So, is the second CD better than the actual album?

[Bartek Wyre]

Sorry for the usual bitching and moaning, but is it just me, or are the unpolished and minimal-at-places demos from the deluxe CD actually more appealing than the finished album tracks? Also, there's The Last Time I saw Paris, which I find to be the best non-rockist Manics song since TIMT (or at least since TGW).

[The Quatercircle]

The Demos are well demos...they are unfinished songs. They're fun but with exception they're lacking way to much to be considered complete songs. The Bsides are worthy and of parallel quality to the actual album. I agree that TLTISP is possibly one of the freshest tracks they've done and should have been included on the album.

[allisvanity]

Put as simply as I can, no.

I personally love all the little swooshes and bleeps and lovely noises on the studio versions. But TLTISP and Empty Motorcade are fantastic.

[Marconi Delorian]

The only demo that I thought hadn't been improved on was Divine Youth - I liked Nicky's singing on it and preferred the guitar parts, rather than the orchestral stabs as they became.

[Bartek Wyre]

I think they overdid it a bit with the production again. I also prefer JDB's vocals on Between the Clock and the Bed demo. Oh, and also, the reverb-less bassline on the Dreaming a City demo.

[Europa Gluten Free]

The demos of the songs from the 2nd half of the album are a million times better. I also prefer Wire singing the chorus of SPLAM. It's dirtier and sleazier rather than Jimbo's stadium rock singing.

[starstruck]

no. they are not bad, but can be taken or left. the three extra tracks are decent enough, mind.

[Flint]

The studio tracks are really good but the demo disc is the most disappointing out of the four we've had. And generally the studio tracks sound far, far, far superior.

[mickburkesnr]

Originally Posted by Flint

The studio tracks are really good but the demo disc is the most disappointing out of the four we've had. And generally the studio tracks sound far, far, far superior.

Have to agree. There's no beating the demo of Peeled Apples for me.

To be honest I like the second CD, I think it's the most demo sounding out of the 4 released. What really made me happy was no inclusion of the O2 songs. They really should just stick them on an album or DVD and flog it separately.

[hummingbird]

Originally Posted by Flint

The studio tracks are really good but the demo disc is the most disappointing out of the four we've had. And generally the studio tracks sound far, far, far superior.

isn't that how it's meant to be tho ? Some of the demos on the other albums sounded almost finished.

[Dac X Lee]

Listening to Manics' demos is a little like watching celebrities' photoes without the photo editing retouch and all the perfect make-up.

One more thing is, James' pronounciation of Europa's refrain is very cute. ehehehehe It made me smile a lot.

Also, you can see the pronounciation of "Mayakovski" was fixed for the studio version.

[Mr Richey]

Originally Posted by Bartek Wyre

So, is the second CD better than the actual album?

No.

[circle-the-wagons]

WMTTB and LGTW it sounds like James sung the demo down his mobile phone on record, perhaps he was away on holiday somewhere and Nicky rang him up to do some work instead of lazing around hehe...

also..on the WMTTB demo James sings 'I re-imagine I wrote the book' rather than the finished line of 'I re-imagine the steps you took'......anyone any ideas what that could've been referring to as it seems quite a change in the dynamic of it lyrically wise???