Journal for Plague Lovers - Richey Edwards and The Manic Street Preachers

I thought I'd take the time to construct a thread in an attempt to increase the hype for the new Manic Street Preachers album, due for release on Monday, titled ''Journal for Plague Lovers''.Firstly, who is looking forward to this record? I know I am, and having heard it I can say it is the best since 1994, I would go as far as to say that The Holy Bible was the best British album of the 90s.Why is this record of importance? Well, as you may or may not know, it marks the return of lyrics by Richey James Edwards, who I would say is one of the great song writers of his generation. I personally was always a fan of the Manics during the Holy Bible era and the Everything Must Go era that followed Richey's disappearance, but I watched in dismay as they slipped down the scale into mediocrity. I finally saw the band in concert in 2001, and while they put on a decent performance, the material lacked, as it had lacked on the CDs that came out without Richey's influence.Before Richey disappeared he left his band mates with lyrics, which for this album they finally saw fit to use. Also in an attempt to invoke the sound of The Holy Bible they got Steve Albini involved. All of this makes for a great album, and while not as good as The Holy Bible, it is certainly the best thing they have produced since then.So, for more discussion -Are you familiar with Richey's words?
Have you ever heard The Holy Bible?
Have you ever heard The Manic Street Preachers?
Are you going to buy this?
And finally, Richey, dead or alive?From the new album here are some tracks for your enjoyment with some average to poor fan made videos, be sure to watch in HD for high quality sound:Peeled Apples
All is Vanity
Facing Page : Top Left
Jackie Collins Existential Question Timeand my favourite from the albumThis Joke Sport Severed Journal for Plague Lovers - Richey Edwards and The Manic Street Preachers
I haven't done as much research into the band as you clearly have but I'm defnitely look forward to the new album. I'll pick it up when it's out and let you know what I think.The songs posted at the bottom are all pretty promising, I'd say. Nothing very dangerous or 'out there' but still successfull when it comes to straight-up good music. I'm excited.Journal for Plague Lovers - Richey Edwards and The Manic Street Preachers
The quality of the Manics has always rested with the words. I mean, The Holy Bible isn't that musically daring, but lyrically it is. The poetry of Richey is the key point of brilliance for me, and the music is interesting enough to listen to. I mean the album is by no means perfect, but it does have some excellent songs and does provide a return to form that has been long awaited.
I'll give it a listen. I like Manic Street Preachers but I'm not promising anything.
[QUOTE=''Samwel_X'']The quality of the Manics has always rested with the words. I mean, The Holy Bible isn't that musically daring, but lyrically it is. The poetry of Richey is the key point of brilliance for me, and the music is interesting enough to listen to. I mean the album is by no means perfect, but it does have some excellent songs and does provide a return to form that has been long awaited.[/QUOTE]That's probably what I've been doing wrong then. I always hear of them as some brilliant group that deserves all this attention but I didn't get it. Sure, they made some good music, but I never actually payed attention to the lyrics a whole lot or took time to study them.That'll be my first mission with the new album.
Here I get to brag that I've seen 'em live 3 times (all 3 after Richey's disappearance sadly). I've got to admit, I'm a little skeptical about this one. Their music's sounded a bit grandiose since Everything Must Go, with only the occasional reprieve. If it really is going to be a return to The Holy Bible days, then I'm already sold on the album, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.*edit* Oops... only just noticed the links, and from a quick listen, it really is back to the good old days :D
[QUOTE=''jimmyjammer69'']Here I get to brag that I've seen 'em live 3 times (all 3 after Richey's disappearance sadly). I've got to admit, I'm a little skeptical about this one. Their music's sounded a bit grandiose since Everything Must Go, with only the occasional reprieve. If it really is going to be a return to The Holy Bible days, then I'm already sold on the album, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.*edit* Oops... only just noticed the links, and from a quick listen, it really is back to the good old days :D[/QUOTE]Another interesting aspect is that, I think this is a good insight into how the Manics could have gone had Richey stuck around. It is a more reflective sound than the aggressiveness of The Holy Bible, but none the less has Richey's influence there, had he stayed, this would be the only way I could envision the follow up to The Holy Bible, rather than (the still fantastic) Everything Must Go.
On a side note, with Richey now presumed dead, what are your thoughts on his disappearance?
[QUOTE=''Samwel_X'']On a side note, with Richey now presumed dead, what are your thoughts on his disappearance?[/QUOTE]

He'd been talking about it for a while. The music press had been rubbing their hands in preparation since that 4REAL stunt. He was clearly on the edge of doing something stupid, and the media lapped it up and pushed him over. It's sad to accept, but there's no real doubt in my mind that he commited suicide.
[QUOTE=''jimmyjammer69'']He'd been talking about it for a while. The music press had been rubbing their hands in preparation since that 4REAL stunt. He was clearly on the edge of doing something stupid, and the media lapped it up and pushed him over. It's sad to accept, but there's no real doubt in my mind that he commited suicide. [/QUOTE]I'd have to agree. Thing for me, has always been why a body was never found. Usually they wash up around the Severn Bridge but that never happened, which makes me speculate that he killed himself elsewhere rather than in that spot. But then, to never be found, well, I just can't work out where it could have happened.
[QUOTE=''Samwel_X''][QUOTE=''jimmyjammer69'']He'd been talking about it for a while. The music press had been rubbing their hands in preparation since that 4REAL stunt. He was clearly on the edge of doing something stupid, and the media lapped it up and pushed him over. It's sad to accept, but there's no real doubt in my mind that he commited suicide. [/QUOTE]I'd have to agree. Thing for me, has always been why a body was never found. Usually they wash up around the Severn Bridge but that never happened, which makes me speculate that he killed himself elsewhere rather than in that spot. But then, to never be found, well, I just can't work out where it could have happened.[/QUOTE]



If he did kill himself at that spot my guess is that he washed out to sea... the river at that point goes out to sea, right?
[QUOTE=''-Misanthropic-''] If he did kill himself at that spot my guess is that he washed out to sea... the river at that point goes out to sea, right?[/QUOTE]I have no idea how close the bridge is to the coast, I always assumed it was in land, so I don't really know...
[QUOTE=''Samwel_X''][QUOTE=''-Misanthropic-''] If he did kill himself at that spot my guess is that he washed out to sea... the river at that point goes out to sea, right?[/QUOTE]I have no idea how close the bridge is to the coast, I always assumed it was in land, so I don't really know...[/QUOTE] Well I think (Or was told) that the river flows through the whole of the U.K.So he could have gotten washed out depending on how the current flowed.EDIT: Yeah, the River Severn flows out into the Irish sea.
[QUOTE=''-Misanthropic-'']Well I think (Or was told) that the river flows through the whole of the U.K.So he could have gotten washed out depending on how the current flowed.[/QUOTE]It is a notorious suicide spot, I'm pretty sure like Beachy Head it has a phone box that connects directly through to Samaritans, so I would have thought it would have high regulation and some sort of system for recovering bodies like netting or something... that said, he could have happened to do it in a way that bypassed those measures... I guess we'll never know.
[QUOTE=''-Misanthropic-''][QUOTE=''Samwel_X''][QUOTE=''-Misanthropic-''] If he did kill himself at that spot my guess is that he washed out to sea... the river at that point goes out to sea, right?[/QUOTE]I have no idea how close the bridge is to the coast, I always assumed it was in land, so I don't really know...[/QUOTE] Well I think (Or was told) that the river flows through the whole of the U.K.So he could have gotten washed out depending on how the current flowed.[/QUOTE]You are probably correct....