VIMTV Episode #63: Manic Street Preachers – Journal For Plague Lovers

Jake: Recommended, 73/100

Tom: Recommended, 71/100

Overview: Fifteen years after the mysterious disappearance of their original frontman, Richey Edwards, Manic Street Preachers have come out with an album entirely comprised of lyrics by Edwards. This is arguably one of the best releases of their career, but the fact that the music was written by them and not the lyrics creates problems in the way the two work together. We can never know how Edwards intended for these lyrics to sound, so the band really works as loose interpreters for this album, while trying (and succeeding) to make the instrumentals as good as possible.

Recommended Similar Artists: Pulp, Pearl Jam, Nirvana

Jake’s Track Picks: 

• 3. Me And Stephen Hawking
• 7. Facing Page: Top Left

Tom’s Track Picks: 

• 7. Facing Page: Top Left
• 8. Marlon J.d.
• 10. All Is Vanity.

VIMTV Research Links:

• Manic Street Preachers Band Website
• Wikipedia – Manic Street Preachers
• Manic Street Preachers Myspace
• Manic Street Preachers – Journal for Plague Lovers reviews at Metacritic
• Lyrics: Manic Street Preachers – Journal for Plague Lovers
• Richey Edwards Disappearance Info