70 Songs Of Failure & Hatred

[Midlands_Junk]

Originally Posted by Kieslowski

I would love that, as The Vorticists is by far my most listened to Manics song since THB (1985 is maybe up there too). I can't believe such a great piece of music was left to rot as a fucking b-side on a vinyl single, whereas dross like Autumnsong appears to have become a live staple. There's that bit from their last "blog" (i.e. interview) where Nicky says

That bit pissed me off, because by saying their THB/JFPL side is them at their best, he's effectively admitting that he knows their EMG/SATT side is shit. So in other words, they know perfectly well that they're putting out substandard songs, at least in comparison to what they can do. No band should be putting out albums that deep down they KNOW is not the best they can do. It's fucking cheeky.

What pissed me off about Nicky's statement was:

a) Nicky only admits to two versions of the Manics, the EMG/SATT/GT and THB/JFPL. He completely ignores the Lifeblood version.

b) He more or less declared that the Manics won't be trying anything new from now on. He's the only artist other than Oasis who I've read to admit to making a conscious effort to repeat themselves in a bid to reclaim former glories. Very sad.

Go on Manics. Expand on 'The Vorticists' territory. Do something exciting and surprise us.

[La Bohéme]

I'd much rather have them churn out albums in the style of JFPL and some of the rockier tracks of PFAYM for the rest of their career than projects like this which will just fail.

[Midlands_Junk]

I do hope that every time Nicky says something like this, James or Sean twats him over the head with a newspaper or a slipper and shouts "NO NICKY! NO!"

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by Midlands_Junk

I do hope that every time Nicky says something like this, James or Sean twats him over the head with a newspaper or a slipper and shouts "NO NICKY! NO!"

i laughed so much at this! its probably true to

[Ken Korda]

When I read the article the 70 song album seemed like a tongue in cheek joke, to me anyway.

[Kieslowski]

Originally Posted by Tiortranew

Sandinista! is the perfect example why huge projects like this almost always fail.

Sandinista! is my favourite Clash album - 11 years after getting into them, and I still find that album fascinating. I'd love to hear the Manics do a bit of reggae and soul!

[Kieslowski]

Originally Posted by Midlands_Junk

What pissed me off about Nicky's statement was:

a) Nicky only admits to two versions of the Manics, the EMG/SATT/GT and THB/JFPL. He completely ignores the Lifeblood version.

b) He more or less declared that the Manics won't be trying anything new from now on. He's the only artist other than Oasis who I've read to admit to making a conscious effort to repeat themselves in a bid to reclaim former glories. Very sad.

Go on Manics. Expand on 'The Vorticists' territory. Do something exciting and surprise us.

Exactly. I would say KYE also shows there is more to the Manics than the two sides Nicky professes. There are also a whole load of b-sides which show the Manics can experiment successfully with different sounds, as well as TBTGOG, of course. There's a whole other side to them that they seem to refuse to explore, purely because they know it's not as popular with the kind of people who only started liking them because of EMG or YLAINE.

Rather than pandering to people who have no interest in anything that isn't being played on mainstream radio, they should just concentrate on pushing themselves and let those of us who stick with them throughout enjoy the results. "Warts and all" type albums where a band has tried to do something a little different - but perhaps not quite hit the mark on each track - are far more interesting than a latest attempt at recapturing the glory years.

Or they could just start playing The Vorticists live, even that would do...

[The Gutless Wonder]

Reggae and soul Manics style! That could turn out to be quite awesome actually!

[theraven1979]

Sandinista - bring it on!

[Escape Artist]

Originally Posted by Kieslowski

Don't forget that Heavy Metal Tamla Motown album they've just released, or the Nebraska-esque album from a few years ago.

Of course, all of this is complete conjecture, since the Manics split up after Generation Terrorists. I'm not even sure why Nicky Wire keeps telling us what albums his long-defunct one-album-wonders band is going to release, when they've not released anything since 1992.

Best post ever! I liked that a lot lol

70 songs?!

Sounds like he's inserting his weird sense of humour into this interview...WIIIIIRRRREEEEE!!!! (shakes fist)

[Bryter Layter]

Originally Posted by Kieslowski

Rather than pandering to people who have no interest in anything that isn't being played on mainstream radio, they should just concentrate on pushing themselves and let those of us who stick with them throughout enjoy the results. "Warts and all" type albums where a band has tried to do something a little different - but perhaps not quite hit the mark on each track - are far more interesting than a latest attempt at recapturing the glory years.

Or they could just start playing The Vorticists live, even that would do...

Yep, I agree however, so long as they're under contract to a major record company, they'll likely have to make albums with potential for sales. That's just a fact. So basically anyone who actually believes tier next album will be some messed up artistic experiment is really in for the let down of a lifetime because it ain't gonna happen. Besides, consider the source for a moment. When has he ever said something outrageous that actually turned out to be the literal truth? More than likely, the next album will have a similar feel to JFPL musically (lyrically, who knows?). Unfortunately, they've become a bit of a by the book kind of band and I highly doubt they'll make another album along the lines of Lifeblood because I think it's lack of mainstream success scared the shit out of them. You can't make experimental/progressive music if you're not willing to take chances and I don't think the Manics have it in them to do that. I'd personally love it if they turned out music that was a little less obvious, but I just don't think it's a realistic expectation where the Manics are concerned.

Also, Oasis were capable of making an experimental album? In what parallel universe is this he speaks of?

[Kieslowski]

Originally Posted by TheGreatPretender

Yep, I agree however, so long as they're under contract to a major record company, they'll likely have to make albums with potential for sales. That's just a fact. So basically anyone who actually believes tier next album will be some messed up artistic experiment is really in for the let down of a lifetime because it ain't gonna happen. Besides, consider the source for a moment. When has he ever said something outrageous that actually turned out to be the literal truth? More than likely, the next album will have a similar feel to JFPL musically (lyrically, who knows?). Unfortunately, they've become a bit of a by the book kind of band and I highly doubt they'll make another album along the lines of Lifeblood because I think it's lack of mainstream success scared the shit out of them. You can't make experimental/progressive music if you're not willing to take chances and I don't think the Manics have it in them to do that. I'd personally love it if they turned out music that was a little less obvious, but I just don't think it's a realistic expectation where the Manics are concerned.

Also, Oasis were capable of making an experimental album? In what parallel universe is this he speaks of?

Yeah, that really did scare them, and the fact they still never play anything from it just shows how much they rely on sales to tell them how good their music is or isn't - even though Empty Souls would have been their third number one if it hadn't been for those cynical Elvis re-releases! I remember telling JDB how great it was hearing 1985 when they played it in Edinburgh on the SATT tour, and he seemed genuinely shocked that it could be the highlight of anyone's gig.

I think we'll have to wait for another batch of solo albums if we want to hear something a bit different from them, which is a shame because like all bands, the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

[Dancing Kirby]

Originally Posted by TheGreatPretender

When has he ever said something outrageous that actually turned out to be the literal truth?

"I'm going to release a solo album."

[The Gutless Wonder]

Yes James! Believe it or not quite a few of us like Lifeblood!

[The Gutless Wonder]

Originally Posted by Dancing Kirby

"I'm going to release a solo album."

Aye! I think quite a few of us were like 'Yeah, right Wire!'