RTF - (hysteric) reactions, ranking...

[Mr Richey]

Finally written up my full review of the album. On my Facebook page now for those of you who follow my stuff on there.

[hummingbird]

Originally Posted by Mr Richey

Finally written up my full review of the album. On my Facebook page now for those of you who follow my stuff on there.

and for those that don't?

*hopeful*

[Mr Richey]

Originally Posted by hummingbird

and for those that don't?

*hopeful*

Oh, alright then

Back in 2010, the Manics made the unfortunate mistake of releasing an album that managed to undo all of the goodwill they'd earned from fans with their previous effort, the brilliant Journal For Plague Lovers (2009). Aiming to be a collection of stadium rock anthems or, as Nicky Wire described it, "one last shot at mass communication", Postcards From A Young Man proved to be one of the worst outings of their career for the Welsh trio. After a successful evening at the O2 in London, playing all of their singles, they announced a 2 year hiatus and vanished back to the Valleys. During their time away, the Manics recorded enough material for 2 albums and so, with the promise of a spikey, krautrock styled successor to Journal For Plague Lovers early next year, we have finally been treated to the first half of this new material in Rewind The Film.

It is worth noting going in that this is not a typical Manics album by any means. Some of the more set-in-their-ways-old-school fans have derided it as "middle of the road", "Radio 2 fodder" and even accused it of being "the safest album they've ever made". None of this is the case. On an album where the band's chief weapon, James Dean Bradfield's mammoth electric guitar skills, is almost nonexistent, where several songs have guest vocalists in order to better serve the material and where experimenting with new sounds is king, it seems ridiculous to slap it with a label such as "safe". The majority of the material is based around acoustic guitars, synths, brass, The Wire's slick bass lines and melodies that are at once uplifting whilst at the same time burdened with a world-weary sadness. The emotional depth, political aggression and piss & vinegar of Wire's lyrics has not been diminished by this switch in tone; in the majority of cases, this new musical direction has strengthened those qualities by stripping everything back to reveal the raw nerve that is the central theme of the album; middle age.

We've all heard the Manics at their youthful best but the time has finally come for them to embrace their age and tackle the subject. From the opening lines of the album "I don't want my children to grow up like me," it's clear that Rewind The Film is an album about reflection and tackling whatever emotions that brings forth, whether it is the anger of "30 Year War", the defeatism of "This Sullen Welsh Heart" or the sense of doubt in one's self of "Running Out Of Fantasy". I say it without any hyperbole; Wire has produced some of his strongest and most well crafted lyrics on Rewind The Film and that alone makes it worth checking out. The middle age anxiety is brutal in it's honesty, nothing here is sugarcoated and, though some might mistake the words for someone in a depressive state, these lyrics feel like refreshing new insight into the man's life and attitudes.

Opener "This Sullen Welsh Heart" is a beautiful hymn to defeat, with Bradfield delivering a subdued vocal with a weary lilt, accompanied on the choruses by the soothing harmonies of Lucy Rose. Although lead single "Show Me The Wonder" is not a bad song as such, it does become the sore thumb of this collection as tonally it has nothing in common with the rest of the tracks, being as it is an almost bombastic slice of faux Motown. The album's title track is one that grows on you over time; at first it can be jarring to here the deep and romantic tones of guest vocalist Richard Hawley, but after a while you begin to see just exactly why the Manics asked him in for this one. The choruses feature the familiar Bradfield stirring vocal and when it switches back to Hawley, it's like slipping back into a nostalgic dream. "Builder Of Routines" reflects on Wire's growing discomfort with growing old, with brilliant lines such as "How I hate middle age, inbetween acceptance and rage" whilst the gently plodding rhythm takes us into the lovely homage to "God Only Knows" in drummer Sean Moore's French horn solo. Welsh singer Cate Le Bon takes on lead vocals for "4 Lonely Roads", perhaps one of the album's lightest moments and not a song that will make any huge impact on you. In it's own right, it's a great little pop song but it's basically keeping the mood going until we reach the last track of the first half of the album, "(I Miss The) Tokyo Skyline". Here we get a whole new sound again with a beautiful Japanese instrument providing an achingly beautiful melody line as Bradfield strums against the rhythm, creating the feel of being on a bullet train. Wonderful lyrics, wonderful vocal melody and just a gorgeous example of what this album is all about.

Going into the second half of the album we hear the faint remnants of Postcards From A Young Man in the dancing rhythms and sweeping strings of "Anthem For A Lost Cause". But where that album failed, this song succeeds by bringing genuine depth and emotion to the table, both lyrically and musically. Next up is something that truly delighted me; a Nicky Wire vocal that isn't just tolerable! It's quite clear that The Wire has been working on his singing chops as he delivers a wonderfully nostalgic and bittersweet vocal on what is probably one of the album's most personal moments. Those with a knowledge of the band and their history will not have to look very deeply to understand what these lyrics are about, proving that some wounds just never heal. My favourite track on Rewind The Film is the dark, brooding "3 Ways To See Despair". Starting out with Bradfield and gently finger picked guitar line, it suddenly switches gear into an almost Nirvana Unplugged descending melody that grows bleaker as it goes along and when the lead guitar line comes in, it's a sound we're so unfamiliar with by this point of the album that it really makes an impact. Once again, brilliant lyrics from Wire. "Running Out Of Fantasy" is the second most personal song on the album, featuring another tender vocal from Bradfield, really bringing to life the sense of self doubt and the fear of lost youth that permeates the words. Before we launch into the album's finale, we get an instrumental. The Manics usually reserve these for b-sides but "Manorbier" so perfectly fits the mood of Rewind The Film that it more than earns it's place. I particularly love the slightly creepy guitar line and the crescendo towards the end. The album finishes with "30 Year War", a politically fueled, aggressive attack at the treatment of the working classes by the establishment. Some may yawn and say that this is old ground for the band, but they've still got the venom and it's wonderfully delivered in Bradfield's biting vocal, with lines that only Wire could possibly have written; "And the endless parade of old Etonion scum line the front benches, so what is to be done? All part of the same establishment, I ask you again; what is to be done?" That last line is repeated a few times and on each one, Bradfield sounds more accusing.

If you want the loud, rocking Manics then I'm afraid you'll have to wait until next year but, for now, I'm thoroughly loving this experimental, more inspiring Manics on a record that really should have been the follow-up to Journal For Plague Lovers. It has mood, atmosphere, depth and heart and it's clear from the get-go that the band have made the album they wanted to make instead of making the album they thought they ought to make (which didn't work out too well last time, did it?) with amazing results. Let yourself get involved with this album, let it grow on you and if you take in all of it's subtlety and all of it's ideas, you'll find yourself relishing the chance to rewind.

8/10

Aaaaand as usual, here's where the album fits in the rankings;

The Holy Bible (10/10)
Journal For Plague Lovers (9/10)
This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours (9/10)
Everything Must Go (8/10)
Rewind The Film (8/10)
Generation Terrorists (7/10)
Gold Against The Soul (6/10)
Lifeblood (5/10)
Know Your Enemy (4/10)
Send Away The Tigers (3/10)
Postcards From A Young Man (2/10)

[hummingbird]

great review Mr. Richey

[Porco]

A far better review (in terms of technical writing) than 90% of the 'professionals' Richey. And much more cogent and focused than my ramblings in the Death Death Death thread. lol.

[Son of Stopped]

5th listen in, I gave it the ultimate test...

What does it sound like when you are in a different room and doing the dishes?

See, this is a criteria the music press massively overlook.

So from TSWH it was drowned out by the sound of hot water in the sink.
Dishes put in just before SMTW (I needed a piss while the water was filling up, it normally doesn't take that long) and actually, it's made me appreciate the song a lot more.

It's not meant to be "listened to" listened to, it's meant to be on in the background as you do the dishes/ do some other work.

By the time of RTF I was finishing off the first plate. Stopped to listen to the "Plink... plink!" keyboard sounds. I was still washing dishes throughout "Builder Of Routines".
"4 Lonely Roads" was perfect for washing the cutlery. See, most people just give cutlery a cursory wipe and make done with it. I really scrub them! Scrub, scrub away!
And then for the pots and trays for "(I Miss The) Tokyo Skyline".
Plug pulled, but it doesn't end there...
Don't forget you've got to wipe the kitchen counter areas with a damp paper towel, calling all crumbs and accumulated bits of food, wipe! Swipe!
Binned...

Just in time for the middle of "Anthem For A Lost Cause".

And throughout, this was a good album to have on in the background. I couldn't make out a single lyric. I could barely make out the tunes, but it sounded good.

I will not be carrying on this experiment for "How does the album sound when you hoover the house?" as obviously, the hoover would be too loud and drown out the music!

[mar]

I have a few albums that need to pass your ULTIMATE TEST ^^
Will try one day.

[JimmiB]

Originally Posted by Son of Stopped

5th listen in, I gave it the ultimate test...

What does it sound like when you are in a different room and doing the dishes?

See, this is a criteria the music press massively overlook.

So from TSWH it was drowned out by the sound of hot water in the sink.
Dishes put in just before SMTW (I needed a piss while the water was filling up, it normally doesn't take that long) and actually, it's made me appreciate the song a lot more.

It's not meant to be "listened to" listened to, it's meant to be on in the background as you do the dishes/ do some other work.

By the time of RTF I was finishing off the first plate. Stopped to listen to the "Plink... plink!" keyboard sounds. I was still washing dishes throughout "Builder Of Routines".
"4 Lonely Roads" was perfect for washing the cutlery. See, most people just give cutlery a cursory wipe and make done with it. I really scrub them! Scrub, scrub away!
And then for the pots and trays for "(I Miss The) Tokyo Skyline".
Plug pulled, but it doesn't end there...
Don't forget you've got to wipe the kitchen counter areas with a damp paper towel, calling all crumbs and accumulated bits of food, wipe! Swipe!
Binned...

Just in time for the middle of "Anthem For A Lost Cause".

And throughout, this was a good album to have on in the background. I couldn't make out a single lyric. I could barely make out the tunes, but it sounded good.

I will not be carrying on this experiment for "How does the album sound when you hoover the house?" as obviously, the hoover would be too loud and drown out the music!

This is my favourite review by far!

I was loading the dishwasher and Sullen Welsh Heart is barely audible then BOOM! Out comes Show Me The Wonder!!

[MoMoney MoJunk]

At the moment

1. The Holy Bible
2. Everything Must Go
3. Journal For Plague Lovers
4. Rewind the Film
5. Know Your Enemy
6. Generation Terrorists
7. Lifeblood
8. Send Away The Tigers
9. Postcards From a Young Man
10. This is My Truth
11. Gold Against The Soul

[Son of Stopped]

Originally Posted by JimmiB

This is my favourite review by far!

I was loading the dishwasher and Sullen Welsh Heart is barely audible then BOOM! Out comes Show Me The Wonder!!

Thanks, but that's cheating! You've got to wash them yourself by hand! (Or not. It's your kitchen!)

[Jay]

1 Eeverything Must Go
2 The Holy Bible
3 This Is My Truth
4 Generation Terrorists
5 Journal For Plague Lovers
6 Lifeblood
7 Rewind The Film
8 Know Your Enemy
9 Gold Against The Soul
10 Send Away The Tigers
11 Postcards From a Young Man

[Ken Korda]

Originally Posted by tzb

If you cut Manorbier, ROOF flows really beautifully into 30 Year War.

Take your hands off Manorbier you monster!

The album's pretty good. Right now I'm digging, This Sullen Welsh Heart, 4 Lonely Roads, (I Miss the) Tokyo Skyline and Manorbier. As Holy as the Soil is a bit of alright as well.

Saying that I wouldn't rate it above much else they've done (apart from PFAYM, but I'd rate a poke in the eye higher than that), but it may be a grower.

[tzb]

Originally Posted by Ken Korda

Take your hands off Manorbier you monster!

Gladly! *scrubs*

It's a massive grower, so stick with it. Apart from Manorbier, quit while you're ahead...

[Lone Architect]

Finally had my first listen and yeah, count me in with the people who are wondering why the first two tracks released were chosen. They're not bad songs, there are no bad songs on here, but there are better ones.

Obviously it must endure the full Five Listen Test, but 20% done and I would listen again.

[allisvanity]

Think I’m decided on ranking now. RTF has fared pretty well:

THB – 10/10
JFPL – 10/10
EMG – 9/10
RTF – 8/10
TIMTTMY – 7/10
GT – 7/10
GATS – 6/10
L – 6/10
KYE – 5/10
SATT – 5/10
PFAYM – 3/10