Postcards From A Young Man Thread

[Slideling]

Originally Posted by Tiortranew

but a little bit less would have been more here.

Agreed.

[Rosco]

Does anyone else just feel a bit 'meh' listening to this record? I've been a big fan of every record in its own way (apart from KYE) but this album just doesn't do it for me. It's lacking a big bit of character in most places - the best moments are when they seem to let go like Auto-Intoxication and A Billion Balconies but on the whole it just seems a bit contrived throughout to me.

I've given it about 4 listens now and still can't get into it. Bearing in mind that like most of you I WANT to like it and this is meant to be a proper poppy hits-you-first-time effort I'm a bit underwhelmed. Not understanding a lot of people ranking it in their top 4 or 5 Manics efforts but it's all opinion innit.

[sonicshake]

“A Billion Balconies Facing The Sun” is gonna be absolutely amazing live. Cannot wait to hear it! James was blatently showing off in front of Duff when he recorded those guitar solos! This is the kind of song I've been waiting to hear them do for years...

[workingclasshero]

Been listening to it all day and I feel the same way as I always feel when I first hear a new Manics album........very very very happy and content :-)

[roi]

I was going to wait but gave in..

On the first two listens, with fairly low expectations, I like it a lot and don't quite get where some of the negativity is coming from. I LOVE A Billion Balconies, and Golden Platitudes and the title track also stand out. The Descent is the only track I'm not that arsed about.

One big problem though is the sequence of the songs. A Billion Balconies should be WAY earlier (track 2 maybe), and as previously mentioned Don't Be Evil isn't ideal as the closer. Odd track sequencing worked for The Queen Is Dead I suppose..

My top ten is now:

1 THB
2 JFPL
3 EMG
4 GATS
5 GT
6 PFAYM
7 TIMTTMY
8 LB
9 SATT
10 KYE

[workingclasshero]

Originally Posted by roi

I was going to wait but gave in..

On the first two listens, with fairly low expectations, I like it a lot and don't quite get where some of the negativity is coming from. I LOVE A Billion Balconies, and Golden Platitudes and the title track also stand out. The Descent is the only track I'm not that arsed about.

One big problem though is the sequence of the songs. A Billion Balconies should be WAY earlier (track 2 maybe), and as previously mentioned Don't Be Evil isn't ideal as the closer. Odd track sequencing worked for The Queen Is Dead I suppose..

My top ten is now:

1 THB
2 JFPL
3 EMG
4 GATS
5 GT
6 PFAYM
7 TIMTTMY
8 LB
9 SATT
10 KYE

I agree with what your saying about the negativity. Fucks me off actually, (but I respect peoples opinions). Your right about the sequence of the songs, I think it could have been put together better, but it's no big deal and still to early to be sure of anything apart from this IS a very good record.

[PCCCP]

After repeated listening to the new album, all I can think of is how much it just pisses all over SATT (which were supposedly 'Manics back on form',
when it actually was JFPL and PFAYM that truly can be seen as among their great LPs).
SATT has got two or three very strong tracks (YLAINE and SATT) and a lot of more or less decent fillers.
There isn't a lot of fillers on PFAYM.

[gladstone]

Short review - Love it

[workingclasshero]

I have 100% faith in never being disapointed in what these boys do. Pop, Rock, whatfuckingever....they will always be by far (and you all know it) superior to anything else out there.

[Clarence Pistoldinner]

Originally Posted by 227lears

...Bollocks to everyone who thinks it's shite...i've loved this band since the Jackie Brambles session at maida vale when I was working in a fucking Knickers factory in Port Talbot.

This should definitely be on the little sticker on the CD case.

[someone, somewhere, soon]

Originally Posted by PCCCP

After repeated listening to the new album, all I can think of is how much it just pisses all over SATT (which were supposedly 'Manics back on form',
when it actually was JFPL and PFAYM that truly can be seen as among their great LPs).
SATT has got two or three very strong tracks (YLAINE and SATT) and a lot of more or less decent fillers.
There isn't a lot of fillers on PFAYM.

disagree, pretty much anything past 'descent' sounds like filler to me right now - and that's the first time that's ever happened with a Manics album to me.

moved on to selecting tracks at random now rather than front to back run throughs, maybe individually the tracks will make more sense then.

SKON is still standing head & shoulders above the rest for me right now.

[French Dog Rhymer]

After a few listens I now adore this album gone up to a 9/10 now
Only two songs I don't get on with, the other ten are epic.

[someone, somewhere, soon]

Originally Posted by someone, somewhere, soon

SKON is still standing head & shoulders above the rest for me right now.

...title track's getting up there too actually.

[roi]

Originally Posted by PCCCP

After repeated listening to the new album, all I can think of is how much it just pisses all over SATT (which were supposedly 'Manics back on form',
when it actually was JFPL and PFAYM that truly can be seen as among their great LPs).
SATT has got two or three very strong tracks (YLAINE and SATT) and a lot of more or less decent fillers.
There isn't a lot of fillers on PFAYM.

I agree. I reckon even the least essential tracks on the new album are superior to I'm Just A Patsy, Winterlovers, Underdogs.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by workingclasshero

I have 100% faith in never being disapointed in what these boys do. Pop, Rock, whatfuckingever....they will always be by far (and you all know it) superior to anything else out there.

Are you paraphrasing a definition of 'Blind Faith'?