Album 15

[Son of Stopped]

Underneath the review there's an interview and in big letters there's "Richey was a touchstone for me when it comes to critical thinking ".
There's something else underneath as well but even zoomed it's just ^°^^`~~{•| legible writing. Seeing as already cancelled before the turn of year behind.
The scan of Record Collector just had that review that's online, above and caused all this up.
It's going to be the most LISTENED to of their Manics albums, isn't it?
There's the hilarity of an entirely different group of people outnumbering the ones who'd normally buy it.
If you'd have told me when I worked behind the desk taking cards and saying numbers until writing down on paper the numbers being said from their cards that James wasn't even bothering out of his disgust for the options (DUDE! MY thinking was "Fucking hell this is going to be horrible... May As well make money off it by working as a poll clerk!". And fyi
I could only do that three times because I now want to kill the electorate)

So if anyone can transcribe the bottom half of Record Collector. Many thanks appreciated.
We can turn this around with MJ!

I laughed
When James didn't vote!

[Routine Builder]

Originally Posted by Mr Richey

Speaks volumes doesn’t it? Wire was more interested in getting back the popularity that they intentionally threw away after TIMTTMY than in creating a genuinely brilliant piece of art/heartfelt tribute with JFPL. I honestly believe he had his head turned by their unexpected resurgence in popularity from SATT and has been chasing commercial relevance and approval ever since. He certainly doesn’t give a shit about social justice, collective action or speaking truth to power anymore.

Did Nicky ever speak truth to power? The closest they ever got was doing a photo shoot outside Buckingham Palace or possibly playing Repeat in Thailand if we're being charitable. I think people read too much in to what the band wrote in lyrics and in music magazines as opposed to what they actually did. Since New Labour they've been politically homeless and never shied away from that. They are happy to put to their name to others causes. That being said, most people have seemingly forgotten the NHS gigs.

With regards to paying respects to a lost friend, people do this and feel comfortable with it in different ways. It's also very different for Nicky and James. For James, it was business as usual but Nick wouldn't have been able to co-write the lyrics with Richey the way he used to (perhaps Picturesque was an aborted attempt at this). I expect the whole exercise might have re-emphasised what is missing rather than re-connecting with the past. Songs like like Enola/Alone, Nobody Loved You and Your Love Alone are great tributes in themselves.

[MSPKYE]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

Underneath the review there's an interview and in big letters there's "Richey was a touchstone for me when it comes to critical thinking ".
There's something else underneath as well but even zoomed it's just ^°^^`~~{•| legible writing. Seeing as already cancelled before the turn of year behind.
The scan of Record Collector just had that review that's online, above and caused all this up.
It's going to be the most LISTENED to of their Manics albums, isn't it?
There's the hilarity of an entirely different group of people outnumbering the ones who'd normally buy it.
If you'd have told me when I worked behind the desk taking cards and saying numbers until writing down on paper the numbers being said from their cards that James wasn't even bothering out of his disgust for the options (DUDE! MY thinking was "Fucking hell this is going to be horrible... May As well make money off it by working as a poll clerk!". And fyi
I could only do that three times because I now want to kill the electorate)

So if anyone can transcribe the bottom half of Record Collector. Many thanks appreciated.
We can turn this around with MJ!

I laughed
When James didn't vote!

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

[Europa Gluten Free]

What new old songs will we get this tour?

Peeled Apples has been hinted. I’d say Motown Junk might get a re-run even though they moan about it. Sleepflower will be back. I’d love to see Ready for Drowning.

I honestly think they could rest You Love Us and a lot of the mid-tier favorites.

I really really hope they don’t have Lana sing every possible duet song. Bit bored of the YLAINE and LBN duets in recent tours.

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

I have to admit this has grabbed my curiosity. If he's merely criticising the cut and paste sloganeering (dare I say) virtue signalling on social media, I get it.

Originally Posted by Mr Richey

The only sentiment that I can agree with from that album review is the closing line: "All these years later, they’re needed more than ever." It’s just a pity then that the band we need is long gone and all we're left with is three bitter old grumps, who no longer believe in anything they spent most of their career standing for and who now open new albums with songs raging against - checks notes - kindness, tolerance and acceptance…

To be fair, this quote from the recent Mojo interview makes it sound like the title track is a critique of the self-help industry rather than the general concept of compassion and kindness:

There is less warmth on the spiky title track, a Gang Of Fourstyle Wire rant against the self-help industry. “The phrase ‘Be your authentic self,’” he spits. “I mean, what a calamitous fucking idea! What do you think all the dictators and rapists are doing? They’re being their authentic selves! My authentic self is a cunty gobshite.” He has his own unorthodox techniques. “Wire’s mindfulness,” he laughs, “is 127 episodes of Real Dictators with Paul McGann. I don’t know what that says about me.”

I also get (and share) the disappointment at James not voting, however, maybe I’m in the minority, but for me, I’ve never really thought of them as political activists. They’re a rich starting point/reading list for all sorts of cultural, political, social and historical issues/events and they’ve always been unashamedly anti-Tory, but I don’t look to them to speak out on most current affairs tbh, especially when there are better placed voices to pay attention to. As I got older, their meeting with Castro in Cuba felt increasingly politically naive and a misguided mistake, so this isn’t the first time they’ve done something I don’t agree with.

I’m far from a sycophant when it comes to this band (and FD in general never has been in fairness, so much so the band used to bitch about us all for moaning too much back in the forum’s heyday ), but I don’t put them on pedestals either, which inevitably leads to disappointment with any famous person. They’re flawed human beings trying to make sense of this messy world like the rest of us…and they’ve always talked a huge amount of crap in interviews, that’s nothing new lol.

[Bambi]

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

Thanks for pulling this into a post, and hope Idlewild were good.

I'm glad Wire still sounds like himself. Though I do think that, between the lines of the RC review itself linked earlier, lurks the reality of approximately half a good album. We'll see!

[theplague]

A little more excited about the new record now.

PFAYM is so underrated by people on here, a bunch of the songs on there are really really great.

[Librarian On Fire]

It's going to bug me forever, but it's STEVEN Patrick Morrissey. Not STEPHEN. Hoping that the correct spelling of Morrissey's first name is used in the song title.

[Tim]

Originally Posted by Mr Richey

Yeah, Nicky Wire mocking the notion of “It’s okay to not be okay” sounds like a proper riot �� And to openly mock the concept of “Be kind” in one song only to then say “It takes guts to be kind” later in a song that’s ostensibly about how we should all forgive fucking Morrissey?! Jesus wept…

Yeah... trying to reserve judgement if it's just another nostalgia song about what The Smiths meant to him but if it's excusing a fascist sympathiser then my values and their values are on wildly divergent paths. My tolerance for separating the art from the artist only extends so far. But we'll see!

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by theplague

PFAYM is so underrated by people on here, a bunch of the songs on there are really really great.

I’ve always had it down as a half good album, really love some songs on there to be honest, and a smattering of b-sides. Same with SATT. They just happen to rank low in comparison to their other work, one of those ‘collection of random songs’ moments rather than a cohesive piece of art, for me.

[JimmiB]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

I’ve always had it down as a half good album, really love some songs on there to be honest, and a smattering of b-sides. Same with SATT. They just happen to rank low in comparison to their other work, one of those ‘collection of random songs’ moments rather than a cohesive piece of art, for me.

Agree. Golden Platitudes in particular, I really love that song.

[JimmiB]

I was thinking that Hiding In Plain Sight is the song they tried to make with Some Kind of Nothingness. There's a great song in SKON but they didn't quite nail it, but HIPS takes that on and for me it's the best they've done in ages

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by JimmiB

I was thinking that Hiding In Plain Sight is the song they tried to make with Some Kind of Nothingness. There's a great song in SKON but they didn't quite nail it, but HIPS takes that on and for me it's the best they've done in ages

SKON absolutely clicked with me earlier this year. I'd previously thought it was ok. HIPS is better.

Hope explanation of People Ruin Paintings soothes. I got it wrong thinking it was a comment on Just Stop Oil. I'll have to make predictions more obvious!
Well Happy New Year. Hope it's a good one.

[Tish]

I've always loved the demo version of SKON that Nicky sings but the full version is so over produced and epic it overwhelms the song entirely. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger until by the time the gospel choir kicks in at the end I just want to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.

[theplague]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

I’ve always had it down as a half good album, really love some songs on there to be honest, and a smattering of b-sides. Same with SATT. They just happen to rank low in comparison to their other work, one of those ‘collection of random songs’ moments rather than a cohesive piece of art, for me.

Originally Posted by JimmiB

Agree. Golden Platitudes in particular, I really love that song.

I really love all these:
Some Kind of Nothingness
PFAYM
Hazelton Avenue
Golden Platitudes
I Think I Found It

Some of the remaining songs I consider better than most “other half”-songs on a lot of their albums, if that makes sense
Some of the b-sides should made it to the album though.

I agree that as a piece of art they have more interesting albums, but I actually prefer a collection of better songs than that. Especially since they have a bunch of those.

I prefer PFAYM to Futurology, Ultra Vivid Lament, Restistance is Futile, Rewind the Film.
With SATT it’s a tie.