) seems to spur him on to write heavier music.

Yeah but I call bullshit on that too because there really isn't 2 sides to the Manics. Each album is different; sometimes similar styles or themes cross over, but each record is essential it's own beast. There's several sides to the Manics, which is what further leads me to question the statement from James about not being able to write darker stuff to Nicky's words.

[The Gutless Wonder]

Originally Posted by Richey83

Yeah but I call bullshit on that too because there really isn't 2 sides to the Manics. Each album is different; sometimes similar styles or themes cross over, but each record is essential it's own beast. There's several sides to the Manics, which is what further leads me to question the statement from James about not being able to write darker stuff to Nicky's words.

He! He! Don't you be having a massive argument with James about this at Birmingham! Once I've argued with him about Glasnost!

[Mr Richey]

Originally Posted by The Gutless Wonder

He! He! Don't you be having a massive argument with James about this at Birmingham! Once I've argued with him about Glasnost!

I bloody will too! I'm much taller than him so he can't hide, I'll find him

[The Gutless Wonder]

Originally Posted by Richey83

I bloody will too! I'm much taller than him so he can't hide, I'll find him

Be afraid Jimmy! Bwah ha ha!

[withdraw/retreat]

Originally Posted by Richey83

I have serious doubts about this, I always have. Something just doesn't sit right about it...it's almost like an excuse. I don't know, I just fail to see why James can't write JFPL style music unless he has Richey lyrics.

Plues, I remember an interview back in 98 where Sean or James said that the folder Richey left them had almost 60 lyrics in it. Which means there has to be lyrics they still haven't used for songs. Why not use them?

I think they are unlikely to use the darker lyrics that he left behind. Would they not need permission from Richeys family anyway.

I agree it probably is just an excuse. Nicky has written lyrics that are similar to richeys style like Black Garden and some of the lyrics on THB were also written by him.

[Mr Richey]

Originally Posted by withdraw/retreat

I think they are unlikely to use the darker lyrics that he left behind. Would they not need permission from Richeys family anyway.

I agree it probably is just an excuse. Nicky has written lyrics that are similar to richeys style like Black Garden and some of the lyrics on THB were also written by him.

I've said time and time again how much I enjoy the b-sides from the SATT era, and some of those are not too far removed musically from moments on JFPL. "Boxes and Lists" clearly comes from the same musical background as "Me and Stephen Hawking" or "Journal For Plague Lovers", so you can see why I find James' excuse hard to swallow. And you're right - Nicky IS capable of more interesting lyrics than some of his recent output.

[hummingbird]

Originally Posted by withdraw/retreat

I think they are unlikely to use the darker lyrics that he left behind. Would they not need permission from Richeys family anyway.

.

no i don't think so. Richey left those lyrics directly to the band. Each of them were given a folder. I think they might have told the family what they were planning out of courtesy. I'm sure had they asked them not to use the lyrics they wouldn't have but they didnt need specific permission

[Winterlovers]

double CD (GT album style + acoustic "Nebraska" style)