Pros: -First seven tracks are excellent -A new Manics sound, that shows a very mature side.
Cons: -Weakens slightly after track 7 -some tracks don't meld.
The Bottom Line: This album is very good, with no terrible tracks (the worst being 'Born a girl' and 'black dog on my shoulder'. The singles are mainly the best songs. Buy it.
ozzydirnt2002's Full Review: This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours by Manic Street Pre...
I purchased this after the awesome 'Holy Bible', and had some idea that it would be at least slightly different to it, knowing and loving a few of the songs on the album. However, I had no idea how different it would be. 'The Holy Bible' is grotesquely beautiful, and possible my favourite album of all time, but this album is more clearly beautiful, with the introduction of so many new instruments, such as a wurlitzer, and a mellotron.
This album continues to grow on me with every listen (and even as I'm writing this review I've grown to like some tracks). Around 70% of this album is excellent, and sounds more 'composed' than simply mixed. The other 30% however, ranges from the cheesy to just plain weak, and aren't up to the standard of the other tracks. The first seven songs are excellent, but the quality weakens after this point. On this album, the political views omitted in the lyrics are lighter, but less subtle than Richey's brilliantly mysterious lyrics on (yes you've guessed it...'The Holy Bible'. This may be due to the complete absence of Richey's lyrics. There is no trace of Richey on this album, and it shows. In some ways this is a good thing, but it's mostly a bad thing. Richey certainly was more aggressive in his songwriting than Nicky, and certainly had a lot to say. He made some brilliant song lyrics on the previous albums (particularly 'The Holy Bible'), and had many double meanings; but they were often crammed in, or sometimes stretched across a verse line. Nicky has shown on this album, that he is more of a poet, and in combination with James' stunning singing voice, show that they can work brilliantly together:
"The gap that grows between our lives,
the gap our parents never had,
stop those thoughts control your mind,
replace the things that you despise..."
This album has been the Manic's most commercially successful album, with 'If you tolerate this your children will be next' reaching number 1 in the charts, 'The Everlasting' reaching number 11, 'You stole the sun from my heart' reaching number 5, and finally 'Tsunami' reaching number 11. These are probably the best tracks on the album, but none of them are necessarily commercial, but maybe more 'radio-friendly' than any of the songs on 'The Holy Bible'. Every song on this album has the title of the song for a chorus. Just thought you might like to know that. Anyway, this was the album that brought them into the mainstream, perhaps because much of the aggression (that was even still present on 'Everything must go' because of the use of Richey's lyrics) is no longer with us on this album. In some ways, Nicky's lyrics follow in the footsteps, of Richey, in the way that the lyrics are negative, but James has decided to make the actual music more positive, with songs such as 'You stole the sun from my heart'. A few of the songs have a drum loop, which adds an 80's feel to the album, but makes some of the songs slightly dull.
A few days ago, I would have given this album three stars, but I have decided to give it four, which is proof
that the album gets better with every listen. When I first heard the album, I found myself only liking the singles, but the majority of this album I have grown to like....or even love. This is my third review, and I will now rate each track like I have done for my other music reviews:
1. The everlasting - This an excellent opening track that I never used to like, when I didn't know who it was by even when I bought the album (hope that's not the reason why I didn't like it). I have grown to love this song, with James' lovely falsettos and melodies, that make you want to tip your head to the side, and say "aww". This is probably the most "well-composed" song on the album, with the introduction of new instruments such as violins and a wurlitzer. The violins and cello in combination (especially at the end), give me goosebumps, and is reminiscent of something by Frank Sinatra.
The song is an elegy to the eternal search for something we can never find. There are some great poetic lyrics on this album, and the bridge of this song is one of them:
"In the beginning, when we were winning,
when our smiles were genuine..."
This is one of the songs on the album with a drum loop, but it allows the verse and the introduction to retain its beauty, and adds to the purity of the song. The bass does not seem to be audibly present on this song though, and there is very little guitaring.
This song was the second single released on the album, and reached number 11 in the UK charts.
Rating - 8.5/10
2. If you tolerate this your children will be next - This is another great track and just as good as 'The Everlasting'. This song is darker than the first track, but not to the extent of anything on 'The Holy Bible'. This was surprisingly The Manics' biggest hit, and reached number 1 in the U.K. singles chart.
However, this track is by no means commercial (in the same light as 'Masses against the classes' which also got to number 1), with some strong political views expressed about the Spanish Civil War, and the idealism of volunteers from around the world who volunteered to join the International Brigade fighting Franco's fascist army. Hence the brilliant poetic line:
"So if I can shoot rabbits, then I can shoot fascists..."
The opening mellotron is very haunting, and certainly adds to the song, while a great acoustic guitar mini-solo at the beginning is a great beginning. The chorus and the verse are both very good, while the bridge is awesome:
"And on the street tonight, an old man plays,
with newspaper cutting of his glory days..."
This is another one of the most 'well-composed' songs on the album, but because of the negativity of this song, perhaps not as beautiful as 'The Everlasting'. Like 'The Everlasting', there is no clear riffage. Just as good though. This song also has some solid drumming.
This song was the first single released from the album, and reached number 1 in the UK charts.
Rating - 8.5/10
3. You stole the sun from my heart - This is another great song that was also a single, and probably the second most successful track on this album, but probably slightly more radio-friendly than 'The Everlasting'. This is possibly better than track 1 and 2, and has a slightly oriental opening riff, which is a theme that the Manics often inherit, and perhaps make the Manics popular in Japan. The reverse drum loop gives the song an 80's feel, and is slightly reminiscent of 'INXS'(except good). The way that the songs builds up is great, and is a beautiful song in the same way as 'The Everlasting'. First of all, the drum loop plays, then the lovely oriental riff plays, then as soon as Nicky slides down the fretboard, the drums become fuller sounding, and the melody is set. Then James sings beautifully once again, with the brilliant lyrics:
"Drinking, water to stay thin,
or is it to be revived?
I love you all the same...."
The song has been described as a mixture of 'New Order', and 'Nirvana', with the verse reminiscent of the 80's, while the almost grungy chorus is reminiscent of early 90's grunge. This is the first song on the album which expresses James' talents on guitar, as he performs guitar fills between lyrics.
The song is about having the soul ripped out of you, and being so messed around, that you don't care anymore. This is expressed in lyrics such as:
"You have, broken through my armour,
And I don't have an answer I,
I love you all the same!"
There is also the introduction of further instruments on this song, such as a Hammond organ, which certainly add to the song's effect. This song also has some pleasant bass lines. This is another 'well-composed' song. This is probably one of the 'riffiest' songs on the album.
This song was the third single released , and reached number 5 in the UK charts.
Rating - 9/10
4. Ready for drowning - This is the first non-single track on the album, and is slightly weaker song than the first three , but is a good song nonetheless. The song's acoustic opening is not particularly inspiring, but is pretty good, although the Hammond organ that follows sounds slightly out-of-tune and can become irritating. However, the verse and chorus are pretty good, and the same goes for the rest of the song. The bridge in the middle is particularly good, and is reminiscent of 'The Holy Bible' with it's famous speech recording playing in the background.
This song is slightly darker than tracks 1 and 3, with its complex lyrics dealing with Welsh mythology and Welsh self-destruction. It is also influenced by the poetry of R.S. Thomas (hence the R.S. Thomas quote underneath the CD holder in the case. This is expressed by such lyrics as:
"Look through my Venetian blinds,
dusting the past off my mind, seeing orange everywhere..."
This is the second song to have proper drum playing from Sean, and it works very well with the bass, and certainly adds to the quality of the song. James' vocals are perhaps not quite up to the standard of the first three tracks on the album, but this is a perfectly decent song nonetheless.
Rating - 7.5/10
5. Tsunami - This is possibly my favourite song on the album, that I've loved since I first heard it. This is the last single on the album, and is possibly the most 'radio-friendly'. However, it is by no means commercial, (very much like 'If you tolerate this your children will be next') and has a brilliant oriental sitar riff (the first song to use sitar on the album so far), which easily outmatches the bass and drums.
James' vocals are excellent on this song, singing about two girls calls 'The Silent Twins' who ended up in prison, who stopped talking at an early age. They drifted through petty crime and ended up in Broadmoor - 'The crime of silence'. Hence the lyric:
"For you my dear sister,
Holding on to me forever,
disco-dancing with the rapists,
your only crime is silence..."
This is another song that omits an air of being 'well-composed',and has a haunting atmosphere that is only matched by 'If you tolerate this your children will be next'.
This was the last single to be released from this album, and reached number 11 in the UK charts.
Rating - 9/10
6. My little empire - By this track, the album still hasn't lost its edge, and this is an excellent track with a brilliant riff. I never used to like this song, because I was so angry with the weaker quality of the second half of this album, I was blind to recognise how good this song was. This song is very dark, with little haunting guitar licks between verse lines, while some beautiful cello-playing in the background adds to the negativity of the song.
The song is actually James' hommage to John Frusciante (of the Red Hot Chili Peppers), and unplugged 'Nirvana', while Nicky shares the lead vocals. Lyrically, the song is about personal crutches and the kingdoms we invent ourselves to stay sane. Hence the lyric:
"My little empire, I'm sick of being sick,
My little empire, I'm tired of being tired,
My little empire, I'm bored of being bored,
My little empire, I'm happy being sad..."
James' vocals' aren't particularly good on this song, but there is certainly nothing wrong with them. The drumming is very slow on this one, while the bass once again does not seem to be present; except for Nicky's backing vocals, which add to the foreboding atmosphere of the song.
Rating - 8.5/10
7. I'm not working - This is the last of the brilliant songs on the album, and is just as good as 'Tsunami' in my opinion. I didn't like this song when I first heard it, and found the single piano key played ever so often much too cheesy and 80's-sounding; but I now love the 80's sound of the verse and everything fits together musically. This is the second song to use sitar (the first being 'Tsunami'), and it comes across beautifully in the chorus.
This is an unusual song, because judging by the title, I thought it was simply about being unemployed. However, the song is about Nicky's fear of flying, and when your body breaks down with fear and sickness, and being trapped in airlessness, which is reflected in the song. The sitar gives the sound of altitude and dizziness, as he sing:
"Delirium, on helium
I am my own experience..."
The harmonising in the bridge is beautiful, and the unusual feedback adds to the eerieness of the song. Much like 'The Everlasting', it also sounds 'well-composed'. As the song fades out, the echoing snare gives the feeling of weightlessness, while a yang-ching is also introduced in this song (whatever that is!!!). James' vocals are beautiful on this song, and is clear evidence why James' has been critically acclaimed to have one of the most beautiful voices of the 90's.
Rating - 9/10
8. You're tender and your tired - This is the first of the weaker tracks on the album, with an opening piano that is too 'Plinky-plonky' for the ears, while a slightly irritating drum beat kicks in with an 'oompa'-sounding bass line. I used to hate this track, but it has grown on me a little. The verse is weak, but the chorus is a bit better with some nice harmonising in the background (not brilliant though). The best part of ther song is between the first chorus and the next verse, with a lovely piano interlude, which builds up the next verse nicely, and makes it more bearable. However, this is followed by a horrible whistling solo that reminds me of 'The Great Escape'.
The song is about the way society always seems to search out the weak and abuse them, while it is lyrically similar to 'From despair to where' on 'Gold against the soul':
"You're tender and you're tired,
you can't be bothered to decide,
whether you live or die,
just forget about your life..."
This song sounds 'composed', but it doesn't quite meld as well as the earlier tracks. Still, it's a reasonable song that is relatively listenable, and I can see why someone could really like this song.
Rating - 6.5/10
9. Born a girl - This is perhaps the weakest point of the album, where it sounds as if Nicky was running out of ideas for lyrics, or even a subject. The sheer starkness of the songs is like the skeleton of a proper song, with only an accordion and an electric guitar playing over James' voice. The melody created by the accordion and the guitar, sounds like the music from a fantasy computer game, and comes across as slightly 'false'.
The song is about the yearning for female aesthetics and sensibilities, hence the very poor lyric:
"And I wish, I had been born a girl,
instead of what I am,
Yes I wish, I had been born a girl,
and not this mess of a man...."
At the end of the second chorus, it seems that James wants to make the song more interesting by doing a falsetto, and then ANOTHER falsetto that's a whole octave higher. I can smell the bottom of the barrel. When you think and want the song to end, James slides back up the fretboard and sings:
"Ooh ooh, oooooooohhh, ooooohhhhhh..."
This is slightly tedious, but there is some nice guitar- playing just as the song ends.
Rating - 6/10
10. Be natural - The album picks back up a little here with a pleasant riff that is classic Manics. As James inhales over the microphone, he then plays a melody horn; which is very nice to listen to, and reminds me of 'The Everlasting', but not too much. The verse and chorus are very good with good riffs that give off a very nice sound (this is probably because James uses a 12-string guitar). The best thing about this song is probably the heaviest riffage that you're going to get, with a mini-solo/bridge after the second chorus, while it does it a couple more times also. This song has a strong air of 'composure' about it, and sounds almost like a music 'piece', rather than just a track.
James' love of Jeff Buckley is evident on this song, which deals with happiness through simplicity - tiny epiphanies that occur in life and make everything worthwhile; with brilliant poetic lyrics such as:
"Been natural, for once in my life,
Now I'll have to, swallow some pride,
know that I should, never give advice,
but it's too late now, to say goodbye...."
Rating: 8/10
11. Black dog on my shoulder - This is another very weak track, with an irritating Irish jig sound, but more depressing. There are too many instrumentalists on this song, with violas and even an 'additional string section'. As opposed to 'Born a girl', this song sounds as if they tried too hard rather than not enough. It sounds musically as if they tried to sound like 10cc....they failed. The worst instance of running out of lyrics, is at the end of every chorus, when he crams the lyric below into a short period of time:
"Black dogs a-coming tonight..."
This song is a reference to Winston Churchill's description of depression, and tries to deal with depression in an unglamorous anti-rock star way. It's about the normality of depression, hence such repetitive lyrics as:
"There's a black dog on my shoulder again,
licking my neck and saying she's my friend,
solitude the only one thing that I really miss,
guess my life is a compliment..."
After the poor faster-paced part of the song, the song is much better (and actually very good). This stops the song from being plain bad.
Rating - 6/10
12. Nobody loved you - This is a weak song, but better than tracks 9 and 11. The riff is almost juvenile-sounding, and is too raw for the 'pure' sound of this album. There is also a very nice drum beat in the background along with some nice bass guitar.
This is the only song on the album related to Richey. The title is ironic, as the lyrics are saying that loads of people did care about him whether he realised it or not, hence the lyric:
"Nobody loved you, nobody made you feel so alone,
nobody loved you, no no nobody loved you,
nobody made you feel so alone,
nobody loved you - no no..."
Rating - 7/10
13. S.Y.M.M. (South Yorkshire Mass Murderer) - This is a very unusual and original song, as the lyrics are written as if the song is impromptu, but it isn't. The song is very dark, with brilliant reverse drum looping (very much like 'You stole the sun from my heart').
This last song was written about the 'Yorkshire Ripper' (pretty obvious) but the easiest way to explain it is from James' mouth:
"This is probably the first song we've written that uses space and emptiness to such a degree. The chords are actually influenced by Stevie Wonder's 'Innervisions'. The drums come from another planet - it's the most beautiful piece of music we've ever written. Over two years ago the song was inspired by 'Cracker' - 'To be somebody' and Jimmy McGovern's drama 'Hillsborough'. After doing the concert we were compelled to record it."
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