As you can see below, it looks like the Manic Street Preachers have brought back the inverted "R" for their new record 'Send Away The Tigers'. They last used it for their masterpiece 'Holy Bible' album in 1994, and so there must be some sort of statement being made by bringing that typeface back.
Trouble is, apart from the letter R, there's really nothing else in common with the band they were thirteen years ago. First single 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough', with Nina Persson of the Cardigans, isn't necessarily bad, it's just overwhelmingly pleasant, which has been the case for the last few albums. Again, this album has been heralded as a "return to the roots" but it really misses that mark. Watch the video here or, if you're up for it, a live version of it here, with Nina Persson replaced by Charlotte Church, surely providing conclusive proof that the band has lost the edge it used to have. Ten years ago, they headlined the Reading Festival (I'm gonna put that show up for download soon, keep an eye out), this year they're second on the bill (to the Kooks!) on the second stage at the less rockin' V Festival.
There's positive signs, though. Go to the official site for a free download of 'Underdogs', a song described as "All out punk metal" by Nicky Wire. It's not too shabby. Lyrically clunky - no song should ever begin by declaring itself "for the freaks" - but at least it rocks. When I was 15-16, this band meant the world to me, so I always want to love what they do, but they're making it harder and harder. Here's one of their greatest songs.
[download Manic Street Preachers - Yes]
Trade all your heroes in for ghosts
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It has been years since I liked a Manics song, but I did like this one. Until, that is, a minute and a half in the f*cking string section turns up, taking the song back into blandsville. Someone needs to set up some kind of orchestral embargo.
Why oh why did I watch that Charlotte Church version? Dear god, that was awful.