Futurology

[centralscrutiniser]

The Rising was Springsteen's 12th. Perhaps not everyone's favorite, but kick started the reuinion phase and relaunched his career. And it does have a few brilliant numbers on there.

After a few listens Futurology seems to be a grower - some of the guest slots I'm still not keen on, but overall it's a nice album with a few exceptional songs on there. Anyway, at the very least it's always great to have a new Manics album.

Also, really struck by how amazing the bass sounds! In every way - the playing, the sound, the production. Absolutely fantastic.

[tomd2103]

Originally Posted by centralscrutiniser

The Rising was Springsteen's 12th. Perhaps not everyone's favorite, but kick started the reuinion phase and relaunched his career. And it does have a few brilliant numbers on there.

After a few listens Futurology seems to be a grower - some of the guest slots I'm still not keen on, but overall it's a nice album with a few exceptional songs on there. Anyway, at the very least it's always great to have a new Manics album.

Also, really struck by how amazing the bass sounds! In every way - the playing, the sound, the production. Absolutely fantastic.

After nearly a week of listening I would agree with that. My only grumbles at this point would be that Futurology should have been track three (coming after Walk Me to the Bridge and Let's Go to War), Empty Motorcades should have replaced Between the Clock and the Bed (which I'm still indifferent to at this point - might have been more at home on Rewind the Film) and the album should have ended with A View From Stow Hill (with Mayakovsky being a B-side). Only minor grumbles though and I'm really enjoying the album as it stands.

[LadyWoodbee]

Originally Posted by tomd2103

After nearly a week of listening I would agree with that. My only grumbles at this point would be that Futurology should have been track three (coming after Walk Me to the Bridge and Let's Go to War), Empty Motorcades should have replaced Between the Clock and the Bed (which I'm still indifferent to at this point - might have been more at home on Rewind the Film) and the album should have ended with A View From Stow Hill (with Mayakovsky being a B-side). Only minor grumbles though and I'm really enjoying the album as it stands.

For some reason, I keep missing "Stow Hill". Maybe it's my short attention span - which, of course, is the internet's fault! Don't we all live in a digital haze these days, with all the sad facebooking and the misguided tweets making us too impatient for anything that takes longer than a couple of seconds to process? Anyway, for some reason my brain tends to fall asleep after "how did this town get so old", and only switches itself back on when Nicky starts yelling "Mayakovsky"! Which, I agree, isn't the perfect way to end the album.

[Barni]

I'd be happy if the first five songs were released as singles.

The rest of the album I'd be happy if I never hear again.

I was hoping for an antidote to Rewind The Film. What we've got is another dust collector.

I give this album 39%. Only slightly better than This Is My Truth!


The Holy Bible 100%
Generation Terrorists 83%
Journal For Plague Lovers 77%
Everything Must Go 75%
Gold Against The Soul 71%
Send Away The Tigers 70%
Postcards 67%
Lifeblood 66%
Know Your Enemy 62%
Futurology 39%
This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours 38%
Rewind The Film 8%

[UEF]

I'm getting there with it, but I was led to believe that RTF would be the one I'd like less and that hasn't turned out.

That's not to say that there aren't some very good songs on Futurology, there are, but it just feels like the 2nd half of RTF to me.

Which makes me wonder - originally this (Rewind the Film and Futurology) was going to be one big album - if we ignore the "70 songs" thing, isn't that basically what we've got here? Other than the singles/promoted tracks, they're all broadly acoustic songs with a few swooshy sounds. This is their White Album.

[LadyWoodbee]

Originally Posted by UEF

I'm getting there with it, but I was led to believe that RTF would be the one I'd like less and that hasn't turned out.

That's not to say that there aren't some very good songs on Futurology, there are, but it just feels like the 2nd half of RTF to me.

Which makes me wonder - originally this (Rewind the Film and Futurology was going to be one big album - if we ignore the "70 songs" thing, isn't that basically what we've got here? Other than the singles/promoted tracks, they're all broadly acoustic songs with a few swooshy sounds. This is their White Album.

Yes, I was thinking that, too. Especially Divine Youth, BTCATB and Stow Hill wouldn't have seemed out of place on RTF.

[Dext37 Fielding]

Finally got the Duluxe edition in the post today.

Moscow is beautiful, so simple and it works really well.

[Radiomanic]

Originally Posted by UEF

I'm getting there with it, but I was led to believe that RTF would be the one I'd like less and that hasn't turned out.

That's not to say that there aren't some very good songs on Futurology, there are, but it just feels like the 2nd half of RTF to me.

Which makes me wonder - originally this (Rewind the Film and Futurology) was going to be one big album - if we ignore the "70 songs" thing, isn't that basically what we've got here? Other than the singles/promoted tracks, they're all broadly acoustic songs with a few swooshy sounds. This is their White Album.

This.

Its a good album, but just good. Not so different from RTF at all, except being a poorer relation overall and a bit overproduced in places. The bonus tracks are brilliant though, hate the fact they're not on the album when shite like the title track and SPL&M were included instead. I don't buy into this whole 'one of the best records they've ever recorded' bullshit. All it is really is PFAYM done right, its the 'Mass Communication' album they wanted in 2010 but couldn't make. Fair play to them for finally managing it, but they are still capable of better records (like RTF!).

[Dancing Kirby]

https://twitter.com/manics/status/488298501810692097

It's a bit late to start reading up on it now.

[UEF]

In terms of songs that could be considered a continuation of Journal for Plague Lovers (seeing as the album isn't), what do we think?

I reckon Europa, Let's Go To War (just about)... any others?

[Dancing Kirby]

It's a natural continuation of Lifeblood.

Everything since that album has been like the episodes of Dallas that fall between Bobby getting shot and coming out of the shower.

[Radiomanic]

Originally Posted by UEF

In terms of songs that could be considered a continuation of Journal for Plague Lovers (seeing as the album isn't), what do we think?

I reckon Europa, Let's Go To War (just about)... any others?

Doubt it, didn't expect another JFPL anyway. They said Post Punk Disco Rock, that's Public Image Ltd. That's what i expected, their own Metal Box. Could've been really interesting as well.

[Son of Stopped]

I listened to the album last night on Spotify, but a friend kept getting calls from her boyfriend. (We sorted it all out and look forward to seeing them again) So the volume kept getting muted.
"How is that a problem? OK, give the householder the chance to talk, but you can just play the tracks again?
Normally, yes. But I was what the hipsters used to call "Whiting Out". So this made movement impossible with tiny drilling pins in my legs.
It sounded good before it got muted. And she wasn't impressed with "Let's Go To War".
Also, after the third phonecall and mute button, I changed the album to Soft Machine Volume Two. And a fat lot of good that did to stop me puking!

[hummingbird]

a book I found on my shelves recently, bought years ago and i can't really remember why. Premonition ? S'pose i should be a good little manics fan and read it….

[Borderliner]

^ @ hummingbird that's cool XD


Futurology is officially my favourite album. EVER!