RTF - (hysteric) reactions, ranking...

[cool-groovey-morning-fine]

Originally Posted by Abstract Unknown Girl

I have to admit the first time I heard this song the 'So line up the firing squads, kiss goodbye to what you want' part reminded me of the 'Find me and follow me, through corridors, refectories' part of Dark of the Matinee by Franz Ferdinand

THIS. I knew it reminded me of something. Well, whatevs. I love Franz anyway.

I would give it a 7.5/8ish out of 10. I'm not that into 3 Ways... or Builder of Routines (we'll just gloss over AHATS(TBYS), shall we?) but I think the rest are really affecting, emotional and just thoroughly well composed songs. It's got a prettily bruised feeling about it, but with it ending on 30-Year War, there's still that Manics political conscience and rage... So yeah, I'm impressed. But I can see why the people who don't like it feel how they feel.

[Flint]

HOKAY, given myself some alone time with this, kept away from the forums etc. No idea what the general consensus about the album or songs is around here so I'll have to learn all of your (wrong) opinions later on . For now, here's what I reckon after the three or so days:

Track by track:

• This Sullen Welsh Heart: wonderfully atmospheric opener, really sets the mood nicely. Best guest vocals of the album, if only because they're guest vocals. Reminds me of Noah and the Whale's debut a bit, and that's not a bad thing in my books.
• Show Me the Wonder: I still think the chorus is undercooked but I'm really getting into the verses. I also love the flow between Welsh Heart and this, they work really well together. Enjoying this more now than I did before.
• Rewind the Film: still gorgeous. Keep returning to this the most at the moment even though it's the one I've owned the longest. Hawley's vocals sound great but I still think he's a bit too dominant for a Manics track, but I'm not really bothered all that much in the end. Gorgeous song.
• Builder of Routines: one of my favourites. Love the disjointed dreaminess, the light electronic elements, etc. Sonically very captivating. Kinda wish it was longer. Great stuff.
• 4 Lonely Roads: an average Wire b-side sung by an average singer. Alright, but clumsy.
• I Miss the Tokyo Skyline: first of all, ew at the return of (pointless brackets) in front of the title. But that's the only bad thing about this. James sounds great, the soundworld is wonderfully hectic in a surreally serene way (kinda like how they feel about Tokyo) and that violin is drop dead gorgeous.
• Anthem for a Lost Cause: somewhere between James' solo album and PFAYM. Like it but not one of my favourites. The verses have a nicely 'classic' feel to them, like a tune you'd hear from a 70's golden hits station.
• As Holy As the Soil etc: sounds like the songs I used to be made to sing along to at playgroups and school assemblies, right from the way it starts. The coffee line is unbelievably clunky. Nicky's kinda dropped the ball on this album - I really like his voice and think his tracks have been some of the best moments of the past few albums, but right now he's dishing out the most average bits of the album.
• 3 Ways to See Despair: I feel like I should like this more than I do right now. Probably the song that's left the least impression on me, negative or positive. Perhaps it'll grow.
• Running Out of Fantasy: man, I was always joking about the phoned-in James acoustic b-sides he's been chucking out for the past few eras and here the bits that are mainly focused on him are the best cuts. Lovely.
• Manorbier: weird to hear an instrumental on an Manics album. A bit overlong perhaps but I like what they're doing here. They're growing as instrumental creators.
• 30-Year War: I'm guessing this is the track everyone's fawning over the most? I really like it sonically (much more electronic than I imagined from the early comments) but I don't think the song itself is up to scratch. It's good, just... not as great as lot of people are saying.

General impressions and nutshells:

• The band sounds rejuvenated. It doesn't feel like they're intentionally blocking themselves anymore. I absolutely loathe the phrase "return to form" and I'm one of the few who actually likes PFAYM, but I do think this album sees the band's creative rebirth, or at least rejuvenation.
• Like I said above, Wire's letting me down. His contributions throughout the past couple of albums have really raised my opinion of him as a songwriter, but the two songs driven by him here are... average b-side material. Disappointed.
• The sound of the album is lovely. Production's good, the style suits them. Glad to have had them explore this further. Really enjoying the resurfacing of the electronic elements too.
• Regardless of some of the negative stuff I've said, I'm really enjoying this album. It makes me a bit giddy. It's too early to say anything certain as I'm sure the second half will continue to grow on me and in general these things take time. I'd say it's in the 7-7,5 territory at the moment but obviously can easily grow further, and probably will.

In short, I enjoy and endorse this song and music product.

[amnesic]

Hear the album for the first time yesterday. After hearing it twice so far I like it, although I prefer the first half at the moment although that may change. Welsh Heart and Manorbier are glorious. I was think that the album reminds me of a cross between Simon & Garfunkel, Belle & Sebastian and 3rd Album Arcade Fire. Some songs sound like a mix or one song will sound more like one than the others. Definately an interesting mix but I am so relieved as I hated Tigers and Postcards.

[The Gutless Wonder]

MY COPY HAS ARRIVED!!!

Wasn't sure if my Manics zeal might have diminished slightly after being busy with other areas of interest on the internet and not keeping up quite as much as I would have liked. But no, it was the same feeling as when I bought Truth all those years ago to rush home excitedly to listen to it! (I'll have to wait til I get home from work but it will be on repeat this evening! )

The packaging is just absolutely 'Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!' as well!

[allisvanity]

The more I listen to it, the more I love it. Am I alone in thinking that this is one of the best records they've ever made?

[Porco]

Originally Posted by The Gutless Wonder

The packaging is just absolutely 'Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!' as well!

It is, but it's … interesting … trying to get the CDs out of those things at first… lol.

[tzb]

It's a massive grower, certainly.

[allisvanity]

Originally Posted by Porco

It is, but it's … interesting … trying to get the CDs out of those things at first… lol.

Yep, after all the hassle of getting the CD out of the envelope thingy, 30 Year War skipped like crazy. Thankfully that stopped after a good clean!

[Nikolai]

Originally Posted by allisvanity

The more I listen to it, the more I love it. Am I alone in thinking that this is one of the best records they've ever made?

You're not alone at all. It's a stunning album but I'm still surprised at just how much I love it. The more I listen to it, the more it resonates with me and it's definitely the most touching Manics album ever. I can even forgive that AFALC sounds a bit like it should be a duet by Renée and Renato

The fact that it's soon going to be joined by its more 'spiky, post-punk' sister album is just pure MSP fan perfection for me. Good times.

[allisvanity]

Originally Posted by Nikolai

I can even forgive that AFALC sounds a bit like it should be a duet by Renée and Renato

Well, that's in my head now. Thanks for that

[UEF]

I'm not liking it. Some of the melodies sound really forced - like a 13 year old writing a song. It's like the new Send Away the Tigers, and I was expecting Lifeblood.

Some good tracks on it though... 2 or 3, just like SATT

[The Gutless Wonder]

Roll on this evening! Whoop!

[who's responsible?]

(pre-orders popcorn for GW's massive outpouring of more SQUUEEEEEEEEEEEEE-ness for about 6pm)

In other news, you will love it, a warm glow of manicness awaits...

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by Flint

HOKAY, given myself some alone time with this, kept away from the forums etc. No idea what the general consensus about the album or songs is around here so I'll have to learn all of your (wrong) opinions later on . For now, here's what I reckon after the three or so days:

Track by track:

• This Sullen Welsh Heart: wonderfully atmospheric opener, really sets the mood nicely. Best guest vocals of the album, if only because they're guest vocals. Reminds me of Noah and the Whale's debut a bit, and that's not a bad thing in my books.
• Show Me the Wonder: I still think the chorus is undercooked but I'm really getting into the verses. I also love the flow between Welsh Heart and this, they work really well together. Enjoying this more now than I did before.
• Rewind the Film: still gorgeous. Keep returning to this the most at the moment even though it's the one I've owned the longest. Hawley's vocals sound great but I still think he's a bit too dominant for a Manics track, but I'm not really bothered all that much in the end. Gorgeous song.
• Builder of Routines: one of my favourites. Love the disjointed dreaminess, the light electronic elements, etc. Sonically very captivating. Kinda wish it was longer. Great stuff.
• 4 Lonely Roads: an average Wire b-side sung by an average singer. Alright, but clumsy.
• I Miss the Tokyo Skyline: first of all, ew at the return of (pointless brackets) in front of the title. But that's the only bad thing about this. James sounds great, the soundworld is wonderfully hectic in a surreally serene way (kinda like how they feel about Tokyo) and that violin is drop dead gorgeous.
• Anthem for a Lost Cause: somewhere between James' solo album and PFAYM. Like it but not one of my favourites. The verses have a nicely 'classic' feel to them, like a tune you'd hear from a 70's golden hits station.
• As Holy As the Soil etc: sounds like the songs I used to be made to sing along to at playgroups and school assemblies, right from the way it starts. The coffee line is unbelievably clunky. Nicky's kinda dropped the ball on this album - I really like his voice and think his tracks have been some of the best moments of the past few albums, but right now he's dishing out the most average bits of the album.
• 3 Ways to See Despair: I feel like I should like this more than I do right now. Probably the song that's left the least impression on me, negative or positive. Perhaps it'll grow.
• Running Out of Fantasy: man, I was always joking about the phoned-in James acoustic b-sides he's been chucking out for the past few eras and here the bits that are mainly focused on him are the best cuts. Lovely.
• Manorbier: weird to hear an instrumental on an Manics album. A bit overlong perhaps but I like what they're doing here. They're growing as instrumental creators.
• 30-Year War: I'm guessing this is the track everyone's fawning over the most? I really like it sonically (much more electronic than I imagined from the early comments) but I don't think the song itself is up to scratch. It's good, just... not as great as lot of people are saying.

General impressions and nutshells:

• The band sounds rejuvenated. It doesn't feel like they're intentionally blocking themselves anymore. I absolutely loathe the phrase "return to form" and I'm one of the few who actually likes PFAYM, but I do think this album sees the band's creative rebirth, or at least rejuvenation.
• Like I said above, Wire's letting me down. His contributions throughout the past couple of albums have really raised my opinion of him as a songwriter, but the two songs driven by him here are... average b-side material. Disappointed.
• The sound of the album is lovely. Production's good, the style suits them. Glad to have had them explore this further. Really enjoying the resurfacing of the electronic elements too.
• Regardless of some of the negative stuff I've said, I'm really enjoying this album. It makes me a bit giddy. It's too early to say anything certain as I'm sure the second half will continue to grow on me and in general these things take time. I'd say it's in the 7-7,5 territory at the moment but obviously can easily grow further, and probably will.

In short, I enjoy and endorse this song and music product.

Having now had a few listens I thought I'd post some thoughts, but in the main Flint has done this for me! I agree almost completely, just with one or two exceptions and additional thoughts.

I am personally not warming to SMTW at all, I think it's very lightweight and repetitive. I was amazed to see in the booklet that all the horns on this and their arrangement are courtesy of my old workmate Gavin Fitzjohn, who also appeared with them at the 100 Club (I haven't seen if he's been at the subsequent shows). I worked with Gav (and er, his mum) about 10 years ago, when he was in the band Adequate Seven, and since then I know he's played with Get Cape... and Paulo Nutini, and clearly he's been making connections. Good on you Gav, and if you ever get to read this I apologise for saying that I personally find the horns on SMTW and AFALC absolutely bloody awful. 'Rolling Stones-style horns' was the claim I believe, which is a long way off; even in their dotage I couldn't see the Stones allowing something so ersatz and lacking in subtlety.

A small point - anyone noticed how in the last few years Nicky has become quite a nifty bass player? I first noticed it on JFPL, and on 4 Lonely Roads he's positively showing off again with some deft fills that almost stray into the dangerous lane marked 'funky'. I also like this song a tad more than Flint, and find that the vocal melody is a hell of an an earworm. Like three or four songs on the album though, it does lack a proper ending.

Running Out Of Fantasy meanwhile is beautiful, and completely caught me off guard - I actually welled up a little when it got to

'the dying fall of my sentences / the magic of lost consequences / the seduction of a fading power / in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere / I'm runnng out of fantasy'

One of the saddest moments in any Manics song for years, and the most perfect.

I have to say though, elsewhere Nicky's lyrical themes of 'it's all over, what's the point' do pall somewhat over the course of an album. The record as a whole really dips when it hits AFALC, with him in that lyrical mood and the terrible plodding chorus, all predictable chord changes and (as mentioned in another thread) weary, swinging-from-a-noose horns. Anyone who thinks this should be a single is positively certifiable, and I include the band in this! This means you can probably consider pre-ordering it now.

So yeah the much-feared guest appearances actually work well, and we end up with a weird sort of even-more-explicitly-Welsh sister album to This Is My Truth. And I'll take that.

[The Gutless Wonder]

Listening to Sullen Welsh Heart. Really pretty and beautiful!