Invader Zim
13th May 2007, 00:57
In 1994 the socialist band the Manic Street Preachers released the now considered classic album The Holy Bible, a dark piece of art and the outpourings of the Ian Curtis like figure, Ritchie Edwards. Following its release the lyricist Edwards finished and has not been seen since. Now, over a decade and four albums later the Manics have released a new album, Send Away The Tigers. Many reviewers have hailed this album the best they have made since 1996 and the first post-Ritchie album Everything Must Go arguably, with The Holy Bible, their best work. These critics are correct; this is a great album. That is not to dismiss the three other albums, in particular the commercially unsuccessful and hugely underrated Lifeblood album. They were all good, flawed but good. Send Away the Tigers is by no means flawless, but it is non-the less a great album.
The album begins with the excellent, and one of the strongest songs the Manics have ever produced, title track ‘Send Away the Tigers’. The massive chorus promises to make this song a live favourite. 10/10
The second track ‘Underdogs’, a shout out to the fans ("freaks") who have stuck with the Manics through thick and thin. A reasonable song with a reasonable chorus, but easily the weakest song on the album; which presumably is why it was released as a freebee prior to the release of the album. 5/10
Following Underdogs, the albums first single 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough' with its highly catchy yet simple hook drove this single to the number two spot in the UK charts. The duet with Nina Persson is a great bonus to the already very ‘poptastic’ song and it is a travesty that Shakira and Beyoncé's terrible 'Beautiful liar' kept 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough' from the top spot. Though, never the less the song is by no means the strongest on the album. 7/10
‘Indian Summer’ - The epic sounding architypal post-Everything Must Go Manics song, very good, very catchy, but lacking something which makes excellence. 8/10
‘The Second Great Depression’ - This is possibly the best song on the album, starting perhaps a little inauspiciously, but soon breaks into a truly cracking chorus the likes of which the Manics have not produced since ‘A Design For Life’. 9.5/10
‘Rendition’ - a heavily politicised attack on the Bush government and a song which seems to harkens back to the days of Gold Against the Soul, with its heavy riffs and angry vocals, but with the lessons learned since clearly having an impact. 8/10
‘Autumnsong’ - The opening guitar line sets the tone for this song, reminiscent of songs like 'No Surface All Feeling' and a rising build up to another massive chorus. This song has already been cited as a favourite on the album by many fans. Personally, I have yet to reach a conclusion, but it is a damn excellent song. 9/10
‘I'm Just A Patsy’ - a stadium rock song, again with the repeated trend of a very strong chorus, but perhaps let down slightly by humorous, though perhaps a tad weak lyrics, making it perhaps perfect single material. 8.5/10
‘Imperial Bodybags’ - A politically charged attack on the Iraq war, but one which attempts to make note of the human cost of the war from the perspective not only of civilian casualties, but also military. Another catchy, good, but perhaps uninspired song. 6/10
‘Winterlovers’ - relatively depressing rock song; easily the saddest song on the album, which up to this point has been uncharacteristically upbeat musically if not lyrically. 7/10
The end has been extended and a secret track has been added, a cover of ‘Working Class Hero’ by John Lennon. This is, for those who have followed the Manics closely something on an in-joke, for a band which - in one of their earliest songs (‘Motown Junk’) stated that they laughed when Lennon was shot. The covers inclusion also bears reference to the Manics own staunch socialist values. However, I personally didn't like it, being a fan of the original. It is an interesting take, but not to my tastes.
Overall the album is an excellent return to form containing some of the best songs the Manics have ever produced and a very strong stretch of four songs ‘Indian Summer’ to ‘I'm Just A Patsy’. The critics largely have it right this is a great album worthy of at least 8/10. It only has a very few flawed songs, not bad, just flawed. The one exception to this is ‘Underdogs’ which is horribly mediocre, but as a free-release tribute to fans forgivable, especially as it doesn't ruin an otherwise excellent return to brilliance.
Go out and get this album.
The album begins with the excellent, and one of the strongest songs the Manics have ever produced, title track ‘Send Away the Tigers’. The massive chorus promises to make this song a live favourite. 10/10
The second track ‘Underdogs’, a shout out to the fans ("freaks") who have stuck with the Manics through thick and thin. A reasonable song with a reasonable chorus, but easily the weakest song on the album; which presumably is why it was released as a freebee prior to the release of the album. 5/10
Following Underdogs, the albums first single 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough' with its highly catchy yet simple hook drove this single to the number two spot in the UK charts. The duet with Nina Persson is a great bonus to the already very ‘poptastic’ song and it is a travesty that Shakira and Beyoncé's terrible 'Beautiful liar' kept 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough' from the top spot. Though, never the less the song is by no means the strongest on the album. 7/10
‘Indian Summer’ - The epic sounding architypal post-Everything Must Go Manics song, very good, very catchy, but lacking something which makes excellence. 8/10
‘The Second Great Depression’ - This is possibly the best song on the album, starting perhaps a little inauspiciously, but soon breaks into a truly cracking chorus the likes of which the Manics have not produced since ‘A Design For Life’. 9.5/10
‘Rendition’ - a heavily politicised attack on the Bush government and a song which seems to harkens back to the days of Gold Against the Soul, with its heavy riffs and angry vocals, but with the lessons learned since clearly having an impact. 8/10
‘Autumnsong’ - The opening guitar line sets the tone for this song, reminiscent of songs like 'No Surface All Feeling' and a rising build up to another massive chorus. This song has already been cited as a favourite on the album by many fans. Personally, I have yet to reach a conclusion, but it is a damn excellent song. 9/10
‘I'm Just A Patsy’ - a stadium rock song, again with the repeated trend of a very strong chorus, but perhaps let down slightly by humorous, though perhaps a tad weak lyrics, making it perhaps perfect single material. 8.5/10
‘Imperial Bodybags’ - A politically charged attack on the Iraq war, but one which attempts to make note of the human cost of the war from the perspective not only of civilian casualties, but also military. Another catchy, good, but perhaps uninspired song. 6/10
‘Winterlovers’ - relatively depressing rock song; easily the saddest song on the album, which up to this point has been uncharacteristically upbeat musically if not lyrically. 7/10
The end has been extended and a secret track has been added, a cover of ‘Working Class Hero’ by John Lennon. This is, for those who have followed the Manics closely something on an in-joke, for a band which - in one of their earliest songs (‘Motown Junk’) stated that they laughed when Lennon was shot. The covers inclusion also bears reference to the Manics own staunch socialist values. However, I personally didn't like it, being a fan of the original. It is an interesting take, but not to my tastes.
Overall the album is an excellent return to form containing some of the best songs the Manics have ever produced and a very strong stretch of four songs ‘Indian Summer’ to ‘I'm Just A Patsy’. The critics largely have it right this is a great album worthy of at least 8/10. It only has a very few flawed songs, not bad, just flawed. The one exception to this is ‘Underdogs’ which is horribly mediocre, but as a free-release tribute to fans forgivable, especially as it doesn't ruin an otherwise excellent return to brilliance.
Go out and get this album.