Manic Street Preachers

[Cracked Pleasures]

Who else here is into the Manics??


Of all "Britpop" bands (or bands labelled Britpop incorrectly), they are about the only ones I am into along with Placebo. Most nineties acts and modern bands are none of my interest, but I am happy to make an exception for Nicky Wire, James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore, and (yes, still in our hearts) Richey Edwards James.

The Manics must be the most intellectual band to rise since the Smiths broke up. Their discography filled with politics-laden songs, some of their writings have a political reference in practically every sentence. Their songs are full of hidden references to persons, events, writings, and they use a lot of quotations in their songs. I really adore how they manage to mix all those references into meaningful lyrics without losing their cohesion. The band truely writes songs that never sound forced, but that -due to the many references- are very interesting to analyse as there's so many hidden links in their songs.

Starting off as a glam act, they proved to be so much more than the meaningless shock-rockers they were blamed for by the media. The Holy Bible is one of the most interesting (and most depressing) albums of all time, full of paranoid gloom written by Richey, you also smell the Smiths influences in titles such as "Roses to the hospital" or "She is suffering" (the Manics indeed are heavily influenced by Morrissey, they attended Smiths shows regularly prior to forming their own band).

My favourite Manics songs are definitely The Masses Against The Classes, and A Design For Life.

"The Masses..." is a true communist anthem, though the message spread between the lines applies to anyone regardless of his political believes. I like the feelings of the last chorus, where "I'm tired of giving a reason, when the future is what we believe in" is replaced by "when WE're the only thing left to believe in" - a statement of hope in mankind and in a society united in believes instead of torn apart. The song inspired Fidel Castro to invite the Manics in Cuba ; the band accepted the invitation and became the first UK act ever to perform in Cuba.

"A Design For Life" is about how society evolved for centuries and reached an intellectual peek after many years of research, yet at the same time we seem to do nothing with our knowledge and get stuck in decadence: "we don't talk about love, we only want to get drunk". The opening line is an immediate typical Manics writing: full of references. "Libraries gave us power, then work came and made us free. What price now for a shallow piece of dignity?" -- the line is clean and powerful, yet the more intellectual listener will discover two clear quotations: "knowledge is power" and "Arbeit macht frei".

More between-the-lines writing can be found in their most commercial efford "If you tolerate this your children will be next" (that title sounds Moz-esque, doesn't it?): the song is about losing morals in society, though also refers to the war in Spain when Franco's regime was beaten. A Welsh farmer went to Spain to fight for his ideals, when asked if he wasn't afraid he spoke the words "if I can shoot rabbits, then I can shoot fascists". The line was used in the song, one of the least known quotations the Manics used for their songs, but it remains one of the many quotes in the songs.

"La tristesse durera" (= the sadness will go on) were Vincent Van Gogh's last words. The Manics wrote a whole song about that one line.

One of my favourites is Tsunami. Swamped in an oriental sound, the song is a reference to two Welsh twin sisters who were separeted beyond their will and then refused to speak as a protest, when one of them died many years later the other one started speaking again. Nicky Wire wrote the song shortly after Richey's disappearance, as he saw a link to himself in the story: his best friend vanished, and he had to stand up and speak again = writing the songs himself. The song is about how life can break you down when you least expect it, but how we always find strength to stand up again ; the tsunami is a metaphor for both powers.
I named my cat after the sung: Tsunami :ph34r:

Another fan favourite is "Little Baby Nothing": an ode to women, who stand strong in a society dominated by men who see them as lust objects. The song is ironically intended, as an ode to women and not as an insult. Porn actress Tracy Lords did the female vocals for the song, as the Manics saw her as a perfect example of how women use men's weaknesses for their own benefit.




Any other fans here?

And does anyone share my belief that Richey is still alive somewhere far away?

[Bref]

yeah i love the manics. My first gig was a manics gig. My favourite album is the holy bible, the lyrics are poetry, the music is punk, the result is one of the best albums of the 90s. I also love everything must go. This album is more pop orientated and lyrically weaker due to Richey's abscence on some tracks, but it's fun and very accessible. I don't like their new album (lifeblood) but Know your enemy was a return to their punk sound. A really good band

[clarky]

[Cracked Pleasures]

[this_charming_girl]

[Cracked Pleasures]

[this_charming_girl]

[Cracked Pleasures]

[Cracked Pleasures]

[this_charming_girl]

yep i love both Nicky and James' solo work, you can definately see the different era's of the manics in them tho, James sticking to 'safer' newer sounding stuff with Nicky kinda going back to some more raw sonding manics stuff i guess. and the cd case is pink so clearly it cant be faulted!

it still amuses me that they used Traci Lords, especially as they actually wanted Kylie, hmm bit of a difference there id say! its a cool song though, definately overlooked i think, though i think the whole GT album is overlooked personally but thats another issue!

also, what do you think of the EMG anniversary thing? doesnt compare to the HB one, but what can?!, i like the documentray and all that stuff though. got that and the HB one in prime position on the top stand of my cd rack haha

(also i wont comment on design for life,, apart form saying, eurgh.)

Stefi x
man can i ramble about the manics!

[Cracked Pleasures]

[this_charming_girl]

well i'd include this is my truth in there too! everything must go was the last one with the real essence of the manics in it, then after that they essentially became a different band! dont get me wrong, i still love all the other albums, but in a different way and so much as to say to people, 'wow you really have to listne to these albums' as i would with earlier ones.

i think theyre new album next year is gonna be good, theyv talked about it going back to their roots and being more manics i guess. looking forward to that one, and the tours to go with it of course

[this_charming_girl]

oooh yey manics new tour!!!! got my tickets, anyone else going???

Stefi x

[clarky]

well after hearing 2 new songs by them i have a bit more faith for them in a new album,but come paril or may i suppose we will know

[elko]

C'mon folks, give up on the Manics already!

There are plenty of awful bands to go around!