Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah, here they are. The Lads. The Lads are all here, like you knew they would be. Lads! Lads! Lads!
Yeah, this album is fine, I guess.
This isn’t going to be a long one, I promise. Well, at least until I list all their previous entries, as that might take a while. The feelings I expressed on the band’s fifteenth (š±) album when I reviewed it close to it’s release back in May are still pretty much my feelings. It’s a very good album that cruelly threatens to go to truly interesting places for the first time since 2014’s ‘Futurology‘ on its opening title track, but then settles into a very competent collection of extremely melodic dadrock. I’ve grown to appreciate a lot of the songs more, but I haven’t uncovered any further depths on which to appreciate it or any new levels it works on because – quite frankly – I’m not sure those levels exist. But they don’t need to, a band can just be a band sometimes, you know? Not every album needs to inspire a 34,229 word essay three decades later, some albums can just be a group of best friends making good music that’s fun to record. I’m OK with that. I’m absolutely fine with that. I have completely come to terms with the fact that The Manics are now bog-standard middle aged men. I’m sure I’ll be cool with my parents dying as well. You’ve just got to move on, haven’t you? No problems here.
Considering the album review and the insane deep dive into ‘The Holy Bible’, you freaks can’t be wanting for much more Manics posts this year. And, mate, trust, you’re hardly going to be wanting for Manics content in 2026. It’ll be the 30th anniversary of ‘Everything Must Go’ in May, so I’ll obviously be doing something for that. And – more worrying for me when I picture my free time – September will be the 5th anniversary of my magnum opus: The 100 Greatest Manics songs. Yes, there’s been two albums since then (that will barely feature), but also the incredible ‘168 Songs of Hatred and Failure‘ came out this year, prompting me to reconsider a lot of the band’s earlier classics. Also… I had… a moment when I saw the band play The Everlasting when I saw them live that… worried me. Let’s leave it at that. Proper ‘walls closing in’ shit. So that top 100 is actually ripe for a review.
Don’t worry, the Necessary Evil Manic Street Preachers Industrial Complex doesn’t require the band to release a single more great album for the remainder of their career, we good.
GREATEST ALBUM OF ALL TIME, 2024 #11, 2022 2021 #31, (-8)Ā 2020 #9,Ā 2019 #83,Ā 2018 #55,Ā 2014 #1,Ā 2013 #20,Ā 2010 #15,Ā 2009 #2,Ā 2007 #3Ā (Manic Street Preachers)
In case you’re wondering: two more needed to reach Gold Star status. One after next year.
God, that album sucked.
Fifty eight user score! Also: fuck, why didn’t I think of this?
Necessary Evil 
One thought on “39 Manic Street Preachers: Critical Thinking”