Manic Street Preachers - Know Your Enemy
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Free Music Notes for Know Your Enemy
Free Music Review: I admit that it's not a facile firstlisten, however...
Hit: 4 Stars
It should grow on you like most other Manics albums. It's such an ignominy to see a Manics album rated three + a half stars @ Amazon.com along with "artists" of Britney Spears' ilk merely because people didn't give it further listenings. Someone on the radio said that it took him sixteen or seventeen listenings to appreciate it, which substantiates what I just said. I have to admit that the album isn't impeccable- Many of the lyrics lack the strength of their precedents (Richey James, anyone?) & it's also significantly intricate to read them in the booklet; Also I could do without the secrettrack "We Are All Bourgeois Now", which sounds much like other songs on the album notwithstanding being a coversong (It's about time bands will abstain from putting songs reminiscent of other songs on the album as secrettracks- Placebo did it on their latest effort aswell & it just sounds inopportune + flatulent). However there are some songs here that sound really good on their own ("Found That Soul", "Ocean Spray", "Intravenous Agnostic", "So Why So Sad", "Dead Martyrs", "My Guernica") & some others where Nicky Wire shows his ability to write great acerbic lyrics ("Epicentre", "Baby Elian" & "Freedom Of Speech Won't Feed My Children"- The two formers aren't listed on this page, perchance some wanky bloke in the recordcompany decided to censor them off of the American release. How daft). MSP fans will purchase this album @ any rate, for the other ones I'll recommend to startoff with Generation Terrorists & then move forward chronically.PS "Miss Europa Disco Dancer" is a precious little novelty. Too bad there aren't more songs akin to this one on the album... Ah well.
Free Music Review: A very worthwhile listen! (Altough a notch below the mid 90's heyday)
Hit: 4 Stars
The often misunderstood, underappreciated Know Your Enemy...I have to admit that I hesitated to buy it because of the negative press. But now that I have it, I really enjoy it. Maybe it's not in the same league as Everything Must Go or This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours, but it's still a rewarding listen.
I agree with most reviewers that stylistically KYE is all over the place. I don't actually mind that - as long as each song delivers. And I have to say that the first half of the CD is excellent. Even the songs with very split opinions - I found to be very enjoyable. I like the vocoder sound in Wattsville and don't mind Nick's voice. I found Europa to be very catchy and totally get the ciriticism of club culture.
But it's the second half of the CD where things start to fall apart somewhat. Actually it sounds more coherent now, but some of the songs just don't do it for me. His Last Painting is interesting, I like Royal Correspondent, and I really like The Convalescent, but some of the songs on the second half sound pretty flat, especially compared to the wild variety in the first half.
The bottom line is that 65 minutes for this CD is way too long. KYE has about eleven or twelve good to very good songs, but the weaker songs in the second half needed to be cut - 50 minutes for this CD would have been ideal. Mostly because of the filler songs still in place, I do not rate this as a classic. It's not the first place to learn the greatness of MSP - that's for Everything Must Go. But KYE is still one that every MSP fan should have and will appreciate.
Free Music Review: Not-so-happy times are here again?
Hit: 4 Stars
Just under nine years on from the sprawling 'Generation Terrorists', the Manics decided to release ANOTHER sprawling album. Their critics usually point out that any LP from their catalogue is best shorn of two or three tracks, although with the haphazard 'Enemy they may have a point. The dull opener 'Found that Soul' and why-wasn't-this-a-B-side 'Wattsville Blues' exemplify the filler material. However, all is far from lost. 'So Why So Sad' was the most glistening, life-affirming dose of wonderfullness to enter the British Top Ten in 2001. 'Miss Europa Disco Dancer' deliciously combines a lyrical critique of club culture with suitably throbbing backing tracks. 'Let Robeson Sing' is a splendidly simple and effective ode to late folk singer Paul Robeson. Oh, and best of all, the scathing erudition many felt was lost post-Holy Bible is restored, (the title of 'Intravenous Agnostic' alone demonstrates this point) even if to less glory. 'Enemy can be described in simple terms because it is a simple record; the best tunes are those you find yourself endeared to upon the first listen. Yes, some of it grates, yes it is overlong, yes it is wordy, and yes it dropped out of the chart courtesy of the vitriol and a trip to havana. But there should always be albums like this. But at least it's not boring. But least this group has principle and intelligence in a sea of dross.Free Music Review: Not their worst but not their best
Hit: 4 Stars
This album has been slagged off pretty much since its release as a piece of crap. While it's not their best album, it's not their worst, either. There are some really good songs on here, such as Found That Soul, Ocean Spray (which, hello morons, is NOT about the cranberry juice), Freedom of Speech Won't Feed My Children, and Intravenous Agnostic. The rest of the songs are either perfectly good (such as the interesting and enjoyable Miss Europe Disco Dancer) or downright awful (Wattsville Blues, which could be interesting musically, except that Nicky Wire decided to try "singing" on this one, thereby ruining it). I think the one criticism of this album that is totally valid is that stylisically, it's all over the map, so there is no cohesion and you really can't get a good grasp on what the Manics' sound is circa 2001. And some of the lyrics...I've always thought the Manics were morons and hyppocrites politically and some of the lyrics on this album justify that 100%. However, this one is worth a shot if you are a true Manics fan.Free Music Review: They Still Got It
Hit: 4 Stars
Okay, so their hayday of spontaneous angst ridden riffs and lyrics are over, but their best days are definitely not behind them. This album is a very good rendition of how the Manics view themselves and the world around them. The songs are all very well written. They are just as politically aspiring as some of their previous tracks, and James' guitar can still make the ears stand still with great melodies and solid riffs. The Manics are a matured band and this album shows that they have come a long way since their prime back in the nineties. Maybe it is not as good as some other Manics albums, but if you're a fan, or even a newbie this is a very solid collection of quite enjoyable tracks. Key Tracks: Let Robeson Sing, Baby Elian, Why So Sad, Freedom of Speech Won't Feed My Children