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The Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plague Lovers
How proud would Richey have been/will be? Immensely.
‘Journal For Plague Lovers’ opens with a uniquely frightening bass line via ‘Peeled Apples’ finding James Dean Bradfield in fine voice chewing over and spitting out lyrics such as ‘The more I see, the less I scream’ and ‘bruises on my hands from digging my nails out’. I think it’s safe to say Richey Edwards disquiet at the modern world was/is? still in place at this point. Musically, I haven’t heard them in this fine fettle for years, a hammering blast of post apocalyptic punk.
‘Jackie Collins Existential Question Time’ (God he had a way with titles!) struts like Mick Jagger in a strippers bar. It has a chorus (‘Mummy what’s a Sex Pistol’) that should surely win some award for ‘best chorus since Jarvis Cocker’s ‘Running The World.’ Then it explodes.
‘Me and Stephen Hawking’ takes us in to classic MSP territory; wired, intense, confrontational. Sean Moores militaristic drum rolls bring to mind the early spirit of The Clash. ‘The Holy Bible’ was many things but rarely this fun. It’s a wonderful opening salvo of songs that are all over well inside the ten minute mark.
‘This Joke Sport Severed’ begins with a plaintive, lovely acoustic guitar riff. Then the band lock in, jet engine style.
The pace rarely slacks. The title track has a bass line as funky as Motown for Christ sake, while ‘She Bathed Herself in a Bath of Bleach’ roars out the speakers like Mumm – Ra from The Thundercats.
‘Marlon J.D.’ Gives us yet more harshness. ‘We were horsewhipped’, ‘Give me some dignity’. JDB gives off a Slash type guitar riff before a Brando quote ends the song. Hugely talented, effete and controversial is it any wonder that Nicky and in particular Richey idolise him?
‘Doors Closing Slowly’ gives us a pretty good indication of Richey’s state of mind when he wrote these lyrics; ‘Judgement must be heard today’. ‘We are the selfish ones, we are the act of accomplishments.’ Ironic really as his last act was such a terribly selfish one. Once again, what an inventive, versatile drummer Sean Moore is. Not one of the band get the immense credit they deserve for their musical ability.
- The Manic Street Preachers
- Journal For Plague Lovers (2009)
- Category: Album
- Label: Columbia
- Reviewed by: bobbins
- Published on: 02 Jun 2009
- Photography by: Will
- Comments: 0
- Beat Surrender Rating:
Weblinks
Add to favourites‘All is Vanity’ is the albums weak point and still other bands would kill for it.
‘William’s Last Words’ Is another acoustic sketch, this time sung by Nicky. Now Nicky Wire does not have a great voice. Or even a good one. Who cares? Sung to the sparseness of Babyshambles (Wire being a committed fan), are lyrics such as ‘You’re the best friends I’ve ever had. Good night, sleep tight. Think about my family, shed a little tear.’ Frankly, it’s hard not to. A sweet string section see’s us out.
Two things that may just have happened here, regarding ‘The Holy Bible’/’In Utero’. Steve Albini may have produced a better album arguably by a better, more forceful band. And The Manic Street Preachers may have just made their masterpiece. I doubt I’ll hear a better record this year.
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