Classic Albums #5 –Manic Street Preachers–Everything Must Go

[smokeyb]

My choice of album for review is the 1996 offering from The Manic Street Preachers with “EVERYTHING MUST GO”. This album was the first to be released after the disappearance of Richey Edwards, and their 4th album to be released. The album also won the award for Best British Album at the 1997 Brit awards.




1. "Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier" 3.29
2. “A Design For Life” 4.17
3. “Kevin Carter” 3.25
4. "Enola/Alone" 4.08
5. “Everything Must Go” 3.41
6. “Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky” 3.03
7. “The Girl Who Wanted To Be God” 3.35
8. “Removables” 3.31
9. “Australia” 4.05
10. "Interiors (Song for Willem de Kooning)" 4.17
11. “Further Away” 3.39
12. “No Surface All Feeling” 4.14

Manic Street Preachers
• James Dean Bradfield – lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar and piano
• Sean Moore – drums, percussion, trumpet and backing vocals
• Nicky Wire – bass guitar and backing vocals
• Richey Edwards – rhythm guitar on "No Surface All Feeling"

[Shireblogger]

Another really good choice, and well overdue re-evaluation.

[o]

Brillaint, one I have got! Just listened to it recently and contains one of my alltime fave songs, shall listen to this towards the end of the month.

[thehitparade]

Oh, is it November already?

Anyway, good choice. I thought it was about time for a 90s album. And yet another one I own too.

[borneoman]

about time we got a "modern" classic!!!

it includes the best Manics album track, No Surface All Feeling!!

[vastar iner]

Should I review this without context? Difficult. MSPs started off as a poor man’s Clash, rebels without a clue, two minute thrashes with unfocussed anger towards anyone and everything, subtle as a bucket of lard. Then they gradually moved towards a more musical mien, but a bit like a dragster; an explosive opening (“Motorcycle Emptiness”) that ran into anticlimax almost instantly (“Little Baby Nothing”). I got the feeling that they were a singles band manqué, that most of an album was made up of them turning up at the studio thinking “what do we do now?”

Then Richey Edwards went missing, and along with them so did the Manics. It took a couple of years before they came back with “Design For Life”, and it still sounds magnificent as a single today. Expansive, gigantic, a Gotterdammerung of a single, the sublime of a la Lorrain painting, a ruin of existence amongst a landscape of epic. Wonderful as it is, there are hints of something beyond, something that we’ve lost.

The problem is what the problem was. They couldn’t follow it up. And that’s evident on the album. “Everything Must Go” was OK as a single, interesting opening which seems to link back to “Design For Life”, but showing dangerous signs of moving into pretentiosity. And even more it seemed to show the imagination had run out. The last half of the song is basically the first.

So it was to prove with the next single. “Kevin Carter” was more a lecture. The tune sounds like it was thrown together in less time than it took to perform, and is the best they could come up with to describe a photographer “click-click-click-click-click”? No, sorry.

It does not bode well for the rest of the album. The first bona fide track was sixth-form poetry critiquing Elvis. “Alone/Enola” was bog-standard cock-rock that U2 would have been proud to produce. Then there’s the standard acoustic track, straight from the hair-metal-by-numbers book. It’s even got a cascading harp. Whereas “Small Black Flowers” is all cascading strings. Perhaps there is a message in there, but I can’t make out the lyrics. It’s gone all Mantovani.

And then the dragster analogy takes over big time. Not only do they run out of imagination for the songs, they run out of imagination as an album concept. The last half just blends into each other like a Westlife best-of. There’s little to distinguish the tracks, other than the overblown pomposity of their titles (a song for Willem de Kooning? My God). I can’t remember how “Removeables” goes even when listening to it. “Further Away”’s guitar solo was pure Spinal Tap. It’s all anonymous rock by numbers. This is catching, though - I have run out of imagination as to how to review the album. It’s like reviewing the taste of water. It’s just there.

The last track has an element of interest, there is a sense of languor and resignation, it’s a fitting way to finish an album. Perhaps the Edwards influence...would that it had been more of this and less of the anonymous.

The only way I can take this seriously is to assume it’s a parody of themselves. The band that would smash the system becoming everything that they purported to hate. Are they trying to subvert? Become the stadium band that is the antithesis of punk through some sense of irony? Laughing at the plebs who buy it because they are now In while betraying the hardcore who liked them when they were Out? It suggests to me that the loss of Richey Edwards was also the loss of the MSP ethos. They had seen such riches and couldn’t live with being poor.

2 out of 10. For a firebrand of an act, this was heartbreakingly dull.

[TheThorne]

One thing I disagree with and not commenting on your score or review but the idea that the Manics were punks, they may have dressed that way when they started but they were just as influenced by GunsnRoses as they were by The Clash and they always wanted to sell millions of records they said that from day one, so I don't regard 'Everything Must Go' as a sell out record. 'The Holy Bible' was an exception rather than the rule. Ok will comment on the score think 2 is a bit harsh with a score like that most of their post 00s albums would be minus scores but I guess youd agree with that. I do agree that generally the Manics are a singles band and again 'The Holy Bible' was the exception, we maybe should have been reviewing that as it is regarded as their masterpiece. I am surprised that you dont even mention it. Everything Must Go is a solid 7/10 for me some brilliant singles arguably their best but then not much else.

[thehitparade]

Surely the whole point of "click-click-click-click-click" is that it's wordplay, implying both the sound of a camera and a gun ("click himself under"). Admittedly, Kevin Carter didn't actually kill himself that way, but it's artistic licence.
In any case that's a Richey James lyric so clearly it's not his absence that's the problem.

[thehitparade]

Just noticed BTW that Amazon are offering the download of the anniversary re-issue for only £3:99. Other retailers are available.

[Shireblogger]

Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go

Context
I never really paid much attention to the Manic Street Preachers, until 1998’s “If You Tolerate This, Your Children Will Be Next”, which is brilliant. That single prompted me to look more closely, and my start point was the 2 year-old “Everything Must Go” disc. I thought it was OK, with a few strong tracks, but decided to hold out for a Manics Greatest Hits before I actually paid real money for something of their’s.
3/10

General Overview
During the next decade, I became more of a fan. I think they are a great live band, and so I’m more familiar with some of the tracks from tour performances than the original recordings. And I think Nicky Wire is a genuinely interesting musician. A few tracks here are top notch, but almost as many are ploddingly ordinary.
6/10

Intro & Outro
First impressions count, and “Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier” is dull. Final track, “No Surface All Feeling” starts out quietly, and, after 40 minutes of relentless Manics, you’re quite grateful for that. But the chorus brings a loud interruption, which leaves me thinking that they’d have been better off with the softer closure. Shame really, because most of what lies inside is far better than the first and last tracks.
2/10

Music
“Enola/Alone” and “Further Away” probably best exemplify the style of this album. Big guitars, mixed loud, and playing solid rock chords without any fancy mucking around. James Dean Bradfield’s vocals constantly straining to be heard above the racket. Drums, especially cymbals, hit hard, and employed less to supply a rhythm, more to provide a counterpoint to the guitars. It is distinctly Manic Street Preachers, and it is infectious, uplifting and exhausting.
8/10

Lyrics
You often have to work very hard to understand what Richey Edwards’ songs are about. And, sorry to say, I’m not often prepared to do that. So, instead I let the meaning wash over me, and just enjoy some of the wordplay and imagery the lyrics conjure up. Nicky Wire’s lyrics are more straightforward and make more sense, with “Australia” the most powerful. As the album is 40% Edwards, 60% Wire, it is a good blend.
7/10

Production & Sound
The strings on “A Design For Life” work brilliantly, but are less effective on “Everything Must Go”; whilst the slightly discordant brass on “Kevin Carter” is also a good touch. There’s even a harp on “Small Black Flowers…”. Generally the production captures the feel of a strident band in full flow, but it somehow loses the excitement and energy the Manics were able to convey on some of their earlier singles.
7/10

High Points
“A Design For Life” is spectacular in every way. The next track “Kevin Carter” tries valiantly to keep up the momentum, but doesn’t quite get there. “Enola/Alone” is the best of the non-singles, and “Everything Must Go” means that, once you get beyond the disappointing opening track, Side One is a strong rock record.
8/10

Low Points
“Removables” is tedious filler, and whilst “Small Black Flowers…” has interesting lyrics, it’s a track I skip through to get to the more reliable rockier numbers.
3/10

Packaging
Rather perfunctory. Easy to read typeface, but as a whole it is unpleasantly corporate.
3/10

On balance
They picked the right tracks as singles, and could have found a couple more if they had wanted to milk it. But it is rather predictable and repetitive when listened to in the kitchen, living room or car. I’d recommend anyone to save their money and go see the Manics live, rather than invest in buying up their back catalogue.
6/10

TOTAL SCORE
And I just hope that you can forgive us.
53/100.

For Haven:
5.5/10

[o]

I shall re listen to this next week and post up comments, scores, etc, then we are onto December and Vastariner's choice, which I am privy to...

[smokeyb]

The Manic Street Preachers - “EVERYTHING MUST GO”

This album was the first CD album I ever bought, so it holds fond memories for me, I bought it solely on hearing "A Design For Life", for me one of the best songs of the 1990’s. To be honest the Manics had not been on my radar before this album, but after this I bought every album they released. Some may say it is too commercial compared to their previous ones, but nothing wrong with that in my book as long as the songs are good. Probably my most played CD


1."Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier"
A interesting track to open up the album with strong vocals, and a melodic sound, followed by heavy guitar playing in the middle. 7/10

2. “A Design For Life”
Lead single and one of my favourite tracks by the Manics and one of their best, it gets top marks from me. This song made me a fan of them so it did the trick. 10/10

3. “Kevin Carter”
Third single release from the album, and it sits nicely after “A Design for Life” great harmonising and chorus. 9/10

4. "Enola/Alone"
Great track with sound set to maximum, what’s not to like, best listened to when driving in the country. 8/10

5. “Everything Must Go”
Second single and a brilliant follow up to the first, play it loud and sing out loud, the Manics at their best. 10/10

6. “Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky”
The music on this track is so melodic and gives a break from thrashing guitar rifts on some of the other tracks, a successful album offers a variety of songs, and this is so different from the previous one, great tune. 8/10

7. “The Girl Who Wanted To Be God”
Some might call this track an album filler, but its more than that, as they belt out the chorus, again great use of instruments on this, another very different track from the others. 8/10

8. “Removables”
Probably the weakest track on the album, but with such a strong track list that’s not surprising that one falls slightly behind the rest, but still pretty good to me. 7/10

9. “Australia”
This track has a great intro even before they sing, ( no wonder the Australian Tourist Board use it). Final single released from the album and 4th successive top 10 hit. Great sing a long track. 10/10

10. "Interiors (Song for Willem de Kooning)"
Another competent album track, possibly not strong enough to be a single, but that doesn’t mean it can’t hold it’s own. 8/10

11. “Further Away”
This song has a bit off everything, good vocals, a guitar solo, catchy chorus. 7/10

12. “No Surface All Feeling”
The final track on the album starts quietly with a guitar intro and soft vocals, but you know that won’t last, and your glad about that, as they ramp up the volume. 8/10

Total 8.5/10

Still one of my favourite albums and played regularly, glad I bought it way back in 1996, as it started my CD collection.

[o]

Manic Street Preachers – Everything must go
"Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier" - Great opener for the album, from the moment you hear the waves, “overweight and out of date!” 8/10
"A Design for Life" - Still sounding fresh after all these years, love the orchestra, 9/10
"Kevin Carter" - Solid single, with a gorgeous trumpet solo, 8/10
"Enola/Alone" - Bit of filler, not offensive, just a bit repetitive 6/10
"Everything Must Go" - Orchestra sounds gorgeous on this track, the way it builds and falls, 7/10
"Small Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky" – Bit dull, 4/10
"The Girl Who Wanted to Be God" – Picks the pace back up, 7/10
"Removables" – Maintaining the pace, I like it, 7/10
"Australia" – Good solid single, 6/10
"Interiors (Song for Willem de Kooning)" – Okay enough, 5/10
"Further Away" – Building up to an ending, 6/10
"No Surface All Feeling" – One of my alltime favourite songs and I remember it standing out the first time I listened to the album, what a way to end the album, perfectly bookmarked. 10/10
83/12 =7/10

Any chance of reviews from, Razzle Dazzle raliverpool thehitparade meister greendemon borneoman

[thehitparade]

Hoping to get something ready for tomorrow or Saturday.

[borneoman]

Every Must Go was really a game-changing album for the Manics. Before that they were a good band. This album made them great. They really made a step up with this album. Before that, their first 3 album were ok-ish, but this was a completely different game, with a more evolved, refined sound in comparison with their early efforts. Sadly, it's also their peak. The follow-up TIMTTMY yas still ok, but after that they started a big big downfall, and personally, I don't even understand why they keep going when they've completely lost their drive and motivation... I would give this album a solid 8, it's a great album, but still it's not a 9 or a 10, too much filler, which has always been my biggest issue with them, and those lyrics that sound forced most of the time...

Elvis Impersonator - Good opener. Typical Manics. Clearly not single material though... (7)
A Design for Life - Masterpiece. Their best single ever. Perfect balance between rock and pop, bit retro but not too much (10)
Kevin Carter - Reminiscent of early work but still pretty good. Not the best lyrics but still (8)
Enola/Alone - Ok-ish track, borderline filler territory (7)
Everything Must Go - In the same vein of A Design for Life, perfect follow-up. Great chorus (10)
Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky- Ok-ish, but kinda flat and a bit of a let down after Everything Must Go (5)
The Girl Who Wanted To Be God - Disappointing track, it's like if they put all the energy in coming up with the song title, never delivers (4 )
Removables - Total filler. Worst album track, not even sure how it made the cut (3)
Australia - One of the highlights of the album, saves the second half of the album (9)
Interiors - Filler-ish (4)
Further Away - Filler again (4)
No Surface All Feeling - Another masterpiece and best Manics non-single ever. I never got why it wasn't a single, it would have been a perfect 5th and final single in spring 97 (10)

overall, a mix of great tracks + (too) many fillers, some great lyrics, many forced lyrics too...

[o]

Cheers Borneo, your first review, if you fancy doing any of the other albums on the list that have been reviewed, they are either in here, or in the reviews forum.
Vas is doing December's album, which will be revealed on Sunday, Thehitparade is lined up to January's album, Meister might do February, and Borneoman could do March, depends if either of you review the older albums under review...
Nice to have had 9 different reviewers, be good if we could get them all together on each album in the future and if Roo and Greendemon joined in.

[greendemon]

i will join in in the future, but i just have too much on at the moment the new year should be better as i hand in my thesis in january, so i might be able to do january's album.

[Razzle Dazzle]

I will review when I have a chance, love the manics so chance to get a pretty decent rating for the singles alone

[o]

Good luck with the thesis Greend!

[raliverpool]

The one time brash highly literate Cardiff poseurs who came upon the indie music scene with their debut Generation Terrorists album like a bad finger who were one part Guns N'Roses, one part New York Dolls, and one part The Clash had continued their belligerent, provocative way until they got their act together and made the completely brilliant, and nihilistic third album The Holy Bible. This was largely due to primary lyricist and rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards increasingly fragile and disturbing piece of mind that showed echoes of Syd Barrett; Ian Curtis & Kurt Cobain with his very public battles with alcoholism, anorexia, and self-mutilation. On the eve of an American tour the guitarist left London's Embassy Hotel at 7am on the morning of 1 February 1995. He visited his home in Cardiff, where he left his passport, credit card, and Prozac. He drove his Vauxhall Cavalier to Aust motorway services by the Severn Bridge, where it was discovered with a flat battery on 17 February.

And then, nothing.

Manic Street Preachers was put on hold for six months and disbanding the group was seriously considered by the three remaining members James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire & Sean Moore but with the blessing of Edwards' family, the other members continued.

This was their first album without Edwards, although it contained five songs either written or co-written by Edwards. It was released to overwhelmingly positive reviews. This album embraces synths and strings, and has a more commercial feel and fitted perfectly with the Britpop movement that was prevalent at the time, possibly due to the production of Mike "The Cure; Siouxsie & The Banshees; The Associates; Beautiful South" Hedges. The bulk of the lyrics were written solely by Nicky Wire including number two hit single "A Design for Life". The album was shortlisted for the 1996 Mercury Prize award for best album, and won the band two BRIT Awards for Best British Band and Best British Album, as well as yielding the hit singles "Australia", "Everything Must Go" and "Kevin Carter".

Track Rating:

1. "Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier" 8.5
2. "A Design for Life" 10.0
3. "Kevin Carter" 9.0
4. "Enola/Alone" 7.5
5. "Everything Must Go" 9.0
6. "Small Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky" 8.5
7. "The Girl Who Wanted to Be God" 9.0
8. "Removables" 7.0
9. "Australia" 7.5
10. "Interiors (Song for Willem de Kooning)" 6.5
11. "Further Away" 7.0
12. "No Surface All Feeling" 8.0

Whilst I think the Manics best album is The Holy Bible (which I personally think p*sses all over Nirvana's In Utero, but that's another discussion; this album is not really far behind in runners up spot. It is certainly the most approachable Manics album and is arguably a better whole, than the sum of its parts.

If I was to recommend a similar phoenix from the flames album after a key band member died then I just have to recommend ACϟDC - Back In Black (1980) www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuUSnRMMtqE

Overall 9 (81.25% (81-86% = 9 bracket)

My Manic Street Preachers album rates:

Generation Terrorists (1992) 6
Gold Against the Soul (1993) 5
The Holy Bible (1994) 10
Everything Must Go (1996) 9
This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours (1998) 7
Know Your Enemy (2001) 4
Lifeblood (2004) 4
Send Away the Tigers (2007) 7
Journal for Plague Lovers (2009) 5
Postcards from a Young Man (2010) 8
Rewind the Film (2013) 7