Futurology

[gladstone]

Agreed. The title track is one of my favourites, along with Misguided Missile. I must admit though (although I still like the album very, very much) now that the dust has settled somewhat, I think Rewind The Film is probably a much stronger album.

[Lone Architect]

It's the last two tracks which drop off in interest for me, so in that sense the album is sensibly tracklisted.

It's the first Manics album in years which I feel like I really really love it, rather than loving bits and listening to other bits purely because it's the Manics who've done it.

[LadyWoodbee]

Originally Posted by Lone Architect

It's the last two tracks which drop off in interest for me, so in that sense the album is sensibly tracklisted.

It's the first Manics album in years which I feel like I really really love it, rather than loving bits and listening to other bits purely because it's the Manics who've done it.

Exactly my opinion; it's the album I listen to the most at the moment, even more often that THB and GATS (not saying I like it better, though). However, I really can't stand the title track, and I'm not a huge fan of the instrumentals and Stow Hill (although I'm getting used to the latter). I do understand what people mean with the inconsistency; the album doesn't flow as smoothly as most others, but I don't mind that at all. At least that keeps it from getting boring.

[hummingbird]

I havent listened to it for a few weeks

[someone, somewhere, soon]

SPLAM is rapidly losing its novelty factor. "upload your future and download your past" is on a par with the "misguided tweets" lyric in Stow Hill in terms of cringe.

[cherrybomb]

Originally Posted by someone, somewhere, soon

SPLAM is rapidly losing its novelty factor. "upload your future and download your past" is on a par with the "misguided tweets" lyric in Stow Hill in terms of cringe.

I personally think that "download your future and upload your past" makes more sense.

[tomd2103]

Originally Posted by ZiZi

I share your opinion on this one. I think it could be on the album, as the 5th track or something. It doesn't have the quality to be standing in the series of Yes, 1985, Sleepflower, Peeled Apples etc.

Still really enjoying and liking the album and only have some minor grumbles really. I like Futurology (the song), but agree that it shouldn't have been the opening track. The album maybe should have started with some kind of spoken intro leading into Walk Me to, with Futurology at track number three after Let's Go to War. Would have left off Mayakovsky and would have had to find a place for Empty Motorcades, probably at the expense of SPLAM. After not initially liking it, I'm now a fan of Between the Clock, but wish the album track had stayed a bit closer to the demo.

[Scarecrow]

Had it on again recently, starting to cement a few views:

I agree with those who feel Futurology is a weak opener. I try to avoid comparing it to live versions, but I find it hard because I saw them play it 12 times before the album came out; it's too polished and restrained. It has a decent sound on its own terms, but it's nothing special. Similarly, Walk Me to the Bridge is wonderful live, but I find it fairly forgettable on record. Unless I'm putting the CD on to play right through, I skip the first two tracks already.

Let's Go to War, The Next Jet to Leave Moscow, Europa Geht Durch Mich, and Divine Youth are excellent. They all have a great sound and/or tune to them. The latter was a real slow burner, find it bliss now.

SPLAM is dumb rock. I enjoy it and imagine it would be good live, but it's silly.

Dreaming a City and Black Square are incredible, two of the strongest songs on the album.

Between the Clock and the Bed has grown on me a lot, but there is still that niggling voice in my head saying "Green's voice is irritating". I've grown to accept it, but it's a shame I have to.

Misguided Missile and The View from Stow Hill are fantastic, but the latter should have been elsewhere on the album, as the focus peters out towards the end.

Mayakovsky is good but hardly essential, surprised it wasn't a b-side. I don't get the same 'album closer buzz' from this as I do from the majority of their other closers.

Overall, a good album with a real sense of purpose, an interestingly optimistic spin on the Lifeblood version of the band, but the tracklisting is messed up. I'm glad it's been well received, they deserve it. Black Square, Dreaming a City, and Misguided Missile alone are already among my favourite Manics songs.

Controversial PS. As usual, I disagree with those who claim the demos CD is stronger than the finished album, and Empty Motorcade is good but nowhere near the best of this era.

[someone, somewhere, soon]

further thoughts on SPLAM; as a novelty song, it should've been handled as an all-or-nothing track, rather than casually slipped into the tracklist as it was. probably should've been a b-side and not on the album at all, but if it had to be included, how awesome would it have been as the opening track? better than the title track, and very definitely a flag for critics that says "hey look, we're doing something different".

Let's Go To War: much prefer the dark and sinister demo version for length and construction. the Grieg riff on the album version is too distracting for me. would've liked the FNM little chuggy guitar bit to have been the only riff on that track, would love to be able to mix that into the demo version somehow.

[db26]

Originally Posted by NasalScarecrow

Had it on again recently, starting to cement a few views:

I agree with those who feel Futurology is a weak opener. I try to avoid comparing it to live versions, but I find it hard because I saw them play it 12 times before the album came out; it's too polished and restrained. It has a decent sound on its own terms, but it's nothing special. Similarly, Walk Me to the Bridge is wonderful live, but I find it fairly forgettable on record. Unless I'm putting the CD on to play right through, I skip the first two tracks already.

Let's Go to War, The Next Jet to Leave Moscow, Europa Geht Durch Mich, and Divine Youth are excellent. They all have a great sound and/or tune to them. The latter was a real slow burner, find it bliss now.

SPLAM is dumb rock. I enjoy it and imagine it would be good live, but it's silly.

Dreaming a City and Black Square are incredible, two of the strongest songs on the album.

Between the Clock and the Bed has grown on me a lot, but there is still that niggling voice in my head saying "Green's voice is irritating". I've grown to accept it, but it's a shame I have to.

Misguided Missile and The View from Stow Hill are fantastic, but the latter should have been elsewhere on the album, as the focus peters out towards the end.

Mayakovsky is good but hardly essential, surprised it wasn't a b-side. I don't get the same 'album closer buzz' from this as I do from the majority of their other closers.

Overall, a good album with a real sense of purpose, an interestingly optimistic spin on the Lifeblood version of the band, but the tracklisting is messed up. I'm glad it's been well received, they deserve it. Black Square, Dreaming a City, and Misguided Missile alone are already among my favourite Manics songs.

Controversial PS. As usual, I disagree with those who claim the demos CD is stronger than the finished album, and Empty Motorcade is good but nowhere near the best of this era.

Agree with most of this.
Futurology should have been in the middle or the end of the album.
Walk me to the bridge is amazing. Should have been the opener.
Agree with comments on tracks 3-6
I like SPLAM. And i like it as a bit of light relief in the middle
Like Dreaming a city
Like Black Square
Agree about BTCATB. Definitely a grower. Just wish James had sung it.
Like Misguided Missile
The last two tracks just shouldnt be there. Stow sounds like a Lifeblood b-side. Mayakovsky should never have been recorded.

Overall a very strong album, but overshadowed by the stronger RTF.

[Son of Stopped]

Well what a varied bunch of people Manics fans are these days!
I love "Mayakovsky". And I'm delighted I've spelt that right without scrolling down to check.
I haven't got around to messing about with the tracklisting yet though.

[Nicolas De Staël]

Not a weak song to be found on this record. And I cherrish my japanese copy even the more... "Antisocial Manifesto" & "Kodawari" are outstanding.

I'm staring to think that this may probably be their best record to date.... I'm enjoying it so much!

[Son of Stopped]

Interesting!
I haven't listened to the album properly for about a week and listening again. Seeing why I liked it before. That said, I've yet to re-play RTF though.
I still can't be arsed sorting out a top ten albums! But I'm happy we've had these two.
Despite it seems only what remains of the fanbase still bothered to buy them!

[dolphin]

Some perceptive comments here, i.e. I agree with many of them!

I'm still getting used to Futurology and rather like it but in my view it doesn't stand with their best records. I do, however, think it's a vast improvement on RTF which has several great songs but too many that I find very ordinary.

[Son of Stopped]

That said, I've listened to the album again and seem to enjoy it more than RTF at least for the moment.
Despite what I've said about the last two albums I'm still more interested in these two than EMG/GATS/SATT and even KYE albums!