What did you think when you first heard THB?

[Cassie]

Originally Posted by kitz

I thought.. 'oh geez this is so depressing I want to hide and cry in the corner.'

You know, it made me feel like that too at first but then that sadness turned into anger. I wanted to tell the world that someone else had common sense and realised about the things that were happening in the world. If there is sth I love is honesty and THB showed me exactly that in the most beautiful and sadistic way.

[UEF]

I've never felt sad or angry about THB (or any music really, apart from really harrowing stuff like Lennon's Mother) - more energetic.

[rabbit]

A) I loved it body and soul
B) in some of the songs, like PCP, i only understood about every 20th word that James wa singing lol. it was as if i was listening to Spanish pop songs (my Spanish is quite poor)

[Scarecrow]

First time I heard the music, I thought the whole thing was a neat, tight little rocker with some good melody. Then when I got into it properly, I was shocked. Remains my favourite album ever.

Originally Posted by Richian

Good questions, you're a smart one! I think I questioned the entire She Is Suffering lyric - 'Riiight...'

I mentioned every name in the lyrics to my dad when I was 14, and it was like "Serial killer, serial killer, dictator..." He thought I was morbid.

[starfucker]

Lyrically it smashed my face in. I'd never heard anything like it. Musically it was a bit of a challenge if I'm honest. Completely different to what I was expecting. I only knew ADFL and ME. When I heard Yes and Faster for the first time I knew they were special. Then I heard 4st 7lbs and PCP. I fell instantly in love. What an album. I'll never get bored of it.

[Slideling]

Originally Posted by starfucker

Lyrically it smashed my face in. I'd never heard anything like it. Musically it was a bit of a challenge if I'm honest. Completely different to what I was expecting. I only knew ADFL and ME. When I heard Yes and Faster for the first time I knew they were special. Then I heard 4st 7lbs and PCP. I fell instantly in love. What an album. I'll never get bored of it.

Wow, ditto to almost every word you said.

[Steve Block]

I remember thinking it was a big departure from GT and GATS, and liking it and being confused and in awe of it. Still not sure I understand half of it, but I love the feeling of empowerment I get from some of it.

[Donkey]

Originally Posted by relic

"What is this rubbish? I can't tell a word he's saying. Who is it anyway? Can we listen to Gold Against the Soul by those nice Manic Street Preachers instead?" kinda sums it up. For several years I had GATS on repeat in my car and hubbie had GT and THB on repeat in his. It took a while for the penny to drop that he was listening to the same band ...

nice one

I've got it on my 14th bithday I think. At the time there were only 4 Manics' albums released and I already had the others. I just thought it was very hard and dark and (along with my mum) I thought that She Is Suffering is a little bit rip of themselves - I can clearly remeber that feeling and I know for sure that I knew which song I meant but sadly I can't remeber now!

[Atrocity Exhibitionist]

I already knew them from GT and GATS; I was in the UK when THB came out (which was great as it never came out here properly) I picked it up 'cause I liked the other two; but this was like a punch in the face. I think it's one of the most powerful albums ever recorded, it remains a favorite to this day where it is still in heavy rotation. It's when I became a major fan. Fuck sake, I have lyrics from it tattooed to me. Exile On Main Street is the only album in front of it as all time favs.

[Bryter Layter]

I'd heard Faster first and I really liked it straight away...sounded completely different from what they had done previously...more abstract and indie-like despite it's hard edge and I was always more of an indie fan so I liked this new direction. However, I remember being a little underwhelmed by the album as a whole when THB finally dropped. Of course this lasted only briefly and it's now one of my absolute favourites. I think most great albums take a while to digest. I know I was also disappointed when I first heard OK Computer too.

[Alan Noir]

"Best. "
"Album."
"Ever. "


(Bit sick of it now mind)

[tzb]

I thought it was pretty terrible. The only song I liked was Mausoleum.

I was a bit young for it, I think. Just couldn't get my head into the sound.

[Siouxsie Sway]

Originally Posted by tzb

I thought it was pretty terrible. The only song I liked was Mausoleum.

I was a bit young for it, I think. Just couldn't get my head into the sound.

you and me both, man! but after a couple of listenings I though 'wow, what a cool record'
same happened with other bands for me, it was first like 'uhm...odd' and then 'whoa...good'.

[theperfectcat]

I read the lyrics first, and assumed the music that matched would be extremely abrasive and angry. Then I put Yes on and was confused by how upbeat it seemed!

Took me a while to really get into it, but once I did, couldn't take it out of my CD player for months.

[big jayo]

i was only 4 when i first heared it so i cant remember lol but the first time i remember hearing it i was like wow this is intence