Ultra Vivid Lament

For 30 years Manic Street Preachers has remained one of the most consistent and exciting bands to emerge from the Welsh music scene. On their 14th album, The Ultra Vivid Lament, they continue to prove why they’ve lasted so long and gained such a devoted following.Opener “Still Snowing in Sapporo” is beautiful and engaging, setting the stage for everything to follow. Lead single “Orwellian” manages to tackle the divisive nature of our times with a comforting reminder of “I’ll walk you through the apocalypse.” It’s a far cry from the fiery anthems of old, showing a maturity and more balanced outlook that’s infinitely refreshing these days. Where once a politically-charged assault would have sufficed, now the band is content to look at the middle and understand that compromise may be the wiser course of action.There’s a heavy ABBA influence that permeates the album, stemming from the record being written primarily on piano instead of guitar. From the piano-driven “Quest for Ancient Colour” to the Armed Forces-era Elvis Costello bounce of “Don’t Let the Night Divide Us”, we’re treated to a softer but no less melodic version of the Manics. Often the record sounds like a cross between 2004’s underrated Lifeblood and their 2014 opus Futurology, making it one of their more poppy and adventurous. It may take a few listens but the classic hooks are definitely there, as tracks like “The Secret He Had Missed” and “Into the Waves of Love” perfectly demonstrate. “Diapause” is a beautiful, moody piece that gives the album a bit of breathing room, while “Afterending” is everything you want from a Manics closer. “Blank Diary Entry” and “Happy Bored Alone” are the two tracks that took the most time to resonate with me. They may not be my favorites on the album but I’ve warmed up to them considerably since release. At a brisk 11 tracks the album flows nicely and bows out before overstaying its welcome. It’s certainly one of their most focused and fluid in terms of production and execution.Fans expecting the heavier rock of some previous outings may struggle the softer approach taken here. However, for those looking for a mature, well-crafted album will no doubt be pleased (and certainly thankful) that this is band is still making music of this calibre. This may well me my album of the year and just more proof that this band is still one of the best out there.

I’ve followed the Manics from the start and get every LP on release day. Some albums are just amazing. Some are great. Some are good and the odd one I struggle with. But who wants a band to repeat their past? Wasn’t sure if this would be one for me but after 24 hours on repeat this is an album a band of 30 plus years and aged in their fifty’s should release. Four stars after a day but think will probably end up a five. 4real.

I have listened to this album a couple of times and nothing has really jumped out and stuck in my head, dont get me wrong it's a change in sound slightly so it was 50/50 if I'd like it.I've been a fan of them since about 1996 I think and they have released a few duds over that time. This is very piano driven and great song writing but just not my bag. Shame as I have seen these guys live years ago and they blew me away with classic after classic but im sure it gets harder and harder to write "hits" which i don't think they were trying to do anyway. Just make a different sounding album. As they all started to sound very similar. So props for that but it just isn't for me.Great package though and will keep as its a nice fan piece. Especially with the signed card. I'll just put the card in my motorcycle emptiness single which was the first time I heard them and remains one of my fav manics things I own.I feel sorry for them that they aren't as big are they were due to guitar music not getting the coverage it used to in the heyday. I miss those times. Still remember not believing they got to number one. They have some back catalogue.Its not their worst by far but the style puts me off.Hope you get what I'm saying. I'm sure loads of people will love this album.

I Love music, any, and all kinds of music, however there are some bands that I do have a soft spot for, MSP are one of them, so anything they produce, will always appreciated by me, and this album is no acceptation, so expect a slightly biased review."The Ultra Vivid Lament", (mine was the Limited Edition, Amazon release, with Signed Insert, love it). The album is released in DigiBook format, with photos by Nicky Wire, and the 2 CDs, the official release CD and Demo version CD, it is a great presentation, adding that personal touch from this magnificent bandThere will always be "music experts, and aficionado," who will tell you, why the "album was not good enough, or could have better, or should have been like this, or could have been like that," If these armchair experts are so good, how many albums have they sold, and if they are that talented, why don’t they produce a hit album themselves…..hmm?In conclusion if you like MSP, you will love this album, I love both discs, released version, and demo disc, 24 awesome tracks, from start to finish, Still snowing in Soprano, and Orwellian, I found to be particularly “catchy”, in fact the whole album, is sweet on the ears, very reminiscent of 90s.Finally MSP fans (me included) will no doubt love the album, and if you’re new to MSP music, let this album, be great introduction to these talented musicians, then why not check out their back catalogue, or best of albums, and increase your musical repertoire.Music is very civilizing, any kind of music, musicians are very gifted and enlightened people, and so are people who just listen to music. The moment you turn off music, you start the rot, of killing that human spirit, and that is exactly what Taliban did, ban ALL music, thus starting the rot, of destroying that free thinking, human spirit, let’s never go down that route.

Predicting the sound of the Manic Street Preachers next album is almost impossible. They have changed sound so many times throughout their career that the only thing you can really guarantee from the Manics is change. This album certainly sounds different to their last five albums, but in a good way.It's hard to define how it sounds. It has a sense of melancholy about it, and feels a little rooted in the past with the sounds of the guitars being a little more melodic than aggressive like their earlier music, with what feels a little more keyboard and piano in there than other albums. I guess the best way to describe the sound is mature, retro, melancholy but its definitely the Manic Street Preachers, but much more grown up. I get the feeling that this is what rock musicians do when they are over 30 years into their career, and I love it.With regards to the signed insert edition, its the signatures of the three band members on a print the size of a CD inlay card. I have been a fan for ages so its good to have the signed insert.

If someone had said that some 30 years into a career, the Manics would still be putting music of this calibre out, people would have laughed.Bands aren’t supposed to have the ability to continuously put out material of this quality but again MSP prove everybody wrong.A well deserved No.1 spot in the album charts!