Disco de Manic Street Preachers: “Send Away the Tigers”

The Manics are back! Not that they had gone anywhere, they just, faultered, a little bit.

Their last two albums are not favorites of mine. Know your enemy was unfocused and for the first time, their views and oppinions felt like they weren't delivered, as much as rammed down my throat. As for their next effort, lifeblood, it just seemed so wishy washy. Squishy even.

This time they have gotten their house in order. The songs are delivered right away. You hardly get time to relax before one sharp hook is delivered after another. The lyrics are a lot more of everything this time as well. And when things might start to sound a bit too familliar, in comes 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough'. Bringing in a female voice, the wonderful Nina Persson of The Cardigans, ads another dimension, and lets you sing along to what should be deemed as the pop/rock singel of 2007.

I was a bit worried when I saw the cover. It looks like a Beautiful South album (not that I don't like that band, I do, and they will be sorely missed). I thought perhaps they had gone in some sort of nostalgic pop tune direction.

But, one song in and my worries were laid aside.

This is easily one of my top 5 albums for album of the year, so far, in 2007.

And that's a good thing, unlike some Manics' records that grow a bit tiresome in the latter songs. This is quick stuff - not a single song over 4 minutes. The guitar and vocal hooks leap off the disc. Probably the most immediately accessible thing the Manics have ever done. Bradfield continues the vibe on his solo disc and is absolutely brimming with energy and verve. His vocals and solos soar merrily along, backed by steady Wire and tight Moore. I could have used another 2 or 3 songs, but like one reviewer pointed out - there's no filler here. All the fat has been trimmed off. I have a friend who has a theory that every band has 3 and only 3 really good albums in them. He thinks the Manics' 3 good albums are Holy Bible, Everything Must Go, and This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours. He hasn't heard Send Away the Tigers yet. I can't wait to see which he revises: his list or his theory. Something's gotta give! Hope the boys tour the States this time around. I would love to see them perform some of these songs live.

Redneck lookin chicks on the cover nonwithstanding (come on- if you're gonna do the clichè of the angel and the devil trampy costume bit, at least get cute girls) this is (was) still is (it's been so long since I bought it, it's back on the shelf, but I remember that I like it). I heard Your Love Alone (I guess that's the title) on one of those music channels in the 9000 range of DirecTV while I was moving in, and on the strength of that single I looked it up on YouTube and Amazon and listened to enough to justify buying the CD. Ya, CDs ftw. I don't do data-only. One good power flux and >pwiff!< I tend to lose data. CDs don't erase themselves in a thunderstorm. Possibly dated by this time in history, it's as enjoyable as The Cardigan's 'Life' - Chickypoo Whatshername even guest sings on that track I mentioned previously, since the Cardigans came up. Do a little research and see. Good solid stuff, lots of energy and major keys, plus a small percentage of fist in the air faux anger to try to lend an air of... I don't know- guts? Those bits aren't MSP's strong points. And what kind of mistranslated glop is "Send Away the Tigers" supposed to be? That's kind of lame. No, it's good solid lame.

So good to hear another great Manic's album. The last effort deserved an F but this is solidly an A. Political bite, intimate confessions and stadium disintegrating anthems fuse together without any gaps. I put this album on in the morning and then left it on all day - there was nothing else I would rather have been listening to. I think it's a classic. Really.

(BTW - check my review for Holy Bible as I love this band a lot)