Ralphy's C.D. Reviews

Review date 28-01-1999:

Manic Street Preachers - C.D. This is my truth tell me yours

This album is my first real experience (except for the occasional single heard on the radio) with the music of the Manic Street Preachers. Their impressive single "If you tolerate this your children will be next" led me to buy this CD (and their first album "Generation terrorists"). All in all is "This is my truth tell me yours" the 5th CD of the Manics, but it is the first one without any input of their former guitarist and lyricist, the disappeared Richey James. The remaining three band members are James Dean Bradfield (vocals and guitars), Sean Moore (drums) and Nicky Wire (bass). Although their previous album "Everything must go" did very well all over the world and they won several (Brit) awards (as a Welsh band), in my home country The Netherlands, they still are more of an underground tip and not a headliner.

Any comments you might have on these reviews

Visit my message board: Ralphy's Music and Stuff Forum

When I compare it to their first CD, this album is less of a rock and more of a pop album. The music has become more melodious and different. Less guitars and more other instruments like keyboards, organs and samples of sounds like even a pinball machine. It reminds me of the music of Tears For Fears in their albums "Songs from the big chair" and "The seeds of love". The lyrics of the Manics are very sophisticated and poetic and related to very diverse topics, but I didn't get their meaning until I checked their official website (See Ralphy's Links Page).

What is your opinion about the CD's I reviewed? Vote for your favorite CD in this booth! You can only vote once a day.

Ralphy's CD Review Voting Booth

The album opens with the second single release "The everlasting", followed by the above mentioned first single, which is a warning to never forget your history as well as a dedication to the volunteers fighting the fascists in the Spanish civil war. "You stole the sun the from my heart" (the third single-release) deals with someone who had a big loss in his life and just doesn't care anymore and "Ready for drowning" is, according to the Manics themselves, about Welsh depressions. "Tsunami" (Japanese for giant wave) has a very recognizable quality to it and , in my opinion, could be a big hit if released as a single. The next 2 songs on the album aren't very good, so I won't spend any words on them, but song nr. 8 " You're tender and you're tired" is a worthwhile tale about society's weaklings. "Born a girl" is not, as I thought at first, about transsexuality, but about the female sensitivity most men lack, "Be natural" is about the benefits of simplicity and "Black dog on my shoulder" is about the depressing burdens of every day life. "Nobody loved you" is an ironic song about the missing Richey James and the last song "S.Y.M.M." (South Yorkshire Mass Murderer) is an accusation at the people who caused the Hillsborough soccer drama and their getting off so easily in the British justice system, according to Nicky Wire it's also the most beautiful piece of music the MSP's ever wrote, but I have my doubts about that. The Manic Street Preachers are different than most rock bands, not always better, but definitely unique. I rate this album with a 7.0 .

Back to Ralphy's C.D. Reviews Page

Back to Ralphy's Cool Music Site