Golden Platitudes (spoilers!)

[David.Prout]

Originally Posted by Frozendiva

DavidProut, 'Bag Lady' was available as a free download. You can probably still find it. I was thankful for it, as I got tired of FFing through 'William's Last Words'. Yes, it would have been great for it to turn up on iTunes or other music site.

Thanks for the info. I do have the song, I was mereley aiming a cheap swipe at the multi-format selling of music. You know, other than wanting to tempt you in to buying 1cd and 2cd versions there's no need to do it. The 2CD version was £5 or so more expensive than the 1CD version... they could have just left the hidden track on there.

I don't know why or where it was a free download but I wonder if it was done due to the deluxe version not having it on there.

Ahh well... no such issues with Postcards as there's no extra tracks on standard that isn't on the deluxe.... oh hang on... there's a memento-whatsamijig you say? And what's that about a dvd but a cassette of demos instead of a cd? £90! And if I've no cassette player or want to listen to the demos on something other than a cassette player I'd really have to pay another £15 to get the deluxe version? Errrm... Go forth and multiply!

If the DVD is not made available by some other means then I will be boycotting the next album. Like they care

[Frozendiva]

I believe that the missing 'Bag Lady' on the 2 CD set was an oversight, which was then corrected by the free download. I'm not positive, though.

The music industry is not in good shape these days. Album sales have plummeted, concert tours have failed this year.

I don't normally get the special editions. I don't have time to listen to demos. Yeah, I'd listen to them once. Maybe the record company could set up a secure site for 6 months and let people listen to them. Of course, everything shows up on YouTube eventually, so...

I did buy the 10th anniversay editions of THB and EMG. The DVDs only work on my computer.

I can't justify close to $200 CAD for an album. Sorry. Maybe if it included a certificate for drinks with the band.

However, given that I grew up in the age of vinyl, I have spent a fortune converting some of my record collection to CDs. With new copyright regulations, there may come a time where you can't transfer your CD to your player and you will have to buy the 'download'.

[David.Prout]

I don't believe the majority of manics fans are interested in hand written lyric books or nice boxes. I'm not. I just want the music. I prefer CDs as I can FLAC them. I don't like cassettes - I've no way to play them. I don't like records - it's a hassle to play them and each time you play them the quality seems to diminish.

I do want the DVD as I'm interested in the behind the scenes making-of stuff. But I'm not paying £90+ for a box with it in to then have to buy the deluxe version to get the demos in a format I can access... and I do want to listen to the demos... some of them will be good old acoustic versions and it's nice to see how the song changed.

I've no information or knowledge when it comes to music industry but I know I don't mind paying when I see value for money. I don't see value in the memento box when the only bit I want is the DVD. I've pre-ordered the deluxe 2cd set. I've pre-ordered the Its not war EP on itunes to get the b-sides that would appear on the 7" and the townsend records only cd2, and I'll be buying CD1.

I can't make any of the tour this time round, but I've been plenty of times before including a couple of James solo gigs.

The music industry needs to change and give us more access to content. They've gone on twitter, but it's fairly pointless... it's all one-way.

Anyway...

[Faster82]

I'm hoping the DVD isn't some shoddy 15 minute behind the scenes

[David.Prout]

Originally Posted by Faster82

I'm hoping the DVD isn't some shoddy 15 minute behind the scenes

nah, it's got to be an hour surely. It'd be good if it wasn't some arty-farty thing but was an actual in-studio filming of part of "the process", ie something actually interesting and informative. I remember the Queen Magic Years bit with the section of them recording One Vision.

And if the manics really do want to connect with us they need to find better ways than just tweeting songs of the day and bits of lyrics at us and having competitions to meet them where it only means anything to a handful of winners.

[Frozendiva]

I have a cassette player. A cassette brings back the 70s and 80s. Too bad the Manics didn't do an 8-track tape. Now, that would be going back.

I'm frustrated by the DVD PAL format. It's not really for North Americans. I really don't like watching DVDs on my PC monitor.

I have yet to see the Manics live. Maybe year 16 (2011) will be my lucky year.

The music industry does need to change its business model.

Mass communication is tricky, as it works two ways. The band and the record company do want some control. Too many variables. They need to figure out what they wish to achieve, and then do so.

[David.Prout]

Actually I sort of lied... Just remembered I do have a cassette deck stuck in a box in the attic, but I've no intention of getting it out and using it I've also got loads of manics cassetes, especially from the TIMTTMY days.

There's a canadian artist I follow called David Usher, used to be lead singer of Moist. Anyway he has this DEQQ application that he helped to create which allows fans to communicate with him. It's basically like windows messenger. He's often on the application and there's plenty of 2-way communication going on. Also, a couple of years ago, he recorded a song late at night at his home, put it on his website and a week or 2 later he did a show and the fans were singing back the song to him. Granted that's a rare case, but it's the kind of thing that musicians need to think about - ie new ways to a) communicate with their fans and b) generate revenue without having to rip us off.

Sometimes I think the change has to come from musicians; always seems that big record labels are stuck in the whole system of producing a CD and getting it to us.

[Frozendiva]

I like Moist and David Usher. He did a cover of 'If you tolerate this'.

Some musicians don't really want to communicate with their fans. Maybe when they're starting out, but not when they get successful. It's great that some still will meet the fans. Props to the Manics for doing so.

[Tiortranew]

I think why can go back to discussing Golden Platitudes now.

I love how weird it is to hear the gospel choir sing "Why colonise the moon?"

[Isola]

Still can't stand the chorus on The Descent... I could have written that! Golden Platitudes is my 2nd favorite behind SKON. (And I actually like 'I Think I've Found It')

[Frozendiva]

'Platitudes' is still not one of my top 5 on this album, but it is one of Nicky's best lyrics in a looong time.

[nexberry]

Ah, and that La, la, la la part at the end is gorgeous.

[Tidus]

I'm thinking this has the first noticable Bradfield vocal correction ever.

The bit that goes "Born to the econimist" (or whatever the lyric) but the bit that goes "i hist" sounds unnatural to me, and as though it's been corrected.

[madcap07]

It's probablye the one I've enjoyed the most on the album so far. I really like its sweet nostalgic vibe. I long to hear it live. If everybody sings along, it could be a beautiful moment.
Also, the guitar bit at around 3'26 really makes me think of a guitar part in Strawberry Fields
Nice

[JDMANIC]

I'm really liking this tune. Very epic. I definitely hear some Beatles in there. That chord progression about a minute and a half into the tune reminds me of Led Zeppelin as well.
Loving it!