Manic Street Preachers - Know Your Enemy
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Free Music Notes for Know Your Enemy
Free Music Review: Back To Form
Hit: 4 Stars
This is a welcome return to form after the rather dissapointing 'This is my Truth...'. There's plenty of everything on this album, from the odd balled to real heavy rock. Sadly though, this is the only Manics album where I actually skip tracks. Both 'Wattsville Blues' and 'Let Robeson Sing' I find unlistenable. I also can't relate to the lyrics as much as previous albums, but the music more than makes up for this.Free Music Review: Know The Manic Street Preachers!
Hit: 4 Stars
After making 5 very different albums the Manics decided to make a mix of them all. The result is quite good. It starts very well with Found that Soul and it has even a !disco! song which is great. This was my first record from the Manics and after this I felt compelles in buying the res of their catallog.NI!
Free Music Review: Just brings heart disease and bootleg clothing
Hit: 3 Stars
Fortune is a harsh mistress. After This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours (1998), the Manics were the biggest band in England. After Know Your Enemy, they were instantly painted as unhip, floundering has-beens. This was partly due to unlucky timing. The album's release coincided with the garage-rock revival of the early 2000s, when earnest skill was out, and minimalist hedonism was in. (Does anyone still listen to The Vines?) But if the songs had been better, Know Your Enemy could still have survived, thanks to its harsh, abrasive guitar sound. The real reason why it failed was because, sadly, it wasn't that good.
The biggest problem is the abundance of loud songs that all sound the same. The album is much noisier than even Everything Must Go, but all of the raucous songs are based on very simplistic, basic guitar rhythms. The riffs in "Intravenous Agnostic," "Dead Martyrs," "My Guernica" and "The Convalescent" are all very similar, and sound like the first thing you'd learn upon taking up guitar. You have undoubtedly heard these rhythms before in countless songs going back to the sixties. But that, by itself, would not be enough to sink the album -- rock and roll is forgiving, and allows a lot of rote repetition. What's worse is that these songs are all really long. "My Guernica" lasts five minutes. It is immediately followed by "The Convalescent," which lasts six. If the band played them as two-minute punk blasts, that might have worked, but eleven consecutive minutes is way too much.
Secondly, the production is weirdly non-descript. "Miss Europa Disco Dancer" is one of the best songs on the album. The music is much more creative than in the loud numbers; as the title suggests, the band was going for a disco/dance vibe. But a dance song needs a powerful drum sound, deep bass, and clean keyboards. This production blends the instruments together to the point where the song actually sounds kind of similar to the loud tracks. The song is still very good, but when the Beach Boys pastiche "So Why So Sad," the REM imitation "The Year Of Purification," the disco song, and the noisy guitar thrashes all seem to blend together, that's a problem.
Thirdly, the band just didn't have a lot to say. As of 2009, this is the only Manics album that does not mention Richey Edwards in any way. It doesn't feature any lyrics written by him, and it doesn't have any songs about him. But that only puts the band into torpor. After Richey disappeared, the Manics have not been inspired by any topic other than him (hence why Journal For Plague Lovers, where all the lyrics are culled from his last journal entries, is excellent). Without Richey, all that interests remaining lyricist Nicky Wire is neurotically describing his minute physical sensations ("broken blood vessels line my cheeks"). But he also has to uphold the band's reputation for outspokenness, so he writes a reverent, earnest, and slightly boring song praising civil rights icon Paul Robeson, in which he wonders, "can anyone write a protest song?" This serves as a substitute for actually writing one. Granted, in "Baby Elian" Nicky tries to take on a more topical issue...but the fact is that by the time the album came out in March 2001, that issue was already resolved, and became old news.
To compensate for this lack of heart, the band tries a bunch of things at random. Nicky sings on "Wattsville Blues," and the result is horrible, the single worst song in the Manics' catalogue. It doesn't help that the lyrics deal with the thrilling subject of how Nicky is bored in his suburban home. Conversely, James Dean Bradfield tries his hand at writing lyrics, in "Ocean Spray." This turns out much better than Nicky's foray into singing, because Bradfield had always been the band's main musical force, so even if the lyrics are a little formulaic, his performance can carry them. But it does show that the album was assembled piecemeal, without any one subject that really captured the band's interest.
Still, a piecemeal album will have the occasional left-field success. Opener "Found That Soul" is one of the many times the Manics have praised themselves for their endurance and resilience (other examples include "There By The Grace Of God" and "Forever Delayed"), but man, it's good. The riff is simple, but enough to drive the song for three minutes, and the exultant chorus is the perfect soundtrack for a fist-pumping triumph after a protracted struggle. "Miss Europa Disco Dancer," as I mentioned, is a very nice attempt at a dance song, with a great bass line softened by minor-key synth tones. The profane outro to the song might seem a bit tasteless, but I think the song is actually a sort of veiled commentary on the EU, so that part does vaguely fit. "Epicentre" has forgettable lyrics, but the keyboard line accentuating the verses is effective. The refrain in "His Last Painting" is memorable, and the steely guitar sound evokes the tone of "Removables."
And then, tucked at the very end, is "Freedom Of Speech Won't Feed My Children," a rueful critique of liberal European triumphalism with the best, most incisive lyrics that Nicky Wire will ever write in his life. For once, Nicky's ad hominem attacks actually have substance: a single line about being "free to <...> from Paris to Beijing" throws doubt on the motives of "idealistic youth," and the lines about the Beastie Boys are withering. This song was a one-time epiphany -- recent interviews show that Nicky doesn't really care about issues -- but it is eloquently written nonetheless.
When you put it all together, you get a few really great moments, and even a couple of songs that deserve classic status. That's certainly better than 2004's Lifeblood, but not enough to carry a sixteen-song album. Know Your Enemy needed a lot more planning and editing.
Free Music Review: Good,Bad And The Pretty Ugly!
Hit: 3 Stars
They've been around for more then ten years now and still I'm not sure what to make of the Manic Street Preachers.Are they really the angry group some of their lyrics claim they are or are they just thirty somethings trying to seek credibility in a style of a young fresh group?Are they a group who really shun hype and limelight or were gigs in Cuba just one big publicity stunt?.Are they a stadium filling band or is the music better suited to dingy halls? Why are they so big in the U.K. and Ireland and yet remain virtually unknown outside of these islands?Have they made great albums which will be remembered for a long time or have they just written a few catchy rock anthems?Yet after listening to their 6th album my questions are still unanswered.Once again the Manics have delivered a c.d. of stunning tracks and also a c.d. of the plain awful!This has been the pattern for all of their c.d.'s in my opinion-the only difference this time is that the bad tracks really are total turkeys.The first really bad song on this c.d. is track 3 "Intravenous Agnostic",lyrically it's complete rubbish.It's a loud protest angry song very much akin to their early stuff from the Generation Terrorists era.Wattsville is sung by Nicky Wire and I have to say he doesn't really have a great voice at all and should really stick to playing bass.It starts off with a drum machine and synth-quite different for the Manics-it's sort of their poor attempt at doing a Kid A.In fact to their credit they do experiment quite a lot more on this c.d. then they have ever done before.This is most obvious on the next song Miss Europa Disco Dancer-which actually starts off with a really neat disco guitar and bass riff-it even has the Chic like strings coming in.It could have worked only for the ridiculous rant at the end by Bradfield where he repeats "Braindead Mother....." over and over.It just spoils what could have been an interesting song.Then there are the songs where they are as the group says 'preaching' at us a bit.I don't know maybe it's just me,but I do find it irritating when mega rich rock stars start preaching about the evils of money and generally ranting on about the capitalist system!The song Baby Elian also has lyrics that go slightly over the top.Here the Manics describe America as "the devil's playground".I wonder would they be doing this if they'd achieved any great success there?Apart from that seeming hypocrisy it's actually not a bad song.
Many of the songs on this c.d. are certainly a return to the louder and more brash sound of the Manics in the early nineties.This will no doubt please many of the die hard fans-who may have thought they sold out a bit with their last c.d.Songs like Dead Martyrs and My Guernica are loud,full of all sorts of distortion and are definitely an attempt to regain the sound of the early years.This will I feel effect the sales of this c.d.The last c.d. was built on many radio friendly adult rock anthems-which don't dominate as much on this c.d.But these are the songs that have this group filling stadiums!These are also the songs that for me are the undoubted highlights of this c.d.
Once again as with all of their c.d.'s I have there are some brilliant songs on their c.d.'s.The first track "Found That Soul"-which was one of the two singles released is a great "bar room" rock song.It's got a chorus that starts this c.d. off really nicely.The second song "Ocean Spray" is another great song.It's quiter and has an acoustic feel to it-it sounds like some of the stuff they did on their last c.d."So Why So Sad " has a real sixties feel to it with a real Beach Boy sound especially the vocals and harmonies-it's another superb song.The next song about Paul Robeson has a Byrdsy sixties feel to it also.Lyrically it's not a nonsensical rant and they are quite good.They use acoustic guitars and hammond organ on this song and it's also very good.Track 6 I really like also-it isn't angry,it's got great guitar work and more harmonies in the vocals.Then we have a few awful songs that set the whole c.d. back a few steps.That's the really annoying thing about this c.d.-it goes from excellent to rubbish-so I'd advise listeners to have the remote control handy when listening to this c.d.Track 13 "Royal Correspondent" is the Manics at their classic story telling best.Very like some of the singles released from their last two c.d.'s-the song is dominated by a sound similar to the distinctive sound of New Order bass player Peter Hook."Epicentre" is one of those anti-politician songs-lyrically and musically it's quite good-with the group using a piano to back up the overall rock feel to this song.
So there we have it 16 brand new songs.If they could have taken off the some of the dreadful songs I think it would have made an excellent 10 track album.Unfortunately for me the bad songs really do stop me from saying this is terrific.But I am glad I bought this c.d. because at least 8 of the songs are really excellent.The one really good aspect to this c.d. is that it caters for all types of people who have liked the Manics-the loud and angry to the big full on anthems.All in all though I would have to say that this is not one of their best albums.
Free Music Review: Absolutely Schizophrenic
Hit: 3 Stars
Without a doubt, this has to be the most "all over the place" CD I have ever heard. It seems to have everything - sunny Beach Boys inspired pop, hazy psychedelic tunes, guitar burners, vocoders and even disco (yes, the Manics do disco - read on). Does it work? Yes and no.
Opener "Found That Soul" kicks things off in a very agressive way. Heavy guitars and a snarling lead vocal by James make this a great tune and made it sound like that the rumours of the Manics "return to their roots" that surrounded the release of this CD seem true. Next up? The acoustically tinged "Ocean Spray". Another great tune in it's own right with a nice (almost "Kevin Carter II" ish) trumpet solo by Sean. The heavier "Intravenous Agnostic" and sunny homage to Brian Wilson "So Why So Sad" follow. Next is one of the jewels of the CD, "Let Robeson Sing", featuring what almost sounds like a banjo (at least that's what I think it is) and an outstanding lyric by Nicky about Paul Robeson, an African-American entertainer who found nothing but racism and prejudice in the United States. This still remains one of my favorite Manics songs period.
So, with the first five songs, while very much stylistically different, there's not really a bad one in the bunch. This is where things begin to really become hit and miss the rest of the way. "The Year of Purification" while pleasant enough, is just more dull than anything. "Wattsville Blues" finds Nicky taking the lead vocal - THROUGH A VOCODER OF SOME SORT. The performance is, to say the least, uninspired. Not even James showing up for the choruses of the song can save it. Not one of the bands' finer moments.
From here, we get one of the more hotly debated and misunderstood tracks in the MSP cannon, "Miss Europa Disco Dancer" - aka - THAT DISCO SONG. Personally, I think it's brilliant. If you listen to the lyrics, it's a perfectly executed scathing attack on club culture. Everyone dresses up, everyone drinks, dances, does drugs, collapses and gets to the next night only to do it all over again. If you get the joke, it's dead on target. The ending refrain of "Brain dead motherf**kers" is a stroke of genius.
After this though, it pretty much falls into an experimental abyss on the second half of the CD. "Dead Martyrs" tries to get a decent groove and riff going, but doesn't completely succeed. After that, most of the remainder of the songs are mediocre at best ("Baby Elian" is a particular low point) with the exception of the closer, "Freedom of Speech Won't Feed My Children". Never a band to shy away from politics or their criticism of America, the Manics do a good job of hitting their target on this one - namely, the laziness and brand-name, easy consumption, surface gloss worshiping mentality of the majority of Americans. The psychedelic pastche hiding in the background throughout the song is quite effective - you can almost see a video involving hundreds of lava lamps flowing - and in an obscure way, the lyrics work well. References flow from Richard Gere, Joseph Stalin to the Beastie Boys and the Berlin Wall.
Yes, when it's bad, it's truly awful. However, the high points definitely outweigh the lows on "Know Your Enemy" - even it it's musical stylings are varied, all over the board and seeming thrown together in a random order. It's not nearly the colossal wipeout it's been made out to be...and hey, any CD that contains "Let Robeson Sing", "Found That Soul", "Ocean Spray" and "So Why So Sad" among it's singles and adds hidden gems like "Miss Europa Disco Dancer" and "Freedom of Speech Won't Feed My Childern" is absolutely worthly of inclusion in the MSP cannon. Would give it 3.5 stars overall if allowed.