Album 15

[FacelessSenseOfVoid]

Life was a lot better when we had one edition to choose from. Not to mention when we had actual physical singles with b-sides that were better than the album tracks half the time. I'm sure the band could churn out a few more extra tracks because it's only really been since RIF that everything has gone downhill in terms of bonus material.

[deadmartyr]

I mentioned to somebody the other day that SATT and PFAYM are the two eras that spawned collections of b-sides that I generally prefer to the songs on the associated albums themself, and then realised just how many MSP-penned b-sides there were, something like 13 and 15 songs respectively

[Son of Stopped]

Oh I definitely feel CT has the cream of their best songs of this current period.

[FacelessSenseOfVoid]

I created a playlist on my phone which is basically a double album I've called "Hidden In Plain Sight" covering the best tracks released between the RIF and CT eras, including one track from Intimism. I was going to include tracks from Even In Exile but it would sound super out of context bringing it into the Manics universe, given the subject matter.

Everyone will have their own favourite tracks but this one I think has a really good flow - such as CT rolling into IB rather than D&F. There are more darker/reflective songs towards the end, with a middle section that is quite 70s sounding, followed by a slightly more 80s/electronic vibe.

1. Critical Thinking
2. International Blue
3. Hiding In Plain Sight
4. People Ruin Paintings
5. Johatsu
6. Sequels of Forgotten Wars
7. Being Baptised
8. Quest For Ancient Colour
9. A Soundtrack To Complete Withdrawal
10. Late Day Peaks
11. Distant Colours
12. Under California Skies
13. Happy Bored Alone
14. Blank Diary Entry
15. A Song For The Sadness
16. My Brave Friend
17. Diapause
18. Afterending

[y2kyle16]

Originally Posted by deadmartyr

I mentioned to somebody the other day that SATT and PFAYM are the two eras that spawned collections of b-sides that I generally prefer to the songs on the associated albums themself, and then realised just how many MSP-penned b-sides there were, something like 13 and 15 songs respectively

The send away the tigers b sides were genuinely better than the album

Boxes and lists, little girl lost and anorexic Rodin all worthy of being on the album

[Tish]

All the albums released in the 2000s, apart from JFPL, had wonderful B-side selections that you could create a second album from, and some of those were better than the albums themselves.

That kind of multi format chart rigging, where you ended up buying 3 copies of the same single to collect all the B sides, was a win/win for everyone, singles were cheap so it didn’t ruin you, it encouraged the bands to record extra songs and “our” bands got to spend a week in the Top 10 amongst the Dido’s and the Westlife’s. It didn’t feel like a scam the way this “buy ten different copies of the same album with different coloured vinyl or a different cover pic” crap that every band does these days does.

[gabo86]

I once opened a thread with all the "companion albums" which I created with b-sides from each era in chronological order.
And yes, many b-sides are better than a-sides. Some "b-sides albums" are better than the actual album, and it's one of the (many) reasons why I love MSP.

https://www.foreverdelayed.org.uk/fo...ad.php?t=50667

[Bartek Wyre]

Yeah, if they maybe waited a couple of years to gather enough material and opted for their own songs rather than covers for CD2, we'd have a Manics version of Sci-Fi Lullabies instead of what ended being Lipstick Traces. Like y'know, with both Suede and Manics being legendary b-sides bands.

[Tish]

I think the Manics could have filled another disc with original B-sides at the time, they just chose not to. There’s loads of great B-sides not on Lipstick Traces, Patrick Bateman, Too Cold Here, Loves Torn Us Under, Dead Buildings for the People all spring to mind. And a bunch of Know Your Enemy era ones.

[Son of Stopped]

Would the new album sound as it does if they hadn't of toured with Suede?

[Marconi Delorian]

Suede are releasing Sci Fi Lullabies part 2 for Record Store Day - the Manics should absolutely do this next year.

[FacelessSenseOfVoid]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

Would the new album sound as it does if they hadn't of toured with Suede?

Considering it's been done for a year then probably, yes (although someone will remind me they were touring before that). I can't hear any Suede influence on it myself. It's more of an 80s influenced album.

[Marconi Delorian]

Originally Posted by savemejebus

sadly yeah. With Ms Swift, it's even more cynical as she doesn't need any help to shift millions of units.

If i could paraphrase; 'I would prefer no choice. One standard, one deluxe, one vinyl, that's all'

Come on, you should have written "To paraphrase one of your heartbreak lines"! Maybe the worst lyric of the album.

[Marconi Delorian]

Originally Posted by Tish

I think the Manics could have filled another disc with original B-sides at the time, they just chose not to. There’s loads of great B-sides not on Lipstick Traces, Patrick Bateman, Too Cold Here, Loves Torn Us Under, Dead Buildings for the People all spring to mind. And a bunch of Know Your Enemy era ones.

Didn't they ignore what the fans voted as the number 1 choice to include on LT? Hibernation, I think?

[Bartek Wyre]

Originally Posted by Marconi Delorian

Suede are releasing Sci Fi Lullabies part 2 for Record Store Day - the Manics should absolutely do this next year.

They abso-FUCKIN'-lutely should!

Is the Suede album actually titled Sci-Fi Lullabies part 2 though? :|