Critical Thinking Media Appearances

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by rosetree

I think videos probably cost more in the 90s because it seemed important to have an expensive video and probably they were more difficult to make then. I don't think the Manics needed to spend so much, even though they are superb.

100%, it was still the era when having big memorable promo videos were an important part of the business and an art form. I didn’t even have Sky growing up so I only saw MTV at friends’ houses, but I remember the thrill of seeing some incredible videos for the first time. These days I barely bother watching on YouTube, personally not found a Manics video worth bothering with for years.

Originally Posted by Routine Builder

I thought James would be more concerned about how much it used to cost to record an album, GT costing £250,000 seems excessive even when not taking into account it was 1990 money. The days of renting out a mansion are long gone though I wish they'd splash out on a producer and mix up their sound a bit.

I always found the idea of the expensive residential studio like the one they used for GATS baffling, it seems crazy to consider that this was seen as reasonable only a short amount of time ago! At least they didn’t go to Fleetwood Mac levels.

Originally Posted by Marconi Delorian

At last a response to this!

[rosetree]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

100%, it was still the era when having big memorable promo videos were an important part of the business and an art form. I didn’t even have Sky growing up so I only saw MTV at friends’ houses, but I remember the thrill of seeing some incredible videos for the first time. These days I barely bother watching on YouTube, personally not found a Manics video worth bothering with for years.



I always found the idea of the expensive residential studio like the one they used for GATS baffling, it seems crazy to consider that this was seen as reasonable only a short amount of time ago! At least they didn’t go to Fleetwood Mac levels.

Yeah I see what you mean. It's always exciting to have a new song and video.
Seeing the band on music shows in the early days with new videos was amazing! It's highly possible the Manics didn't have sky tv either.

I usually like to watch the interviews and songs on youtube though I bought the Foreverdelayed dvd when it came out with the early videos on.

Actually I saw this video on youtube that I haven't seen before, I love how they mime here:

https://youtu.be/I6Vt5fiXvyk?si=g82SkKYbrl1VtowO

[Tish]

The famous Nobby the Sheep performance! I did love it when those early morning kids shows had random indie rock bands on, all those 8 year olds bopping along to lyrics about existential despair.

[Dac X Lee]

Originally Posted by Tish

The famous Nobby the Sheep performance! I did love it when those early morning kids shows had random indie rock bands on, all those 8 year olds bopping along to lyrics about existential despair.

Ahahah! Sweet!
My son might be like those kids someday. ♡

But, to be honest, I was 11 when I started getting into the Manics' fandom back in the beginning of the 2000s. Ahhh... puberty...

Though I liked Tolerate back in the day as well (I was in elementary school in the late 1990s).

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by MSPKYE

Can’t format it cause I’m about to see Idlewild but here’s a copy and paste job

Q&ARecord Collector
01 Jan 2025

Nicky Wire on empty phraseology, Morrissey’s handwriting and more

The title track is an amazing rant. How long has that been building up?

It’s the first time, bar Ballad Of The Bangkok Novotel [B-side of 2001 single Ocean Spray], that I’ve gone in the studio without a written lyric. I had ideas and phrases, but I just fucking went for it instinctively, and then refined it. It’s us showing a bit of a sense of humour, as well as a lot of spite. It’s what our DNA was based on. It’s just about the way we’re bombarded with endless empty phraseology which has infected all parts of life.

What did Morrissey write to you on the postcard that inspired Dear Stephen?

I’ve got postcards off Lawrence, the Mary Chain and The Smiths, which have pride of place in my workplace. All The Smiths are on there but Morrissey’s writing is so big, it just says, “Get well soon”. The idea of the song is that something seemingly unimportant – just a postcard that is nearly 40 years old – can still resonate and invoke so many rich and vivid memories. It’s a tribute to the tactile world and the power of those formative years, a love letter to being 16. It’s a song with many layers, the relationship between art and artists and my own hypocrisy. And the music James wrote for it is so fitting. It’s gorgeous.

What critical thinking inspired the album?

I feel my body decaying and falling apart, but I work incredibly hard to keep my brain just about hanging in there. My main references were Joan Didion, JG Ballard, James Baldwin, Susan Sontag, Albert Camus, John Gray and RS Thomas. Then, Richey is a touchstone for me when it comes to critical thinking. I was listening to Archives Of Pain the other day, and it’s such an amazing lyric. He had these counterintuitive views of the world, which he was just so brilliant at managing. Just trying to keep your brain active is really important, and that includes reading stuff that you might completely reject. I think that’s the key to any kind of critical thinking – don’t live in an echo chamber.

What’s different about yours and James’ approach to lyric writing?

I think James still has a bit more belief, perhaps, in humanity and himself than I do. My lyrics always end up in a slightly more desolate place. He certainly gets more pleasure from the bliss of music or nature or whatever. He’s learned Welsh over the last two or three years and has become really good. He seems to have a broader perspective on life than my lifelong obsession with tunnel vision [laughs]. I mean, Being Baptised is a spectacular lyric. I said to James – quite openly and, of course, he shied away – “I just wish I’d written that lyric.” I would love to have the kindness in my heart to write that! There’s something so warm and appreciative and poetic in that lyric. Has he given me any tips on being a frontman? No!

The three of us are probably at the place now where, apart from moments of absolute coherence and joy, we just have different ways of coping with things, enjoying things or hating things, or whatever. We’re 55 and we have been in the band for 34 years. So there are going to be times where we’re not completely on the same page. It was a really hard album to make, but it’s probably benefited from that. I think, at our age, to still get across this much energy and engagement – it’s a pretty rare trick. Fifteen albums in 30 years is a fucking lot of songs! As told to Jamie Atkins

Originally Posted by MSPKYE

First review has dropped!

https://recordcollectormag.com/revie...tical-thinking

That's the smaller interview with Nicky with the review from Record Collector that's caused surprisingly tensions.
There's also a feature online about James talking about the Archives of Pain solo.
However the interview is from 2014 or earlier. So glad we took the high road on this. It's not Critical Thinking_ Media Appearances level of necessity.

[Son of Stopped]

On FD's Facebook, reviews coming in thick and fast from Uncut and Classic Rock Magazine.

[savemejebus]

I think it's safe to say that any music critic who describes 'Decline and Fall' as a "proper drivetime punk anthem" is not employed based on merit...

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by savemejebus

I think it's safe to say that any music critic who describes 'Decline and Fall' as a "proper drivetime punk anthem" is not employed based on merit...

I'm just as amazed David Quantick has taken a break from whatever he was doing to write album reviews!

[rosetree]

https://youtu.be/fEdxEiUjhwk?si=v4h4u_WCgRTP2NVg

I've been watching videos of Richey and as it's the anniversary of his disappearance in February. I love this one where he's with Nicky and what they say. I think what Richey says about Philip Larkin is still as interesting and insightful as always.

[Scarecrow]

I was initially turned onto Larkin through reading old Richey interviews and the writers he would mention so it was very serendipitous that I ended to studying a load of his work at college. Imagine my envy to later learn that my dad met him a few times!

[Son of Stopped]

Full review isn't up yet. But The Quietus are seemingly optimistic from the excerpt on Facebook.

[UEF]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

Full review isn't up yet. But The Quietus are seemingly optimistic from the excerpt on Facebook.

Aren't they optimistic about every new MSP release?

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

On FD's Facebook, reviews coming in thick and fast from Uncut and Classic Rock Magazine.

The Classic Rock one does sound interesting to be honest. It's only the two singles and most of the last two albums that is keeping me from having higher expectations, but if that review is accurate, I am expecting to really enjoy at least some of it.

[Glyn]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

The Classic Rock one does sound interesting to be honest. It's only the two singles and most of the last two albums that is keeping me from having higher expectations, but if that review is accurate, I am expecting to really enjoy at least some of it.

Some of the descriptions sound very interesting:

People Ruin Paintings : Stadium jazz
Critical Thinking: Robocop funk
Being Baptised: Pop song

Also confirms that One Man Militia uses a drum sample from No Fun. Makes sense with D&F doing the same from Squeeze and Wire's live cover of that track in the past

[IntlDebris]

I'll believe it when I hear it, but reviews are definitely suggesting there's a lot more going on here, which is definitely restoring some of my excitement.