Reviews (page 2 of 7)
MSP are a funny band for me. As a child I was aware of them from their late 90s radio hits (A Design for Life, If You Tolerate This...). They seemed like a pretty clean cut indie band, like U2 or the Stereophonics. Only much later did I learn they had a mucb punkier origin and outlook, and of the tragic story of Richey Edwards. I've known about this being their revered album but always steered clear as I didn't have a gateway track that I already knew. Well, turns out its pretty good. Fave Tracks: Yes, Revol, Faster, This Is Yesterday 3.9/5
A very underrated album by this Welsh band. They had great success in the UK but were generally overlooked here in Australia. 4 stars.
The early, intense/earnest Manics phase with a string of well crafted, passionate songs that still hold up after all the years
Pretty good stuff. It's always nice to get a pleasant surprise in the 1001 inbox. There are similarities here to a lot of other things I like. It'll need another listen or two to unpack, but I'm getting the getting the general feeling that vocals are a bit too cock-rock for me to go 5. Solid 4 tho.
I know that they are lyrically angry and important, but I lacked the energy to track what they were saying very closely. Some great songs though. Weird story about the disappearance of one of the founders. Unpleasant cover art by someone I’ve learned is an important Young British Artist.
This was refreshingly different! I'm glad to have listened to this, really weird kind of rock punk? I was on the fence between 3 and 4 but I'll go 4 for this one, pretty good
I didn't get the first few songs, but by the end I loved it
Probably not the best music for a baby shower
That was something - RIP Richey
For the second time this month, I listened to a Preachers' album. This one is soooooo dark and good. However, it is a handful of songs from being a perfect record. Again, a solid four-star album.
Excellent 90s alternative
What an unexpected surprise! Compared to their other album on this list I really like this one from start to finish. (except the cover-artwork) There is definetly potential for the fifth star. favourite: "She Is Suffering", "Revol", "Mausoleum", "Faster" 4,5
This was released the same day as Definitely, Maybe and the world decided Oasis was the band to fall in love with? No. Absolutely not. What is wrong with Britain.
Really cool, not what I thought they would sound like based off of the few later singles I know. Very dark lyrically which was surprising
Previously rated: #741 - Everything Must Go (4/5) ************************************ Album #1,076 First impression - what a hideous image to put on your album cover! Why?!? Oh geez, there is also a song titled Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldfallapart? <rolls eyes>. I liked their previous album, so I'll try not to let it cloud my judgment on the music. I don't know what they are on about with their politics. Why are they complaining about Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher in 1994? Let's talk about the music instead. Hard rock, punk, pop, it's catchy, it's great. I just wish it wasn't so bleak and depressing. The singer has a terrific rock voice, sounding just like Lou Gramm when he hits certain notes. Another album I will mark for relisten down the line.
Es ist ein Album wie ein Schlag ins Licht: hart, kompromisslos, intellektuell scharfkantig. Die Manic Street Preachers verbinden hier post‑punkige Härte mit einer lyrischen Tiefe, die selten so schonungslos und politisch zugleich war. Die Songs wirken wie Dokumente eines inneren und äußeren Zerfalls, getragen von Richey Edwards’ radikaler Sprache und einer Band, die musikalisch bis an die Grenze der eigenen Belastbarkeit geht. Der Sound ist trocken, kantig, fast klinisch – und genau dadurch so eindringlich. Zwischen Wut, Verzweiflung und klarem Denken entsteht ein Werk, das nicht leicht zugänglich ist, aber umso nachhaltiger wirkt. Ein Album, das fordert, aber belohnt.
Listened to MSP early years, but haven’t ever listened to this a lot because well it was Richie Edward’s taking his multiple significant issues to a fair extreme, lyrically before he did so literally, and it’s props to Bradfield and Moores music that still makes the whole think work. God knows how they manage to fit those wordy lines in at times. My problem is, there is something about this list/critics in general that always seem to latch onto MH and other forms of tragedy that’s a little, maybe sensationalist rather than the actual realism and always seems to want to label it and view it as profound, there just seems to be that trend. Musically 3.5 Star
Pissed off post punk. Wall to wall great songwriting. With topical themes on trauma and politics. All time great rock album.
favorite song: of walking abortion vibe: yeahhhhhh queer punk but like. in your mid/late twenties not your teens rating: 82/100
He was going through a tough time wasn't he
Very good album. There is pain and anger and politics. It’s an album that needs multiple listens I think to fully digest. The lyrics are strong point here. So crazy sad. A person who was using his ability to write as an outlet. I think I really like this album.
The best days of this challenge are the ones that leave me pleasantly surprised. My knowledge of the Manics was limited to their mid-to-late 90s singles. Not keen. Fine but boring. Then I generated Everything Must Go a couple of weeks ago and within the context of the album, it was no better really. Listenable but about as expected. Fast forward to today, which is actually a rewind by two years but, significantly, before the loss of guitarist and primary songwriter Richey Edwards. I enjoyed this album so much more than their polished, catchy, safe Britpop stuff. There's a real edge and urgency; even as someone who doesn't pay a great deal of attention to lyrics on the first few listens, I can feel the anguish. Musically, it's bold and loud and rough, but still full of hooks and very engaging. I'm glad I finally gave this album a proper go, it's fantastic. Such a tragedy that Richey didn't get the help he clearly needed. The guy was dealing with alcoholism, anorexia, depression and all kinds of demons. He used his writing as a vehicle to escape from them all and then, although nobody can be certain how, he slipped into the night and was never seen again. While I've never been invested in them as a band, I have always found his plight and disappearance terribly sad and strangely fascinating. I hope he is actually alive somewhere, that he found a way to leave his old life and pain behind and start again somehow.
Enjoyed this more than the latter album I listened to by them. Could have done without all the narrative between songs but otherwise liked it.
Weer een band die ik vrij vroeg in de collectie had, door de Chemical Brothers. Die mixte een en ander van deze band, waaronder 'Faster'. Dat nummer lijkt ergens weinig digitale versterking nodig te hebben. Net als het meeste op dit album heeft het al kracht genoeg van zichzelf. Ik snap het ook wel. Het is heerlijk gebruiken, die uitgespuugde harde medeklinkers: "I am an arKiteK-T". De zanger doet het erom, of hij moet Hollandse roots hebben. Maar in de delen met rustigere delen, is dit accent verdwenen. Dan heeft hij een zachtere radio-rock-klank. Het stomme is; op de een of andere manier werkt het. Het tilt het album boven de vergeetbare 3.
Another pf those bands that I'd heard the name, but never heard the music. Now, I wish I had heard them earlier. While I don't think they're like the Best Band Ever or anything, it's definitely worth the listen. I've listened to it three times over the last few days and there is some great music here. His voice is interesting and good for the most part, but he does seem to try channeling Johnny Lydon sometimes and that's less than good. His high singing voice and his yellier bits are good. But, his mid-voice is a little whiny. I read about their writing style and thought how hard it must have been hard for them to come up with music for these fully formed word salads But the music is quite good throughout. Good guitars and the bass shows up pretty strong in a couple of them, I'll listen to this again and some made it onto playlists already. Let's give it a 4.
Hadn’t heard of them until now and they’re solid!
I've heard of these guys, but never listened to them before. I dig the early 90s dirty alt rock sound. Honestly reminds me a bit of the J-Rock band The Pillows.
Second album proposé après 'Everything Must Go' que j'avais assez apprécié (noté 3/5). Ce second album est au moins aussi intéressant que le premier : l'harmonie et la structure des morceaux sont bien plus recherchées que dans la majorité des groupes pop/rock. La section rythmique est très bonne, avec une basse bien en avant, et la guitare est variée. Le chant est acceptable et se marie bien avec l'accompagnement. Il rejoindra ma collection ! Par contre l'album est un peu long, certains morceaux sont un peu moins créatifs ('This is yesterday' par exemple), ce qui lui évite la note maximale. =>4/5
Really surprised by this, will give there other albums a losten
Tool meets Green Day on a sex pistol agenda!
A nice surprise and departure from a lot of the other 90s stuff, this was a band I knew of from a distance but never really listened to. There were definite influential sounds a la The Jam, Wire and Buzzcocks, but also some new wave and late 80s feel…all wrapped up with 90s drive. The dreary lyrics (oof) and tragic story of the lyricist/guitarist only adds to its intrigue. Still, there were a lot of interesting non-predictable moments and guitar tones that really help this album successfully bridge a lot of gaps between decades.
Really nice surprise. Had heard of these guys and very much enjoyed this. Good energy, guitar and vocals. A couple parts were a little rough on the ear holes but fortunately they didn’t lean in on that. A lot of grunge feels and a couple parts gave me system of the down type feels. Will be checking out more of this band. 3.75
A nice surprise. Unknown to me and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Nice tunes, haunting lyrics. Def one to revisit. 3.75/5
Heavy and catchy and so many excellent riffs and melodies. Another exciting new find. I’m giving 4s out like candy this week
Heavy lyrics, big melodies and memorable hooks. Under serious suspicion of being my jam. Listened twice and loved it.
Brilliantly underrated.
a blunt, powerful and emotional alternative rock album. the guy who wrote the lyrics and performed ended up mysteriously disappearing soon after this album came out. definitely not an album that's gonna hold your hand. meaty guitar riffs, punchy drums, and a lot of samples from movies, broadcasts and such that only add to the specific theming of each song. the "street preacher" name is right, they certainly have a preaching energy when they sing. while it lacks a bit in variation, this album overall i think is solid.
A surprising album. Very different from Everything must go. Glad it was included.
Not quite sure what I make of this manics album, my first time listening to them, it’s pretty interesting and a blend not quite like anything else I know - a low 4!
I guess a big part of the draw for this album is the lyrics, which were essentially all lost on me. I found myself really enjoying the sound though; much more interesting than most Brit rock. 4.0
Another one I bought when it was released. I didn't particularly like it at the time but my tastes have changed over time. This is a brilliant album, to be honest. Do yourself a favour and head to Wikipedia to read about the disappearance of Richey Edwards, the MSP lyricist. Then look at the paintings on the cover (they are by Jenny Savile). And pay attention to the tension between the lyrics and the music. Nothing is accidental with this album. I'm both sad and happy that I grew into this album.
Definitely not what I was expecting, in the best way. Incredible energy behind every song and I was a big fan of the instrumentation and the vocals. It was insane to read about the lyricist’s disappearance shortly after this record came out. Best Track: Yes
This is pretty rad. I love their sound and the fast paced, often hard to decrypt, Welsh accent on my unaccustomed ear made for an interesting experience. It's an album full of scathing political commentary and they really swung for the fences with it. I was reading about the band and the disappearance of their lyricist/guitarist Edwards and you can definitely hear his struggles in a lot of the lyrics, but he was obviously a crazy talented writer. The songs themselves are catchy and well executed. There are some nice guitar riffs and solos and the beats are fast paced and in your face. The drumming is really tight and can be subtle when it needs to be (see "This is Yesterday", love it). Every song has something fascinating to listen to. Standouts on this spin were "Archives of Pain" "Revol" and "This is Yesterday" This album is conceptually heavy and weighs on you. They went way in on global politics, which is fine, but I think if they had leaned more into their personal struggles this album would have been amazing. Those were the tracks where the band really shined. Cut a couple tracks too; the back half of the album drags a bit. As is, it's a really strong 4/5 for me, a really pleasant surprise, and I'll have to listen to this one again.
Another great album that I already have on my favorites. I never listened to this when I was young, for some reason it never crossed my path. The whole thing is really nice to listen to and not too aggressive some songs are pretty chilled out. There are a lot of interesting sonic delights mixed into the nice vocals. I've heard it many times but I still enjoy it and I'm sure I will continue to put it on every now and again.
Lots of solid and distinguishable rock songs, good contrast between fast paced and mellow tracks
I've never heard of this band or any songs. This is why I do this, to find bands like this. Excellent sound. 4/5
Holy album
This is good. It is post punk punk. It is sometimes rocky, sometimes lyrical, sometimes even a bit electronica. I try not to be influenced too much by what others think, both good and bad, although sometimes people have really good perspectives and it doesn't mean avoid everyone or their opinions. I must admit though, that MANY people wrote of the depth of the lyrics... which... ... I honestly found to be largely unclear most of the time. It IS punk and is presented that way most of the time so... sure. And those thinking it is "deeper" than punk have NO idea of * actual * punk. This does NOT affect my view that this is a solid post punk band and it is worth a listen.
Enjoyed it - better than their more recent stuff
First album from them and I have to say they really live up to their name with this one. Full of energy and outrage over how messed up the world is. Doesn’t feel much better these days either. Lyrically very dense and hard to follow at times but it rewards multiple listenings. This moved up from a 3 to a 4 for me. I think the very 90s grunge production keeps it from being a 5 for me but I really enjoyed this and will likely revisit at times.
Yes. As in, yes I forgot how good the Manic Street Preachers were in the mid-90's. And as in, Yes is a cracker of an opening track. I don't really know this album aside from Faster - I know some of their later albums better. 1994 is the greatest year of grunge alternative and these guys weren't that so I forget about them sometimes. But this is a great album. And like I said about their 1996 follow-up Everything Must Go, a great display of their observational lyrics about human life and political lyrics fused with new age glam rock and Brit rock. And it's just as dark as a lot of grunge, which can likely be attributed to Richey Edwards (who was battling demons and was never heard from again a year later) handling most of the writing. At any rate, Wales was killing it at the time with these guys and Stereophonics. I should've listened to this album more, it rocks. Particularly rocking tracks were the second one (title too long to write), Of Walking Abortion, Revol, This is Yesterday, Die in the Summertime, and PCP (a real banger to close the album).
Manic Street Preachers are a band that I’ve always liked the idea of more than I’ve liked listening to. Britpop isn’t my thing. Maybe I’d just never given them a proper listen because I liked this. It has a darker, jagged post-punk edge to it, almost reminding me of Killing Joke at times. I should probably dig into their discography some more.
Pretty standard fare for he era. Nothing really stands out though. It's nice enough but half way through song two I had completely forgotten song one. The rest played out the same. Mostly harmless
The lyrics are death metal and the music is indie Brit-pop. Weird combination. If I heard this in 1996 I probably would’ve loved it. But 30 years on and the tunes just didn’t grab me.
Nice indie rock album. This is a band I always heard about but never really dove in. I enjoyed the album and will check out the rest of their catalogue.
Enjoyed the punk leftist vibes of this one but could not understand a work my guy was saying without looking at the lyrics
The music is generally good, and I appreciate the attempt on social commentary, but some of the lyrics are confusingly right wing.
This was a wild ride. Never heard of this band, but I’ve heard their influence on a huge amount of things. At some point many moments I swear I’ve heard certain melodies, tones, riffs and sounds that they must have influenced a great deal. I don’t know if I’ll listen again, it’s very intense and jarring at times but it was good.
It didn't grab me and it didn't bore me
Don't know how to handle this one. Do I like it? No. Why not? It has the shoutiness, the angularity, the aggression, the erudition, the socially and politically and personally charged lyricism that I love in other, something like similar bands. It just feels like less than the sum of its parts in a way that I can't put my finger on. I found myself thinking of Against Me! and Drive Like Jehu, but it never rolled over to "hell yeah." So anyway, this album is a triumph with respect to a man basically self-immolating and in that sense it's basically perfect in a horrible, voyeuristic kind of way. And yet, it's just not all that good.
Heavy music with my favorite post-punk influences. Good singer, and I GET why this has so many huge fans. Intelligent. It is, however, really difficult to listen to in light of the tragic disappearance of Edwards. Unpleasant to hear this person's mental breakdowns play out. This is more metal than punk, thematically, inwardly-turned violence and self-loathing. E.g., name dropping Plath in a chorus is a BOLD CHOICE. If I heard this when it came out and I was a teenager It would be my favorite album of all time also.
So I had never heard of this band or album before - so I really didn't what to expect - but I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would... Liked the music, liked the vocals, enjoyed the lyrics for the most part, and liked how they worked in the little pre-recorded spoken word effects throughout (i.e. just the right amount, as most artists go way too far with that stuff)… Found several tracks on the album that I thought were extremely well-done IMO – “If White America…” – 4 out of 7-stars… “She Is Suffering” – 4 out of 7-stars… “Archives Of Pain” – 5 out of 7-stars… “Die In The Summertime” – 4 out of 7-stars… “The Intense Humming Of Evil” – 5 out of 7-stars… That’s way more goodness than I was expecting – and most of the other tracks are solid as well… Also appreciated the diversity of sound throughout the album – just really good balance start-to-finish, and a fairly original sound from this band – all score points with me… Read a bit of their bio on Wikipedia, and the details of the disappearance of Richey Edwards – the bands lyricist and rhythm guitarist, was absolutely fascinating, though incredibly sad… Reminded me of demise of Ian Curtis from Joy Division on the eve of their initial North American Tour… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richey_Edwards#Disappearance_and_presumed_death Probably would give this a 3.50 if I could, but just can’t get it to a 4 – so a really well-done 3 it is…
Couldn’t understand a word he was singing.
Never heard of them and I'd be happy if it stayed that way.
This is like Green Day, only way darker and without any hooks.
Doesn’t do it for me, but I can say it’s more than just noise and whines from another pissy bloak. I know the Richey Edwards story but his work is usually too dark, manic and depressing for my taste, yet he’s somehow able to make music that isn’t bleak on the surface and can give you a decent ride through his mentality and lyrics. I also understand there are people who deeply connect with this. But to me, it can come off as just another average hardcore punk/britpop rock band with a tortured singer that doesn’t stick out and make me come back to it.
ugly pretentious edgelord shit lyrics-wise (and artwork-wise), the music is occassionally nice, at least, but not exceptional really
Never heard of this band, and I'm not surprised, nothing to write home about
I didn’t mind the first song or two, but really tired of it towards the end.
If i tolerate this then my children will be next.
2.8 - Sadly, the backstory, compelling as it is, doesn’t do enough to redeem this record for me. It has an ugly and misanthropic worldview that burns like a chemical fire. Too bad because I really liked the first song “Yes” but that feeling soured quickly.
Another fine generic album by the preachers. Why do these guys have TWO albums on this list???
Did not like anything about this.
Had I been a teenager when this came out I might have thought it was deep and insightfull but I wasn't and this isn't.
Had no idea how much I needed this in my life. Great listen.
I mainly did this challenge to listen to stuff I hadn’t before, but I did cheer seeing this show up. I love this album and I love the Manics. For once, I actually think the author did a perfect job at picking two albums from them. My top two by them for sure (this one is number 2). I love Richey Edwards’ writing so much. There’s not much I can say that hasn’t been said a million times, but he’s just great. My obsession with the band actually got me back into reading, after years of struggling with it. Also shout out to Nicky Wire. A lot of the best lines on Faster (my favourite song by them) were actually by him, and This Is Yesterday is the saddest song on the album to me and is the one that really makes me pause, stop what I’m doing and listen. Part of that is also because James Dean Bradfield’s incredible guitar work. He really brings the words to life, and sometimes just shows off like at the end of Archives Of Pain. I don’t know much about drumming but I guess shout out Sean Moore too. Yes is such a good opener to the album. Love the guitar on that but it’s also devastating. 4st 7lbs is also just devastating. I like PCP as a closer to lighten the mood and help you step away from the misery of the album, even if it’s still a serious song. To be honest I don’t like Of Walking Abortion, and Revol isn’t a very well liked song generally. Also since I saw it pointed out Ifwhiteamerica… shouldn’t have an apostrophe in it I can’t stop staring at the apostrophe. For a band that reads a lot, they messed that up. The fact I’ve written this much means it’s serious. Not proof reading it but trust me. I then proof read it.
In my admittedly perfunctory research I came across very little to explain what exactly it was about Richey Edwards - his genetics, his upbringing, his experiences - that made him Like That. Maybe there's a pat set of answers out there somewhere, like there is for fellow 27 Club members Kurt Cobain (scoliosis, plus his father's rejection of his artistic gifts) or Jim Morrison (stern military upbringing). But if there is I can't find it. Just as well; it means having to listen to him on his own terms rather than pre-categorizing him - or at least insofar as that's possible given the dramatic circumstances of his disappearance and presumed death. The first thing to know is that the Manics are loud and adroit and tuneful; if you’re not listening to the lyrics then this is mostly grunge-adjacent power-pop songcraft, and superbly done at that. But if you are listening to the lyrics then *holy fucking shit* this is heavy - and all the more so in the thirty-plus years since. Edwards is an equal-opportunity chronicler of the forces of dehumanization, whether he's calling out the pornification of culture ("Yes," "She Is Suffering," "4st 7lb"), the roots of neo-totalitarianism ("Ifwhiteamerica...," "Revol"), or his own cruelty ("Archives of Pain," "Faster"). In the process he proves brave enough to tackle two fallen (in different ways) punk deities - Cobain and Johnny Rotten. On "She Is Suffering" Edwards shows he's mastered Cobain's trick of smiling while you want to hurt yourself as he sings of a woman falling deeper into addiction and/or abuse, while "Archives of Pain" revolves around a *Nevermind*-esque riff as he proclaims his desire to annihilate more or less the entire world. And on "Ifwhiteamerica..." and "Of Walking Abortion" he takes on the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen" and "Bodies" and stands up to them in combat. Edwards means this shit - and of course, that's the problem. His catalogue of cruelty is damn near impossible to argue with because his diagnoses are spot on - and yet the conclusions he draws from them are nihilistic to the point of horror. When he goes full Holocaust (and full industrial) on "The Intense Humming of Evil" I find myself hoping for some hint of irony, some wink to let us know that he realizes he's being overwrought - and there's nothing. “No birds, the sky is swollen black,” he sings on "Mausoleum," and nothing on this album admits of any hint of hope. *The Holy Bible* creates a level of discomfort - nausea, to use Sartre's term - that almost nothing else does. I think it's probably fortunate that I didn't encounter it until I was out of my teens and had grown up and healed a bit. It would have encouraged my own worst impulses and I doubt I'd have been able to bear it. Hell, I can barely bear it now.
I think the Manic Street Preachers are a great band. The power pop melodies here are fantastic. The progression each song shows is like if Green Day squeezed Jesus of Suburbia to three and a half minutes and made it thirteen times. The use of effects and dissonant noise really fits with the lyrics. Loved this album.
This album is intense, even before adding in that the guitarist disappeared after this album released. The anthemic choruses and killer riffs really drive this, and the singer has such a distinct voice. Shame to say I can't understand what he's singing most of the time, just can't make out the words. But they are words worth reading. One of the best
solid 4.5. Talvez o melhor álbum do Manic Street Preachers, tem críticas fortes de temas relevantes, letras bem escritas e produção coesa.
An angry, angsty, swirling, dark album. I absolutely love it. It’s my favourite MSP album, a piece of art capturing a band rollercoastering and teetering on the edge. Richie’s lyrics are unreal in this, and JDB’s delivery of them is brilliant. Ymlaen Best Song: PCP 5.0/5.0
I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! I also found lots of other artists through this album that are so cool. BEAUTIFUL!
Discovering this, after no American AirPlay practically, felt like discovering one of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Never have I listened to an album and enjoyed the music so much and then listened again and paid attention to the lyrics and, I mean, fuck. Richey Edwards was in a truly dark place. If you have depression get help. Now.
Dit komt zo hard onverwacht. Rauw zonder punk te zijn, hard zonder metal te zijn, vooruitstrevend zonder onluisterbaar te zijn. Dit is heel goed!
Ok now we’re talking. Entirely new to me, had never heard the album or the band before. First listen was a breath of fresh air. Everything I like about edgy punky/power pop British music. Not quite sure how to classify it but that’s sorta why I like it. Maybe an overreaction rating that I’ll go back and edit but I’m all in as of now.
Superb
I do have this, and it's a great album
Welsh indie rock. Some people hate it, but this list has helped me increase my exposure to music from across the pond. Reading up on the band reveals another trend among too many bands on this list: music visionaries, vocalist/lead guitarist Richie Edwards in this case, who suffer from metal illness and die (likely) much too early. This was the last record to feature Edwards before his disappearance and likely suicide. I quite liked this album. I’m a fan of post-punk and dissonant and dark music. Harsher sledgehammer power chords are interspersed with more jovial, serpentine riffs, which provides beautiful depth to tunes, more complex and interesting than most hard-driving efforts. The lyrics throughout are, dare I say it, profound. There are some real bangers on this one and the songs are consistently strong from start to finish, no filler here. I listened to the album several times and liked it a little more on each listen, which means it is an album I’ll be revisiting. I’m not sure how I missed this previously, but I glad I found it. Brilliant stuff here.
This was awesome. So gritty and loud but still melodic and musically innovative. It easily sounded like something from 2004 rather than 1994, it was so ahead of the status quo. I loved every minute of it and listened to it twice. Easily five stars.
A Brit Pop Classic, a masterpiece!
There was never any way I could be unbiased in a review of this. But listening to it with a purpose, as I did today, I found it even more brilliant.
Coming out of left field with this one. This hit different
wasn't expecting this at all. pleasantly surprised
My favorite MSP album: dark and brutally honest as it gets.
Great album with cool production, nice riffs, and potent lyrics. A tad long, but the rest is too good to not earn five stars. 4.5/5.0: Excellent
This album was a great listen. I considered dropping it a point for the narration but ultimately enjoyed this enough for a five anyway.
The body of goddess. I honestly had never even heard of Manic Street Preachers. Not once. But this album is phenomenal. There’s so much anger and grit packed into it. You can tell it’s from the 90s within five seconds of the first guitar kicking in. It would not surprise me at all if songs like “She Is Suffering” were a big inspiration for artists like Turnstile. The vocals across this entire record are incredible. It feels like a mix of 90s grunge and punk, but also something bigger and more dramatic. Almost over the top rock or metal. The instrumentals stand out just as much. “Archives Of Pain” has one of the dirtiest bass tones you can possibly get. “4st 7lb” is a track I cannot fully explain. I do not know why it works, but it absolutely does. One of my favourites on the album for sure! After reading more about the band, it made the whole experience heavier. Why is it always the most impactful, best lyricists who end up with the saddest endings? Rest in peace Richard James Edwards. I am genuinely happy I stumbled upon these Welsh lads. I will definitely be coming back. 9/10.
Man, the Manics are just a killer rock band. They are easily one of my favorite artists I have discovered from doing this challenge.
Sounds like the bands I used to listen to live in the early 2000's (hat tip to Grand Theft Bus). Poppy, punky, spacey, exultant and angry. And often happy, somehow. My brain really engaged when 'Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldfallapart' came on. Don't mind the name; it was 1994 and being weird was cool. Vocals (James Dean Bradfield) have just the slightest edge of rawness. The guitars (Richey Edwards and Bradfield, again) start out bright and biting with liberal additions of lush modulation (sounds like a flanger effect; the instrument could be anything but sounds vaguely Tele-like). The bass tone is phenomenal -- I'm told Nicky Wire's growling attack comes from a Rickenbaker 4003, here. Sean Moore's drumming is propulsive but unobtrusive. The whole record is prototypical of the sound of 90's alt-rock. There are blues and middle-eastern influences, politics (especially some anti-imperial sentiments), a synthesis of grunge and post-punk and a playful, textural but not smothering use of instrument effects and post-processing. You can view the vocal work, arranging and drumming all in the same light as the application of effects: things vary from smooth to ragged, nice to strange all in the service of the emotional content of the song. I will say that the album is mildly uneven. I find the middle, heaviest stretch ('Archives of Pain' through 'Mausoleum') a bit more tedious than the rest, but they're not bad songs. Just not as strong as some of the others. To cap it off, the album closer, 'P.C.P.' is a straight-ahead punk song. It could easily be from a California skate punk band from the same era (it's just not quite funny enough to be a NOFX song). The slight unevenness is entirely forgivable in light of its ambitious variation. Folks often categorize this as a punk record and, while I think that is one of the most prominent traditions in which the work is in conversation, I think that's a gross underestimation of the content herein. This is a fucking great one. Under-sung, over-delivering and comes with a dramatic legacy in light of Richey Edwards's later disappearance. 5/5, The List delivered today.
OVERALL: I generated this album on New Years Day, 2026, and heard the first two songs. I finished listening to this on May 7th after listening to 92 other albums. I think this will probably be the last review where I individually rate every song. Super dark, super dystopian, super political. Some of these lyrics are absolutely amazing, great messages and disturbing parts of society are really shown here. I was really stretching to try and find things I didn’t like about the songs here (except for the weird bird thing in The Intense Humming of Evil), there are basically no flaws other than the vocals which make the lyrics hard to understand. SONG AVG: 9.02/10 PERSONAL RATING: 9/10 Yes: Reminds me of Shoreline by Broken Social Scene. A lot of the lyrics are pretty questionable, and it’s pretty hard to tell what he’s saying, but it sounds really good. Great guitar, pretty good drums. I think the message, while weird, is pretty good, and the sample is used pretty well. 9.25/10 Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldfallapart: Such a banger, such a powerful message. I really like this one, and I think anyone should regardless of their political beliefs. It also sounds really good. 9.75/10 Of Walking Abortion: So fire. I still can’t really understand the vocals, but the lyrics page looks pretty good. 9.25/10 She Is Suffering: This one feels a lot safer and simplistic compared to the previous songs in basically every way. It sounds good and the lyrics are still great, but it feels like they were playing it safe here. 8.75/10 Archives of Pain: The hook is so good, but it sucks that you can’t really tell what the lyrics are while listening. There are some super cool bars here, and they are paired really well with great guitar playing. The transitions into the hooks are pretty awkward, but otherwise the song is incredible. 9.75/10 Revol: This has some of the best instrumentation yet, but also the worst performance vocally and lyrically. The name thing was cool last time, but this time it feels too drawn out. There also are just not that many lyrics in it. Sounds good though. 9/10 4st 7lb: I didn’t realize that “4st” meant 4 stone, so I was confused for a bit. This is a pretty sad and disturbing story. I like this one a lot. 9.5/10 Mausoleum: This is less focused on a specific problem of the world like the other songs, but it is probably one of the best from a musical view. Compared to the other songs, this isn’t as good lyrically, but it’s still really good. 8.75/10 Faster: Songs like this make me astonished by the fact that this was made over 30 years ago. The guitars on this are absolutely perfect. This feels less of a statement about the world’s problems and more of a rebuttal to Edwards’ critics. Also, how do we still not know what happened to him? 9.75/10 This Is Yesterday: Big tonal shift from everything else except for maybe the outro of 4st 7lb. Definitely the most basic song on the album. The lyrics and vocals are much more simple than everything before it, but it still sounds really good. 7.75/10 Die in the Summertime: I normally like songs with this topic, but it feels so much weaker than everything leading up to it. This one should sound either very dark or very sad, but this is the same sound as many of the tracks leading up to it. It’s good, but slightly disappointing. 8/10 The Intense Humming of Evil: The intro is so cool sonically, but is so corny when combined with the sample. This sounds so dark and haunting, but the weird bird noise things are not good. The vocals also sound pretty dry here. I think that everything else sonically is absolute perfection, and the lyrics are some of the darkest yet somehow. It does drag on for a bit. 8.75/10 P.C.P.: This is really good, but it’s the outro? I feel like the last song feels much better as an ending, but this is a nice credit roll I guess. It definitely has the message of basically the entire album condensed into this one song, and it also sounds super good. Surprisingly upbeat. 9/10
Manche Bands kann man nicht mega mögen weil sie schon jemand anderes entdeckt und zum Teil seiner Teenager Identität gemacht hat. ...25 Jahre später schon. Masterpiece
Zum ersten Mal gehört, bisher sehr auf "This is my truth..." fokussiert gewesen - verstehe nicht warum. Muss mir noch mehr MSP anhören. Gefällt großartig.
Fantastic listening to this again. I remember getting this album when I was about 15. 'Yes' fired up; I was pretty disturbed by the lyrics that are akin to the most death of metal bands - shock value, abject despair, abortions, holocaust, anorexia, death, disease. Quotes are played in the intros - the one at the beginning of 'Archives of Pain' I found the most chilling ("I wonder who you think you are - do you damn well think you're God or something? God give life, gid taketh it away not _you_", in a thick Yorkshire accent (seemingly set on the howling Yorkshire Moors). Until this point I had only ever known kindly Yorkshire accents talking about great bread. '4st 7lb' wasn't far behind and remains a very challenging listen. As a teenager thinking The Doors were edgy, this knocked me sideways - but most of all petrified me. I don't think I came back to it for a good ten years. Bradfield is such an underrated guitarist. The angular riff on 'Yes' is mesmerisingly excellent. His vocal really is fantastic - clear, melodic on that opening track, and yet he can crank up power at the drop of a hat. On guitar and vocal his ability to switch up this way is superb. I maintain the Manics are the best thing Wales has produced since the equals sign (invented by Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde in 1557). I don't know about Robert Recorde, but this is a remarkable record. This album = five stars.
Came into this not knowing who this band is or anything about them. Did a little search on the band and came across the story of Richey Edwards. Suffice to say was super interesting and was pleasantly excited to this album. The first song kicks off with great vibes very early 90's ATL rock, get some emo vibes specifically Jimmy Eat World. The rest of the album gets nasty, heavy, angry lyrics. We're this guys in punk bands as teenagers?? Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayitsworldwouldfallapart is the best track on the album. Tough messages, beautiful melodies, fantastic lyrics just check out these titles: Of walking abortions She is Suffering Die in the Summertime The Intense Humming of Evil Got to check out more of these guys, clearly they had critical success and commercial output but this album seems unlike anything else they have done. Highly recommend!! 5/5 stars
I liked this one
fuckin sheep shagging commies
wow, this was a real tour de force. the songs rock and the lyrics hit hard. this is basically a punk record in spirit, and i really enjoyed it. favorites: everything but revol, faster, this is yesterday, and the intense humming of evil
Really good. One of the best albums I've heard on here with no pre house exposure
This was really cool
Decent album. Songs were a bit samey but some of guitar and drum work was great! Vocal were good too
Ridiculous teenage angst. Love it!!
Not actually listened to the older Manic Street Preachers, pre-2007 Send Away the Tigers, so this was a great opportunity to listen to it and enjoy the older catalogue.
Bleakness can be very compelling to me. The melodies, production, and lead vocal performances are staggering. I really dig the work on the remaster; the bass particularly sounds great. This blows the other MCP album I've heard from this list out of the water. I can hear this influence this had on musicians like, say, Laura Jane Grace, or even Green Day. Grateful to have a new (to me) album to turn to when I'm really in the pits. Music to drink alone to. "Archives of Pain" indeed.
This album is a pretty unbelievable blend of punk rock demeanor and power-pop sensibilities. The Holy Bible is simply hook after hook after hook matched by some of the most grotesque and stomach-churning lyrical imagery a rock record could contain. How this band was able to make banger after banger about some of the most sordid and traumatic topics is a marvel to me.. Through the tracklist we meet a perspective piece on prostitution from the words of the worker, tumultuous tales of worldwide (and still unfortunately relatable 30+ years on) governmental corruption, a morose day in the life of someone afflicted and in the throes of an eating disorder… it’s all here. In devastating droves. And every last one of these tracks has a chorus that will burrow its way into your psyche like a diseased worm. The Manics have a damn solid catalog, and The Holy Bible is their magnum opus. Essential 90’s material. Great call for this list! 5 stars, 9+/10.
I saw the manics with suede about a year ago… I was going through an incredibly tough time/ loss of many good things/ expelled from school etc… They literally ONLY played this is yesterday though! Out of the holy bible! Don’t get me wrong I love much of their discography but I could’ve really done with the holy bible. What an incredible grim, dark pissed off album. A musical holocaust may sound harsh but the statements correct… It begins with yes I don’t think it’s one of the albums heights but a good listen. Ifwhiteamerica… is a song sadly still relevant in the modern climate. But really earns the bands name, I love it so much. Like walking abortion is alright, I can’t say it’s a favourite of mine but I like the sample at the start a good bit. She is suffering is one great single… not a super strong track on the whole album but not dreadful neither. ‘I wonder who you think you are?’… ‘I think you are the devil itself’ the intro to archives of pain followed by that bass line might be the greatest way to start a song. Revol (also Lover in reverse) is pretty great listening Lenin, Stalin, Brezhnev, Gorbachev and many others. Can’t say it’s a creative marvel but a good listen and way to memorise soviet leaders??? 4st 7lb is the albums most horrific track being probably the best musical depiction of anorexia ‘I want to walk in the snow and not leave a foot print’ Can’t say mausoleum is that memorable despite the awesome name. Faster is probably the best of the three singles ( faster/ revol/ she is suffering) ‘I am stronger than Mensa’ is a great way to start a chorus. I mentioned this is yesterday earlier in a rather disappointing context but I love this song so much. It sounds like it should’ve been the single honestly but I think they honest only wanted to put out songs that were just ‘okay’ ( in context of the album) instead. ‘Scratch myself with a rusty nail’… ‘sadly it healed’ is such an incredible opening line to die in the summertime. The intense humming of evil is just that the climax of the album, purely sickening track about death camps (much like mausoleum but a better song). James Dean Bradfield has a voice where he pronounces words so weirdly it’s almost like he speaks another language, something I particularly find in the albums closer PCP. This IS the best manics album/ everything must go is fun/ this is my truth had bangers and so does the debut but this is the best, it has (and at this rate) always will be. 5/5
My second Manic Street Preachers album on here and they continue to impress. Again I stress that these guys are severely underrated. I don't understand why they never took off in the US or how they're not being discussed in the upper echelons of 90's indie rock. I think I'll be adding this one to my record collection. The guitar is the star of the show here. The whole album is packed with captivating riffs. Its 56 minute runtime flew right by as I danced in my desk chair.
The Manics at their finest. The Holy Bible is full of suffering and quite depressing - and so is this magnificent rock album.
Rating: 10/10 One of the greatest albums of all time. Absolutely infectious riffs and energy. So catchy and fun to listen while also having dark and thought-provoking lyrics: the perfect combination.
Really good album, the fact that this is the last one before Richey’s disappearance, makes it even more special.
inte det bästa albumet med manics men så otroligt inspirerande och coolt med richeys lyrics. stökigt, gothiskt och hårt. påminner 0 om deras senare grejer vilket är ball.
9.5/10 Favorite Tracks: All of them Least Favorite: The Intense Humming of Evil
Class. One of the best British albums.
Powerful political commentary throughout which I enjoyed and the music matches it perfectly. One of the best albums I’ve listened to for a while
My favourite album. Easy 5. Could listen to this every day. I recommend the US mix, but the UK mix is still an incredible listen.
I really liked this one. Dark lyrics, with a mix of indie and alt rock but some of it sounds almost industrial. The vocals are clear and cutting, though the phrasing makes it to understand the lyrics without really listening.
In every single way conceivable, from the deep to the not so deep, this was the perfect day to get this album. Insofar as anyone, including James Dean Bradfield, knows all the lyrics, I know this word for word, and yet there was still so much to enjoy on this listen. I took it in on record, pretty loud. What that meant was that it was the quality of James and Sean's instruments that really struck me, which is unusual, because normally you're focused on Richey and Nicky's extraordinary lyrics. And that's a treat, because THB contains some of the fiercest, yet understated, guitar work, backed by drumming that feels unlike almost anything else. This album means so much to me on a purely emotional level, and yet I honestly believe that if I heard this for the first time out of context, I'd immediately consider it to be a masterpiece. As it is, the knowledge that Richey, a man out of time, on his own, surrounded by his books, his thoughts and his declining mental health, put pen to paper on this to outline his deepest emotions, before leaving us all, is almost too much to bear. The beauty of some of the lyrics in the midst of all the horror, the grime and the debased is startling. The positioning of poetry like 'I want to walk in the snow and not spoil its purity', or the whole of This Is Yesterday, juxtaposed with something like Archives of Pain or Die in the Summertime, is sublime. I love it, I love them and that will never change.
This is #day125 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... when it comes to essential albums, Nine Inch Nails has The Downward Spiral, The Cure has Disintegration (but also Pornography, right?), and the Manic Street Preachers have The Holy Bible. While the band's catalog has a number of excellent albums, I particularly connect with their more recent releases like 2018's Resistance Is Futile (which holds a special place for me, as it was the first album my wife and I bonded over as mutual Manics fans, and we look forward to Critical Thinking as well), The Holy Bible stands apart as their darkest, heaviest, and most striking work. This is also the last album to feature Richey Edwards (except the 2009 Journal for Plague Lovers, where the lyrics are his), and this fact adds a layer of tragic poignancy to the album's already brooding atmosphere. Until today, I hadn't fully engaged with the lyrics, and they certainly pack a punch (Hell, for some of the inspirations for the lyrics on the album, the band visited concentration camps). What to say about prostitution, the Holocaust, self-starvation, serial killers, the death penalty, fascism, suicide, and other topics? You bet. The post-punk, almost gothic nature of the music (the Manics cited Magazine, Wire, Joy Division, and Siouxsie and the Banshees as bands that inspired the musical direction of The Holy Bible) enhances its emotional impact, and tracks like "She Is Suffering," "4st 7lb," "Faster," "The Intense Humming of Evil," (the drumming vividly echoes "Atrocity Exhibition"), and many more are standouts. Of course, The Holy Bible is one of those albums you must hear before you die. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day126.
uhh recht grungy ouh nei de arm tropf:( yes findi megaaa finds bis jz sehrsehr cool, s isch chli weird aber nöd z fest omg de bass bi archives of pain riese refrain (erinneret mich sehr ah nirvana) und denn chli es ruhigers solo, mega revol isch mal chli es chürzers lied wo aber en rechte ohrwurm isch hahah ja sie schaffed iwie fast jede refrain recht catchy z mache, aber iwie au ganz ufe komischi, nöd konventionelli art the intense humming of evil erinneret mi chli ah korn??? eifach weniger weird aber finds sehr spannend pcp findi mega en coole vibe, recht punkig omg ich lieb pcp??? de funny refrain, de mega psoitivi vibe am ganze ich loses gad tum zweite mal und ich LIEBS?? hans scho vorher cool gfunde aber jz bim zweite mal machts na gill meh spass archives of pain findi würkli soo geil
Highlight of their career
I’ve never been compelled to read every word in every song on an album until today. This is not how I saw my day materializing… As a kid growing up in the late 80s / early 90s, MSP was in the ears of mostly by smart collegiate minded people who wore rugby shirts and drove Volvos and came from wealthy families, so I just assumed from their fan base I wouldn't like them. And maybe back then, I truly wouldn't've. Then there’s the whole religion biblical references to the band and the album… a complete turnoff… However, the whole back story about Richard Edwards provided a hook and intrigue, so I read on and dove into the album. It's dark, really dark. This dude Richard was into self-harm, starving himself and his disappearance is widely considered a result of death by suicide. The lyrics are self-torturous, self-loathing and full of pessimistic disgust. Traditionally, this isn’t something I’m drawn toward, but the songs and arrangements are spot on for emerging 90’s grunge from abroad. It seems wrong to say that I ‘enjoyed’ this album, but I really, really liked it. It’s got a great sound and the song meanings are so out of the ordinary. https://genius.com/albums/Manic-street-preachers/The-holy-bible
What an amazing album. I feel like this album got swept under the rug with Kurt's suicide the year prior basically signaling the death of the grunge movement. And to have a depressed guitarist/songwriter who disappeared in 1995 never to have his body found and only declared legally deceased in 2008 makes for an even interesting backstory to this album. I can't believe I hadn't ever listened to this. Such a precursor to post-grunge and emo in the early 2000's. I enjoyed this album beginning to end. I couldn't understand a lot of the lyrics but the music itself carried my interest. I need to read the rest of the lyrics as they seem to all be pretty depressing.
I have always loved this album. It's bleak, it's dark, it's a demonstration of the power of the band. This is surely the peak of their output.
Great album. Classic MSP
## In-Depth Review of *The Holy Bible* by Manic Street Preachers Released on August 30, 1994, *The Holy Bible* stands as a pivotal moment in the discography of the Manic Street Preachers. The album is a complex tapestry woven from dark themes, intricate lyrics, and a distinctive sound that challenges listeners both musically and intellectually. This review will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its lasting influence, while also outlining its pros and cons. ### ****Lyrics The lyrics of *The Holy Bible* are primarily penned by Richey Edwards, whose haunting words explore a myriad of heavy themes including: - **Sex Work**: The album opens with “Yes,” which delves into the commodification of bodies and the moral complexities surrounding sex work. - **American Imperialism**: Tracks like “Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforoneday” critique American consumer culture and its global impact. - **Fascism and Genocide**: Songs such as “4st 7lb” address the horrors of historical atrocities and the human psyche’s darker aspects. - **Mental Health and Self-Starvation**: The title track and “Of Walking Abortion” reflect Edwards’ struggles with mental illness and self-harm, presenting a raw and unfiltered view of despair. Edwards’ lyrical style is marked by dense, often cryptic phrases that challenge conventional narrative forms. His use of metaphor and allusion creates a sense of urgency and provocation, inviting listeners to engage deeply with the material. ### ****Music Musically, *The Holy Bible* is characterized by its fusion of post-punk energy and hard rock intensity. Key elements include: - **Instrumentation**: The guitar work by James Dean Bradfield is sharp and aggressive, complementing Sean Moore's precise drumming. The bass lines are tight yet dynamic, contributing to the album's overall urgency. - **Production**: Produced by Dave Eringa, the album features a raw sound that enhances its lyrical intensity. The production choices emphasize the band’s punk roots while incorporating elements of metal and alternative rock. - **Vocal Delivery**: Bradfield’s vocal performance ranges from melodic to visceral, effectively conveying the emotional weight of Edwards’ lyrics. His ability to oscillate between beauty and aggression adds depth to tracks like “Faster” and “Revol.” ### ****Themes The overarching themes of *The Holy Bible* reflect a profound engagement with societal issues: - **Critique of Society**: The album serves as a scathing critique of contemporary society, addressing topics like political correctness, consumerism, and moral decay. - **Existential Despair**: Many songs grapple with feelings of hopelessness and existential dread, mirroring Edwards’ personal struggles with mental health. - **Historical Reflection**: The lyrics often reference historical events and figures, creating a dialogue between past atrocities and present realities. These themes resonate deeply with listeners, positioning *The Holy Bible* as not just an album but a socio-political commentary that remains relevant today. ### ****Influence *The Holy Bible* has had a lasting impact on both fans and artists alike: - **Cultural Significance**: The album has been cited as influential in shaping the Britpop movement that followed. Its boldness inspired many bands to tackle difficult subjects through their music. - **Legacy of Richey Edwards**: Following Edwards' disappearance in 1995, his legacy has only grown. Fans continue to connect with his words on a personal level, often viewing them as a source of comfort in times of struggle. - **Continued Relevance**: The themes explored in *The Holy Bible* resonate with contemporary issues such as mental health awareness, political unrest, and societal critique. This relevance has ensured its place in discussions about music that matters. ### ****Pros and Cons #### Pros: - **Lyrical Depth**: The complexity and emotional weight of the lyrics provide a rich listening experience that invites analysis. - **Musical Innovation**: The blend of genres creates a unique sound that distinguishes it from other albums of its time. - **Cultural Impact**: Its influence on future generations of musicians highlights its importance in rock history. #### Cons: - **Accessibility**: The dense lyrics may alienate some listeners who prefer more straightforward songwriting. - **Dark Themes**: The heavy subject matter can be emotionally taxing for some audiences, limiting its appeal to those seeking lighter music. - **Niche Appeal**: While critically acclaimed, its avant-garde approach may not resonate with mainstream audiences accustomed to more commercial sounds. ### Conclusion In summary, *The Holy Bible* by Manic Street Preachers is an album that transcends mere musicality; it is an exploration into the depths of human experience. With its intricate lyrics, innovative soundscapes, and profound themes, it challenges listeners to confront uncomfortable truths about society and themselves. While it may not be for everyone due to its heavy content and complex nature, its enduring influence speaks volumes about its significance in the landscape of modern music. As we reflect on this landmark album nearly three decades after its release, it remains a testament to the power of art to provoke thought and inspire change.
I loved this album! Brand new artist, I’ve been missing out. Will definitely be digging into their catalog more
The uncompromising and unrelenting creative vision of Richey Edwards for his outfit Manic Street Preachers reaches its apogee with The Holy Bible. Thirteen tracks of haunting, disparate topics keeps this record on the kind of edge sharp enough to cut through bone, never mind skin and muscle. Along with samplings of audio from newscasts, documentaries and obscure movies, the music displayed here rattles around the brain to the point of impending stickiness. Edwards' disappearance in early 1995 (he would be declared dead in 2008) has proven to be a millstone for The Holy Bible, yet it doesn't diminish the potency it obtains.
Awesome from start to finish. Archives of Pain is the highlight but honestly it’s all good.
An emotional and disturbing masterpiece, this is the manics best work, but can be such a hard listen knowing what happened to Richey, he was going through these horrific themes himself, which sadly does give authenticity to the art.
Pretty heavy album, been a while since I listened to it before and I don't recall thinking it was really good, but this time it really is
This really made my stomach hurt but in a good way and in a bad way
My experience was made ten times better by having the lyrics in front of me, as I couldn't make out more than the odd word otherwise. I had a chance to see the Manics a few years before this album dropped, as they played at my university. But I considered them too mainstream at the time, so gave it a miss, big regrets now. This is a definite five star album for me. I hadn't heard a single track before, although I was aware of this album's existence. I figured it would come up at some point on this project and now it has. Far better than I had even hoped for, an excellent mix of distressing lyrics and musicianship.
10/10
Anger, desolation, remorse—this is just the bleakest album. It reflects the misery of turning 15 at the time; "soft skin now acne." "The Holy Bible" is also peak Manics, when they jettisoned Hollywood-style production in favour of making an entire album that sounded like it was recorded down a tube, but that finds beauty in its unpredictable timeshifts and razor-sharp guitar, when Richie found his voice and confidence as a writer, and before they became radio-friendly with "Everything Must Go," which has dated awfully compared to "The Holy Bible."
The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers remains a powerful and haunting album, resonating deeply even decades after its release. The raw intensity of the lyrics, penned by Richey Edwards and Nicky Wire, confronts listeners with unflinching examinations of human suffering, political corruption, and personal despair. Musically, the album blends post-punk aggression with melodic hooks, creating a soundscape that's both abrasive and captivating. The production, handled by Steve Brown, captures the band's urgency and intensity, ensuring that every note and word hits with maximum impact. James Dean Bradfield's vocal delivery is both impassioned and harrowing, perfectly complementing the dark themes explored throughout the record. The album's cover art, featuring a triptych by Jenny Saville, adds another layer of depth to the project, visually representing the stark realities discussed within. Even today, The Holy Bible stands as a testament to the band's willingness to tackle difficult subjects head-on, refusing to shy away from the uncomfortable truths of existence. Its influence can be seen in the work of countless artists who have drawn inspiration from its fearless approach. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 9 STAND OUT TRACK - Yes
This album is incredible. Truly could not get enough of it. Lyrics, vocals, instrumentals...just perfectly in my wheelhouse. Favorite track: Faster
A gutteral cry of pain and righteous anger. You can clearly here that they come out of waters that gave us acts like Green Day and The Smashing Pumpkins. They have the straightforward drive and under produced sound of a post punk, but also some of the use of tone and effect that is so noticeable in the Pumpkins. The album came out in 1994, and Foo Fighters formed that same year, and boy do the first 3 or 4 tracks on the album sound like something Grohl et. al. drew from. I'm almost sure to revisit this album, as a listen through with the lyrics in front of me is sure to bear some fruit.
Wow, this blew me away! Especially the back half of the album, Faster, This Is Yesterday, and P.C.P. are all killer songs. I’m sad I didn’t discover this sooner
A few times during this project I’ve noticed an alignment certain days and the album that appears. The first Christmas for this project the album was the Phil Spector Christmas album… and I think The Smith’s “The Queen is Dead” if I recall correctly… Not having familiarity with The Manic Street Preachers I didn’t notice anything peculiar as I played this in the car on my way to buy supplies for a 4th of July barbecue after the first song I heard an ad for a tribute to Ronald Reagan followed by the song “Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit’sworldwouldfallapart”. I immediately added this bleak and insightful song to my 4th of July playlist. The Holy Bible is an angry, not too subtle diatribe one the ills of the world of the early 1990s. Unfortunately the diatribe seems to have only become more appropriate today. Between the US Supreme Court, dysfunctional Congress and the surreal race to become the President some angry political rock is far too appropriate. It’s tough to be facing existential problems without confidence in those leading the response. I read background on this on Wikipedia and learned this was the last album before lead rhythm guitarist/lyricist Richey Edwards disappeared. This saddened me as I listened to the dark, strongly political and sometimes quite personal lyrics. Sometimes not even having the skills to create great musical compositions can alleviate the darkness and pain of the world. I guess I am fortunate in that I’ve been able to sidestep life-threatening darkness and depression for most my life. Then again I’ve never quite so eloquently expressed my fears, frustrations and anger as Richey Edwards did. I’m very glad to have had the opportunity to really listen to this and reflect on Richey Edwards. RIP.
I KNOW I BELIEVE IN NOTHING. BUT IT IS MY NOTHING. It's like the algorithm knew... Album 1001 is possibly my favourite album of all time. Possibly the only album which captures the bleakness of existing in the world, even 30 years on... Probably because people don't change, the world is always going to be this bad. Your idols speak so much of the abyss Yet your morals only run as deep as THE SURFACE Miss you Richey. Always x
One thing I think I've learned over the course of rating all these albums is that present mood is a big factor. I'm not sure I'd always give this a five, but today it felt just like what I wanted to listen to. I don't think the lyrics here are nearly as deep or meaningful as Richey thought they were. And the music is super bombastic, which I often find a turn-off. But today, it's a five.
oh right, rock is good a lot of the time
Adore this record, such a shame they only ever made one even nearly this good. Generation Terrorists easily their next best but doesn't approach this as a whole artistic achievement. RIP Richey. From the opening melody of Yes I'm totally drawn in and back to the first time I ever heard it. Love that this is tagged as britpop, this is NOT britpop, lol. While everything else was focused on reproducing the sound of the 60s the Manics went digging around the jagged edges of 1978-1982. And they saw that it was good. Some lyrics probably haven't aged well, but much of this was the product of a very troubled mind so there needs to be allowances for that. A shame Nicky has turned into such a lib dem kind of guy, he used to be so cool. The music as well, James and Sean were never this visceral, before or again. I find it oddly summery, despite all the darkness, particularly She is Suffering, I always crave it more during hot weather, and this has come out on a gorgeous 23 degree May day. Every song is absolutely fantastic. Just all of it. Fucking brilliant. Definitely one of my all time favourites. Immediately lost interest in the band after Everything Must Go, as far as I can tell they haven't done anything really decent apart from Masses Against the Classes after that. But they did make this, and for that I'm always grateful. Who's responsible? They fucking were.
Might be my favourite album ever.
I think there is more of a message here and I got at firts listen, but the songs were bops! Definitely will listen again.
Socialist left wing genius
By far the best MSP album, and just one of the best albums ever made.
An absolutely fantastic album. I love the style and the sound - but my favorite part is the deeply thought out lyrics (and interspersed audio). I really feel like the album tells a story/is sending a message in an artistic and creative way. Definitely want to check out their other stuff!
One of my favorite bands
If I knew about this album when I was 15, I would have been even more of an emo nightmare than I was.
I really like their style. It’s raw and sophisticated at the same time.
I’ve heard the name of this band before but didn’t know what they would sound like - I think I expected cheesier Brit-pop, since I know there’s a lot of that on this list. What I got instead was dark, angry, hardcore punk with great melodies and vocals. Exactly my type of thing. In my head I was debating between giving this a 4 or a 5 but hell, this project is about celebrating new music and expanding your horizons, and I KNOW I’m going to listen to this album again. So five stars it is!
Far exceeded expectations, this is some great and catchy punk/rock music.
I had never heard of this before. I thought it was great!
Have I ever heard a bad song by the Manic Street Preachers? Probably not. Everything Must Go and This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours are pretty much perfect in my humble little opinion, so I’m excited to hear this record. I don’t think I recognise and track titles here, but we’ll soon find out. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Faster, PCP As expected, this album is brilliant. There is so much energy gushing into my ears, while still being able to hold my attention when the softer tracks come. The vocals are the main delight here, and it’s rare that I say that as I usually tune more into the instrumentation. He sings with such passion and hits notes that he makes sound easy. The instrumentation is still great and interesting, but by Jove I do love his voice.
Completely beyond surprised by how much I loved this. The influences of metal, punk, and goth all come together to create a perfectly balanced album, flowing from the chromatic riffage of metal to the rapid power chords of punk and the quiet emotion of goth. Many songs make clever use of guitar and vocal effects and digital recording techniques, while others stick to the classic sounds of punk. The lyrical content is deep while not seeming too pretentious or naïve. I loved each song more than the last and wanted to relisten to the album later the same day.
5. Love Manic Street Preachers!
I understand that Richey Edwards looms large over this record, in fact that’s all I knew about this band or album. And since I find almost every lyric unintelligible, my ignorant ears would never have been aware of the songs’ subject matter if I hadn’t read how dark the themes were. Without the accompanying knowledge of the lyrics, the music was anything but despondent and upsetting. “Yes” is an all time album opener and it took me 5 tries to get past the first 4 tracks on the album because of how much I wanted to relisten to them. “She is Suffering” sounded so much like a Brett Anderson/Bernard Butler song that I looked up if Suede and the Manics had any affiliation and what do you know-they’re touring the UK in 2024 together.
I liked this a lot more than I expected and will be revisiting. This is right up my alley, with interesting lyrics and a few diverse tracks. Overall, a great pick.
An awful cover hides an intelligent and emotional bit of post punk meets metal. Absolutely brilliant. Will be exploring this discography.
"Archives of pain" has a sick guitar solo. "Revol" is an earworm. A blend of various rock subgenres. Amazing album in general.
5/5
Perfect😭😭😭
Absolute classic. An unmatchably bleak anti-Britpop album
This is the stuff you play when you’re fucking sick of the world and everything around it. Love it. Lyrics are deep and very interesting, good vibes as well. Praise Richy!
Amazing album, very diverse styles and compelling melodies and rhythms. I haven't even dived into the lyrics, but it's musically excellent.
My new favorite band that i've never heard of wow what a revelation from a time in which music was my life as a thirteen year old
"The Holy Bible" is the third studio album by the Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. The band felt their first two albums were too hard rock-based and went back to Magazine, Wire, Gang of Four, Joy Division and Siouxsie and the Banshees for inspiration. I did hear that angular Gang of Four guitar on several songs. The album was recorded while lyricist/rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards was dealing with severe depression, self-harm and anorexia. It would be their last album released before Edward's disappearance (he was presumed dead in 2008). In general terms, the theme and lyrics deal with politics and human suffering. Although not considered a commercial success at the time, it did hit #6 on the UK charts. The album did receive widespread critical acclaim and NME also ranked it #1 on the Darkest Albums Ever List. Dialogue from a 1993 prostitution documentary open up "Yes." An easy, post-punk guitar comes shortly after, the band kicks in and the songs rocks from then on. A pop feel. Catchy guitar riff. The lyrics about prostitution and probably selling yourself out. The third and final single "She Is Suffering" is slower, darker. The soft-loud-soft dynamic. Lead singer James Dean Bradfield screaming; he does that throughout this album. The "She" is desire. The second single "Revol" begins with eerie guitar then like most of these songs kicks in hard. This is more hard rock and guitar forward. Dramatic. Great vocal chorus. The lead single "Faster" has layered guitars and catchy vocal and guitar choruses again and is almost danceable. About self abuse. "This is Yesterday" is slower and another song with a great guitar melody. A dark Cure bass line opens the album closer "PCP." This is fast, sped up. I'd almost say power pop and not far off from 80's metal pop. Commenting on political correctiveness and hypocrisy. Yes, if you dig deep enough you will find very dark lyrics but Bradford delivers the lyrics in such a sped-up, screaming fashion, they come across as more energetic. The music rocks: totally post-punk, catchy, melodic. This is a great sounding album.
I came to MSP through Everything Must Go and it took me a while to get into the raw earlier songs - this is a big transition album from that early punk to mainstream rock, and is phenomenal. Just pretentious enough.
This album cranks it, lyrically and musically from start to end. If you weren't paying attention to the lyrics you would even think this album is just a bunch of fun. I'll be happily returning to it later. Very impressive for 1994, considering a lot of grunge/garage rock was out at the time, that this stands out as it's own thing. Score: 90 Art: 80
This album is one of favourite albums in fact I would rank in my top 20. Not quite the same without Richie
Album Emo pro amlo. Avoid.
Me pasó algo curioso con este disco. Al principio no estaba gustándome casi nada: lo sentía como uno de esos discos dosmileros ultra genéricos de bandillas de rock que desaparecieron pronto. Y aunque este disco salió en los noventa y supongo que anticipó a aquellas bandas, no le encontraba mucho el gusto. Pero de la mitad hacia adelante pareciera que cambié de disco porque me comenzó a gustar y mucho. Muy buenos tracks, mucha onda en su música y me deja ganas de volverlo a escuchar para revalorar, o no, su primera mitad.
For an album with such cover art and being considered by many to be this super dark and disturbing experience, it sounded incredibly accessible, at least for me. I was expecting it to be very disorienting and noisy, and turns out it is incredibly catchy and energetic alternative/ punk rock, with all the bleak content coming directly from the lyrics. Musically speaking, as said, this album is quite easy to listen to. It features great riffs, catchy choruses, energetic rhythms, a lot of effects in the guitars, soft spots, tense moments, and quite the angry singing voice that is almost screamed. So basically, everything that makes a decent rock punk album is here, and its done incredibly well and solid. In addition, there is one particular track that totally differs from the other. That one being "The Intense Humming of Evil". It is not the most memorable song, but I wanted to talk about it because it has a nice, menacing and very industrial sample that makes the song sound significantly bleaker than the rest, and honestly, a very close representation of the sound I was expecting from the whole project. In terms of lyrics, this thing is totally packed with political bombs, misanthropy, American consumerism, British Imperialism, nazism, the holocaust, and many other obscure themes. For instance, one of the lines of the first track, "Yes", is: "He's a boy, you want a girl, so tear off his cock Tie his hair in bunches, fuck him, call him Rita if you want". Brutal stuff. However, these lines are sang with probably some of the most memorable melodies of the whole album. Another example I want to point out, and because it is some of my favourite lyrics in the record, is in the song "4st 7Lb", which makes references to anorexia: "I, I, I, I, I Wanna walk in the snow And not leave a footprint I, I, I, I, I Wanna walk in the snow And not soil its purity" I find the image created from these lines to be incredibly sad. Thinking about someone who is torturing themselves about the weight and not wanting to mark something as delicate as snow is very heartbreaking. In conclusion, I really liked the album. Sound-wise, I think it is a very energetic and fun experience, while in terms of lyricism is an absolute monster that I have yet to fully understand all the references they make, but I'll happily do it as time passes.
Throwback to my college days. I really like it.
It is really good stuff, I don't think it is their best album, but it is definitely their angriest and moodiest.
There's some nice grit and riffs to be found on this. I've never delved into the Manic's albums, having only heard the more radio-friendly singles which seem to have been something which came about with the following album. This is decent. A couple of juvenile lyrics here and there, but enjoyable throughout.
I love it when I stumble upon an album that is a complete surprise. I greatly enjoyed this album. I think it's the best of what the 90s had to offer and I'll definitely listen to it again
Energetic and punchy ! Freddy Mercury lives on in his his vocal influences. Fully enjoyable
I enjoyed the album well enough but why is everything on this list lately a 20+ year anniversary 2 hour long edition?
Haven't heard any manics this old I think. Like feeder, Idlewild and similar bands of that time it seems they were a bit heavier and rougher in the early days and gradually refined. I think I should be a huge fan of manics but I'm not, they are fine but something doesn't quite land with me. This album is probably the best I've heard of them though. The loss of their guitarist at this time adds weight to it too. Aye was decent, would listen again I think. 3.5.
Heard this one before and enjoyed it. Not really what I think of when I think of manic street preachers. Less poppy, a lot more dark, almost punk. Really enjoyed this again. First half is better and it opens with the strongest track. She is suffering, 4st7lb, faster, and PCP are all very good too. I like the themes on anorexia and depression Went down a rabbit hole reading about Richey who seemed to be the driver of this more interesting, dark stuff. Don't think it's quite a 5, but 4.5 and I might round up!
Didn't know this album before this list and it's a banger. I wish it had more interesting sounding albums like this. Good find. Would recommend.
Real dark. The music is consistently engaging while the majority of the lyrics are great and harrowing at their peak, though some have aged horribly. Highlights-Yes, Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldfallapart, Of Walking Abortion, She is Suffering, 4st 7lb, Faster, and Die in the Summertime.
Huh. That's certainly one of the album covers ever, isn't it? If I knew nothing about this band, I don't think I'd be super interested in listening to this album if I saw the cover on streaming or a music store. But, you know what they say. You can't judge a book by its cover, and it seems the same applies to albums. This album is great! I got this album's follow-up, Everything Must Go, way back in October 2024, so this isn't my first go-around with the Manics, but it's definitely my best go-around. There's a lot to appreciate this album for. The music's cool! It's got this fun, almost punky energy to it that I enjoy a lot. I like listening to this songs. James Dean Bradfield's vocals aren't my favorite, but he's got a good energy that fits the music quite well. I think the real stand-out part of this album might actually be the lyricism. Richey Edwards may not have played much on this album, but his lyrics are essential to this album's core. The focus on things like political turmoil and personal health struggles allow The Holy Bible to have a dark, complex core to it that doesn't really exist in other British alt-rock albums of the time. There really isn't anything else like it. The context behind the album as well as Richey's life and presumed death make it hit that much harder. As far as songs go, The Holy Bible's got some great ones. "Yes" is a super cool opener. "Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldfallapart" is not only a contender for "longest song title without any spaces in it" but it's also got some of the most poignant writing on the whole album. "Revol," "4st 7lb," and "Faster" are all pretty good as well. I've got to say, this album's quite impressive. I can't quite call it a masterpiece, but The Holy Bible is a very inspired album that's quite unique compared to its contemporaries. I have a ton of respect for the album, and I get why it's on this list. It's on the list because the album is great. Who would've thought? High 4/5.
Being an aul Lefty i like the Manics. It does take my ears a few songs to adjust the sound and having the lyrics handy is useful. Really enjoyed this a felt it works well.as an album not just a collection of songs.
A grimy listen. It didn't blow me away but I loved the rough around the edges feel to it. Surprised I haven't heard this band at all. I guess they got drowned out in the US by other grunge/alt rock dominating the music scene at the time.
Very good Not their best but very good A bit raw and loud in a good way.
4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/manic-street-preachers/the-holy-bible/ Only knew these guys because of their poppy single with Nina Persson (Your Love Alone is not Enough), and even though I like that particular song, I wasn't excited about the prospect of a whole album of songs like that. So, imagine my pleasant surprise when it turned out to be a hooky, alternative rock album with dark lyrics about important societal issues (racism, sexism, etc.). Then, the backstory of the missing band member kicks in and you have me. Loses it's high level a bit along the way, but for the most part, this was a pleasant surprise.
Very much enjoyed. Not what I expected having only heard their bigger hit singles. Reminded me a bit of Living Colour which was neat.
A solid album that definitely stands out among its BritPop brethren.
Ég hef bara hlustað á MSP eftir Richey Edwards og kunnað mjög vel við. Þessi plata kom mér því ansi mikið á óvart. Var miklu þyngri en ég átti von á og á allan hátt aggresívari. En hún virkar, og það stórvel.
While later becoming famous for their britpop outings, the Richey Edwards era of this band gave us this nice slice of punk rock. I'm indifferent on the very bitter, tongue-in-cheek lyrics from Edwards, but sonically this album has kept me coming back every once in awhile just for all the cool riffs throughout. Shame Richey literally vanished off the face of the Earth after this. 8/10.
8/10 I really like the hard and punk rock sound they've got going on here, songwriting ranges from pretty solid to sometimes too edgy.
Yes is een van mijn favoriete album openers ooit. Dit is super. Een album wat iets te zeggen heeft, over de UK in de jaren 90, over mentale gezondheid... Het heeft wel wat veel te zeggen, zelf had ik een nummer of 3/4 geschrapt.
I didn't really need to hear this "Clash meets Queen at a Styx concert" novelty act or whatever this band is. But, since I did hear it . . . it's not terrible. A couple of song slap pretty well. E.g., The bass line in Archives of Pain made me quite happy, the opening riff on 4st 7lb could have been written by Steve Albini and is ergo fantastic. (It's a shame the rest of that latter song didn't hold up. I mean, what's with the Freddy Mercury vocals? They also ruined the song Faster, which started promising as well.) I was going to rate this a 3, but then I realized I gave Hot Chip a 3, and those mofos couldn't hold a digital candle to these folks. So, because I'm incoherent and inconsistent, I'm giving this album a big, fat, juicy 4 in spite of myself.
Það er nú bara eitthvað við hljóminn í þessari sem að heillar mig.
punky uk lads, nice
4/5
I didn't think I'd like this, after the other album on the list. However, it did win me over. I ended up liking it quite a bit and listened through it a couple times. It's too bad about the guy. 3.75/5
Overall: 8/10 You can hear so many bands that these guys must have influenced in every single note of this album. They're mostly punk, but they seem unafraid of experimenting with different sounds as well. I hear lots of Against Me! and At the Drive-In with their sound. I may need some more time with this one, but I think it's awesome. Fav Song: Die in the Summertime
ovo je jako, nekako je ljuto, sarkasticno, odvratno i bas zato je dobro
Album #75 Manic Street Preachers: The Holy Bible I said in my review of Violent Femmes’ self-titled album that it is the ultimate teenage angst album, in the sense that it represents the angst that a teenager will experience as a result of their relationships. If Violent Femmes represent a teen expressing their anger towards all of those close to them, then The Holy Bible represents a teen’s anger towards the world. Whereas Violent Femmes are more concerned with personal issues, such as “my girlfriend left me, and now I’ll never love again” or “my parents are assholes”, Manic Street Preachers aim to tackle the issues at a global level. Richey Edwards bares his soul on this album, with each song being a vehicle to express a tirade against what he believes to be an injustice of the world, whether it be systemic like American racism, or something more personal like anorexia. The way he conveys this, however, is often quite juvenile, so it can read like someone just starting to understand politics and being overly passionate to the point where they can seem naive. Kind of like that one friend you had in high school who read the Wikipedia summary of Karl Marx and became an authoritarian communist. However, though Edward’s lyrics may seem juvenile and not particularly thought-provoking, that is only when they are being read in isolation from the music. The reason this album works is that the issues that Edwards writes about he is actually deeply passionate about, and that is conveyed through his vocal performance. So though it might seem overly edgy when you read lyrics about Stalin being gay, you quickly start to stop questioning the content and start feeling the intent. This album has become infamous in the same way that Closer by Joy Division has; both albums come from bands with questionable musical abilities, but cult-of-personality frontmen who know how to connect with the youth. Of course, in both cases, the frontmen were haunted and would go on to have tragic endings, and in the wake of that, the remaining band members would go on to reinvent themselves in a more accessible way. But in a morbid way, that makes their songs all the more powerful. One thing that may be overlooked in the discourse of this album, which often revolves around the subject matter, is just how good it sounds. There is a reason that this album was such a cultural force. Yes, Edwards became a spokesperson for the youth, but also, the songs were banging. Overall, this album, though hardly known outside the U.K is one of the most unique and interesting of the 90s. The Holy Bible was so bleak and enigmatic that the entire nation needed something to make them feel better, and thus Britpop rose to prominence as a dose of optimism. No real misses on this thing, except for the cover, of course. Best Tracks: Yes, Faster, 4st 7lb Worst Track: The Intense Humming of Evil Score out of 10: 9
Totally unfamiliar with Manic Street Preachers, but I enjoyed this. I was cooking while I listened, so I missed a lot of the lyrics, but the bits I did catch struck me as introspective and socially conscious. Regardless, the tracks were enjoyable and varied. I’ll definitely come back to this.
For some reason, every time I've seen the name Manic Street Preachers, I've pictured a ska band. No idea why, it just seems like such a great name for a ska band. Anyways, this clearly isn't ska. This is a really solid alternative / post-punk album with a lot of songs that feel all too relevant today. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this one and am definitely going to dive a bit deeper into their discography. I can't believe that this album came out the same day as Definitely Maybe; I am so disappointed in the generation that let Oasis gain more popularity than this band.
OMG I love this album. I worked at Sony when the Manic Street Preachers showcased this album to the whole company in Brighton. This is their most punk rock albums, the Americans thought there were not enough guitars (WTF) and they created an American mix which didn’t make a difference… one of the most political bands around with Rage Against The Machine. Guitarist Richey Evans was still on the record and then disappeared forever…
Guter, schneller Rock. So gefällts.
This has a great sound. It falls into the 90s trap of not being particularly catchy or having a standout track, so nothing especially makes you go WOW. Enjoyed it nonetheless.
This surprised me a lot. I never knew the Manics had such a heavy sound or were so lyrically deep. Both of these things make this album very listenable. Plus I never knew their back story. I want to give this album a 5 for surprising me so much. But it's not quite there for me yet (after only 2 listens). I will listen again in a week or so and may come back and rescore...
Really great album. Though I think it lulls in the middle a bit, the run of songs at the end is one of the best I've heard so far in this project. Really aggressive and creative stuff, and definitely an album I'll be coming back to to get more out of. Favorite Songs: "Yes", "She Is Suffering", "Die in the Summertime", "The Intense Humming of Evil", "P.C.P." Least Favorite Song: "Mausoleum" Mid 4.
Champagne Communism at its most punk.
Dense and confrontational, this is an album that prioritizes atmosphere and lyrical intensity over easy accessibility. Its stark themes and abrasive edges can be demanding, but that tension is part of its impact. Even when it’s uncomfortable, it’s compelling in how clearly it commits to its vision.
These guys are amazing! A welsh 90s rock band, but while a lot of their peers were doing the Britpop thing, these guys feel more like a grunge version of Queen. Every song is good
nothing like a group of white guys from across the pond acting like they're morally superior
Need to re-listen to, but enjoyed
3.8 Feels kind of similar to Entertainment by Gang if Four in that it’s got fun political lyrics that I can’t really hear because they’re not enunciated and the music falls a little by the wayside for the lyrics. The lyrics are a bit more relevant since it’s two decades more recent, and the sound is a little more fun, so it’s better, but not amazing. It reminds me of Green Day, and I think maybe if I had listened to them when I was young I’d like it a lot. Also a different album of theirs came on after and I liked it quite a bit, so maybe I’d like their other or newer stuff. Also the album cover art made me think it was gonna be really weird and experimental, so I was pleasantly surprised
MSP have been a favourite of mine for decades. This album can be heavy going lyrically but James Dean Bradfield is an excellent tune smith. There are some real highlights that come when JDB’s music strains through with his melodic sensibilities against Richie Edwards lyrical content. Overall a great album that stands up for me even when a lyric like “he’s a boy, you want a girl so tear off his cock, tie his hair in bunches, fuck him, call him Rita if you want” is not the darkest on there! 4.2
8/10 – Very Good
Yes She is Suffering Archives of Pain PCP
Holy shit
3,5 - Die erste Hälfte ist richtig stark und intensiv düster. Danach wird es leider etwas belanglos. Insgesamt aber empfehlenswert! Highlights: ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldfallapart, She Is Suffering
This was about as good as the previous Manic Street Preachers album.
Good rock sound!
i like it
Pretty fucking good. Need to show this to my dad to see if he knows it.
Really nice album.
Solid
WOW. I was not expecting that. I’ve always assumed Manic street preachers music was pop rock. But this album ROCKS. The guitars, drums and the vocals are all great. Very pleasantly surprised
With spontaneous rock ramblings such as these, the band assuredly lives up to their name There's an aura of wild chaos that I don't recall from big songs like Motorcycle Emptiness or If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next A good thrill
I like them but definitely questioning whoever made this list
Is this The Killers making a Mars Volta album, or is it the Mars Volta making a Killers album? Whichever it is, I fuck with this
The cover really turned me off, but the actual contents are great.
Find ich gut.
Track 1. (Yes) I love this 90s rock vibe, with crazy lyrics that actually have a deeper meaning. I've just finished 'Heated Rivalry,' so I'm loving the closeted gay trope right now, and I love this song. Great guitarist and drummer, totally killing it. This is the first time I've heard of this band, so it's a pretty good first impression. 8/10 Track 2. (Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldfallapart) Crazy long title, but I guess it's true, wouldn't know all the way here in little old New Zealand lol. So far, I can tell this is a very woke band, which is great. Not my favourite, I understand the lyrics, but I don't love listening to this word throw-up. Great guitarist, again. 6.8/10 Track 3. (Of Walking Abortion) Relatable intro lol. Great fucking instrumental. I feel like there is another meaning to the lyrics, but I guess I'm not smart enough to pick it up. I think it's the singer I'm not totally digging, but everything else is fine. 6.8/10 Track 4. (She Is Suffering) Finally, I differant vibe, like when an album is somewhat diverse. I think the lead singer's voice sounds a lot better in this song. Sounds a little like Deftones, which I love. Definitely my favourite so far. 8.7/10 Track 5. (Archives of Pain) Don't know what to write lol. A solid rock song. 7/10 Track 6. (Revol) 7.8/10 Track 7. (4st 7lb) I feel like this would be a good song for a superhero fight montage is that random? Most relatable lyrics ever wtf. 9.3/10 Track 8. (Mausoleum) 8/10 Track 9. (Faster) 8.7/10 Track 10. (This Is Yesterday) 7/10 Track 11. (Die in the Summertime) Incredible guitar riff, best on the entire album, so definitely a standout song for me. 9.5/10 Track 12. (The Intense Humming of Evil) 5.8/10 Track 13. (P.C.P.) Interesting instrumental. 9/10 Overall Score: 7.9/10
This was cool, I felt hints of several bands I used to like a lot. I think if I would have come across this band back in my teens, I would have really enjoyed it :) It's not really my style of music anymore, so it's closer to a 3 than a 4, but I want to listen to it again, so I'm flagging it for replay.
Despite being very into alterna-rock and Brit-pop in the late 90s and early 2000s, this was always a band that eluded me. Listening to this record now I'm kinda blown away by just how capital-R Rockin' it is.
I had a different album from these guys earlier in the 1001 and didn't find it all that compelling, so I had low expectations for this one. Amusingly, I liked it quite a bit.
Great instrumentals and overall a fun, energetic album!
Just a really good time. Every song felt unique but had a strong connecting thread to the others. The percussion in particular is phenomenal.
Rv
3.5
This is the best Manics album imo, I like this fiery rage version of them over the orchestral cinematic grandeur.
Fine
Great album. I'd love to listen to it again. I had pigeonholed the band as pop, but I was wrong. 4/5
Surprisingly great! a perfect mix of simplicity, melody, and crunchy guitar.
Gave me nirvana vibes. Pretty good album.
Started listening at work and wasn't really feeling it, but finished the album while doing a workout on my training bike, and it was perfect for that!
I truly don’t know where to rank this. It’s somewhere between a 4 & a 2. You might be thinking that’s 3, but it’s not. This is either four stars, or two. Notably the first album where the lyrics really give it a boost for me, this was some dirt, dark weird bad vibes.
Never heard of these guys before but this was cool. I nice departure from some of the lame ducks we have had the last couple months. Will listen to this again and dive deeper into their other offerings.
Was pretty indifferent to this album after the first few tracks, but the second half of the album was punchy with strong vocals and intriguing and catchy riffs
Great album, fantastic messaging and theming, but sonically got a bit boring by the end
3.5
More of a 3.5 but there a few very cool songs that put it in 4star range for me
Based on the title of this album and the artist I certainly wasn't expecting what I got, but I liked this a decent amount, tracks that stood out to me were Faster, Ifwhiteamerica..., and Humming of evil. Pretty torn between a 3 and a 4 as some of the tracks kinda lost me, but overall solid listen, going 4 but a light 4.
This rules. Energy, writing and sound just off the charts good.
I've never really consciously listened to the Manics, despite being aware of their singles and actually having seen them live. This album was a great listen and a pleasant surprise - gritty, raw and politically charged.
lyrically strong
8.1/10 actually really enjoyed it!! reminded me a lot of mcr (yes i know this band came before them,) and a lot of songs are catchy to me. fantastic lyrics as well. wouldn’t revisit the artist(s) much, but definitely the album. this isn’t really related, but this album still very much applies to today, in terms of america and politics.
Really enjoy track 2. Big fan of She is Suffering as well -- this has a glammy element like Queen while maintaining a rough edge that I appreciate. Also really enjoy the aggressive bass on Archives of Pain. The singers voice kind of wore on me throughout, but other than that, this was a solid listen. Falls around a low 4 in my book.
Really solid different style of punk that really didn't get old even being almost an hour. Not really how to describe what it was but this band's sound really did it for me. Almost sounded like Offspring a bit which probably did it.
The genre says britpop but I don't get that at all. This is definitely heavy and dark af. I bounced along and one song that really stuck out was The Intense Humming of Evil. Sludgy af. Solid 4!
Never heard this band and its was impressed to hear their fast rock approach for a soft rock style. It was cool and like the album as a whole very surprised to be honest these band deserves a revisti and more airplay
86% Best: Yes; She Is Suffering; Archives of Pain; This Is Yesterday Must-Hear? Sure
I've never heard of this band and it's crazy because this is the kind of band I would have listened to in the '90s
Not likely to bring a smile to your face, but serious rock played very well.
Nostalgia of familiarity, feels like something I grew up listening to as part of parental music landscape. Good use of sampling to highlight themes...darkly poetic given the history of the singer post album.
Fun more mainstream/ less abrasive than the various namings and packaging would suggest. Anyway kinda britpop adjacement, nice and catchy. whiteamericastillintrouble
Hmmm. This rocked. Pleasantly surprised. Lyrics are a little too politically motivated for my liking but certainly interesting and controversial. I dug this. 4 stars.
The type of music you would hear in an indie movie where the main character is feeling intense anger kind of music. I liked it.
Very creative, enjoyed the listen. Can’t believe this was 94
This one struck a chord but can’t explain why. The opening track “Yes” was enough to hook me in and wouldn’t let me go - even when I couldn’t quite follow the lyrics. Solid album.
7/10 good
Better than I expected
nooit gedacht dat ik een album van MSP ging goed vinden...
This album is the suicide note of Richey Edwards. Made me very uncomfortable at parts, particularly 4st 7lb and The Intense Humming of Evil. I like how intense and manic it is. Hard to listen to at times. I guess I enjoyed it? I don't think I'll come back to it often.
really good punk however the production doesn’t work for me
Decent punk rock. 4/5
Really good. The right level of heavy for me. A strong four.
Gone with a 4, felt the album finished fairly strongly. It's a 7/0 for me though.
I think this sort of album is why I’m doing this thing. Something I don’t know well the should be good and then is
I don't really listen to a lot of indie rock but this was a great album! Lots of bops on the album. My one gripe is at times it was hard to understand what the front man was saying, and this is coming from someone who listens to a lot of death metal
Really interesting listen. Not as immediate as “Everything Must Go”, but by track 2 I was into it. Definite relisten.
Subject-wise, the songs on this album cover some pretty serious stuff. Musically, it's a pretty exciting record to listen to, marred a bit by having those irritating samples (apparently from radio/TV broadcast) that lead into most of the tracks.
I liked this one. Not least because the band name is so good. But the record has a great feel, it rocks out without losing pro melodic vocals, the lyrics are solid and the overall feel the entire time is good. I enjoyed this one quite a lot. In particular “ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit’sworldwouldfallapart” and “Mausoleum”.
Rockcito delicioso
Interesting and dark. Solid.
Not a fan of the album artwork, but the music was fine. Wouldn't mind this in the background. 4/5
This album is bleak! But it's a collection of really good songs. However, it's on the lengthy side, so I get tired at the end.
I don't totally know what to think about this. It feels kinda like Queen rock-opera but maybe with a hint of grunge, punk, and then dark themes and lyrics.
This was pretty cool. At first, I thought it was going to kind of be a run of the mill 90s alt-rock album. But this one really has some darkness do it. Its heavy where it needs to be and soft where it makes sense, but its really down in the muck. The lyrics, the minor keys, the vocals, the heavy bass riffs. The drums do sound very 90s (why couldn't they make drums sound good in the 90s?), but its overall really cool and kind of out there record. I liked that it was very punk, but not really post punk or indie. Its definitely more in the alternative rock genre, but very punk influenced. I really enjoyed this!