Manic Street Preachers

Postcards From A Young Man

Columbia

The Manics were always capable of delivering epics and as opening single“It’s Not War, It’s Just The End Of Love”, they’ve rediscovered their songwriting goldmine.
It’s the closest they’ve come to the mass appeal of 1996 album “Everything Must Go” – with a little help from Ian McCulloch on “Some Kind Of Nothingness”, here’s a little charmer of a tune (even if a tad reminiscent of The Housemartins’“Build” – honestly, have a listen!) to be followed by John Cale lending a hand on “Auto-Intoxication”.
The lyrical wit and verbal punch of James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire hasn’t dimmed one bit over the years. “Hazelton Avenue” is classic Manics, with guitar riffs launching into a catchy verse with James Dean Bradfield singing “I don’t need a wilderness to feel solitary” before a huge chorus chimes in again.
“Golden Platitudes” is a slower affair but it’s still a powerful tune in the hands of The Manics – all lush, stirring string arrangements and wailing guitars. “I Think I Found It” sounds like The Manics’ long-lost Spanish Mediterranean cousins, all balalaikas and summery sounds, yet still managing to stir these up into one huge, mountainous tune, as is “A Billion Balconies Facing The Sun” with James Dean Bradfield’s powerful vocals bemoaning our TV obsessed culture, assisted by ex Guns N Roses man Duff McKagan on bass.
“All We Make Is Entertainment” is a self-deprecating view of what they’ve become, answering critics at the same time with James Dean Bradfield stating “I’m no longer preaching to the converted, they’re long since deserted”. They may have expanded their base with time, but when it comes to writing consistently clever lyrics and anthemic guitar gems, they’re in a class of their own.

Paula Gregory