Blast From The Past: Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible

Welcome to a special Tuesday afternoon blog post. Today, it's another in thegeneral's occasional "Blast From The Past" series in which an album or artist that really means something special, is put under the musical microscope and probed, for reasons.

Today, I'm once again handing over the relay baton to my compadre theexistentialist - who wanted to write a piece about an album that is, unbelievably, 21 years old this year - Manic Street Preacher's "The Holy Bible". Thank you, once again for another brilliant post and for talking about a record that means a lot to anyone who grew up in the early 90s.

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Manic Street Preachers – The Holy Bible

thegeneral’s tea-drinking buddy (well, we do other things besides drinking tea, but I’ll not mention that here in case our mothers are reading), theexistentialist has decided to do a “Blast From The Past” post (whilst drinking a big mug of tea).

For this post, I’m going to tell you about the Manic Street Preachers 3^rd LP, The Holy Bible. This is theexistentialist’s all-time favourite album… well, probably. I can think of a lot of other albums that I like a lot. But this is the one that I am always drawn back to.

The Holy Bible was released in 1994 – pub-quiz-type-music-fact-fans: In fact, it was released on the same day as Oasis’ debut Definitely Maybe. And, in 1996, the Manic Street Preachers reached their commercial zenith, with their 4^th album, Everything Must Go, which latched on to the BritPop zeitgeist. However, prior to this, back in 1994, the Manic Street Preachers were in a self-destructive mood, and released this -  one of the most uncompromising and harrowing albums of all-time. 

It was, of course, the last album they recorded with Richey Edwards, and it is impossible to listen to it, without reading it as his suicide note. But, really, that is a shame, as it means the album is not appreciated for the astonishing recording that it is, since it has become wrapped-up in the myths surrounding his disappearance.

The Holy Bible is intense, and grabs the listener, and literally forces them into the dark, fearful and bleak world that Richey inhabited. It is ferocious, angry; but behind the wall of noise, it has an all too obvious tortured and tormented soul.

The Holy Bible is a work of art; since, in some ways, it is a concept record. This is an album that could never have produced a hit single, not just because the songs are uncompromising, harrowing, and unrelentingly bleak, but because they work best, and only really make sense and reach their emotional depth within the context of the album as a whole. 

Like a concept album, the listener is drawn deeper and deeper into the world and sound of the record. Unlike a concept record, there is no overarching theme, linking each track. However, the mood and tone, and sequencing draw the listener into the tortured heart of the album. Rather than focusing on one single concept to hold the album together, The Holy Bible is held together by the sheer intensity of the atmosphere and its emotional depth.

It is the album I keep coming back to, because whatever mood I’m in, it seems to resonate. If I’m angry, the rage and fury of The Holy Bible provides a release. If I’m depressed, the bleak despair of The Holy Bible is a comforting expression of I feel. I love the album and it bears repetition, it probably is my all time favourite record. 

Sounds Like Interview - The Everglows

Good afternoon. Or if you're reading this later, GOOD AFTERNOON - WHAT TOOK YOU SO COCKING LONG?

I'm back for another short stint of blog catch-ups and we're going to begin today with another of my 'Sounds Like' features. That's right, I've managed to convince another band to talk to me. I don't know how I've kept getting away with it for so long - but I have.

Today's topflightshowbizinnervoo is with a favourite of mine, and a band that have graced these pages on many a previous occasion. Welcome back to The Everglows. You can read all my previous posts on them HERE.

The band have another stonker of a track out, and they've asked me to give you a heads up on it - and also share with you the video for it, which I'm happy to do. It's called "Lost and Found" and it is, as all their previous stuff is, hugely worth a few minutes of your time.

But now it's time to see the results of my gentle probing of the band, with my probing thing - thanks so much to Andy and Ray for putting up with my mithering!

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1.) The new single is another absolute corker, it's got a slightly different, more mellow feel to your other tracks - was it a conscious decision to go take that route or did it just happen (I'm going to make you cringe now...) "organically" (like a mis-sharpen courgette) :D

Andy: The new track Lost and Found came to me while queuing at KFC! It's got a break in it that I wrote a while back but didn't fit with anything else. I wanted that laid back drinking in the sun feel to it. We did need a slower song in the set as its usually pretty full on. 

Ray: I played pretty much what you did on the demo 'coz it was spot-on!

2.) Which musical decade means most to you 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s (or a mix of all 4)?

Ray: 60s - I was born in the wrong era. 

Andy: Definitely 60's. It influences everything music, clothes, decor etc. My van even has a target on the side!

3.) You've got quite a nice nod to psychedelia going on with your stuff and I've noticed a few other bands I've reviewed are leaning towards this too, is it time for a proper Renaissance of this genre - or is (musical) nostalgia not what it used to be?

Andy: The musical era that influences me most are the 65'-69' period where psychedelia were first featured and explored so its bound to influence the sound of the band. Plus it sounds pretty cool...

Ray: Its always time for another revival of Psychedelia, it is unquestionably the most experimental, creative period in music history.

4.) What's next for the band - gigs, recording wise?

Ray: There are some new tunes in the pipeline, one of which is typically Everglows but another will surprise our listeners I think as it has a slightly different feel. (Two Minute Hero). 

Andy: We've got some good gigs coming up, 4 in the next 4 weeks including The Dublin Castle and The Finsbury in London. Once the gigs are over we're gonna record some new material that's been played live the last few gigs.

5.) Finally, The Everglows are having a dinner party at Everglow Towers. You can have three musical heroes as guests. Which of them brings the starter, who brings the main course and who brings the pudding? (You can have a bonus guest to pop along with the cheeseboard, but only if they swear not to bring Stilton...)

Andy: I'd have The Small Faces bring the starter, something cheeky and cockney. Then an Indian brought in by The Beatles picked by George. Amy Winehouse for dessert to chill you out and Blur to bring over one of Alex's delicious cheeses to have with crackers. 

Ray: Jack White for the starter would be Boccadillos (small fried fish in batter), Frank Black for the main which would be a chicken Vindaloo curry & then Keith Moon for the dessert of Cherry Cheese Cake because that would probably end up all over the walls after the food fight that would ensue.

Thanks guys for a brilliant interview - and readers, don't forget to head on over to their bandcamp page to buy their new track - you can find it here:

theeverglows.bandcamp.com/

The Knievel Dead - We Will Fall

What is this skullduggery - Monday afternoon and I'm writing a blog? I know. I sometimes like to throw a curveball at you that's so bizarre it makes a Saturday night repeat of Dad's Army look like a break from the norm.

To be honest, you find me a little breathless and giddy with excitement today. It's not very often that happens. The last time such an event occurred I couldn't sit down for a week. I'll leave you guessing what happened, but suffice to say I've never looked at a parsnip twice, since.

Anyway, the real reason for my breathlessness and giddy excitement is because The Knievel Dead have a new album out called "We Will Fall", TODAY. Yes, that's TODAY. Not TOMORROW. TODAY. (March 2nd if you're reading this today, if you're reading it tomorrow then it was released YESTERDAY, you're a little bit late to the party and I should take you over my knee).

Firstly, there's the necessaries - the link to where you can listen to and make a purchase of said album:

the-knievel-dead.bandcamp.com/album/we-will-fall

You can visit the band's site here:

theknieveldead.com/

Eagle eyed readers will remember I reviewed the band in 2013 when they released a super-duper single called Psychosis. <------ you can follow that link to read and listen.

"We Will Fall" has been worth the wait. Totally worth it. It's a brilliant mixture of laid back, sardonic vocals, scuzzy, fuzzy guitars and brilliant riffage.

Opening track "Take The Medicine" picks up where Psychosis left off, with a fast paced and very heavy rocky opening - brilliantly charged. It's followed by "All Entwined" which has almost Wire-esque sounding guitar to it, very most excellent.

"Dead Behind The Eyes" has the most brilliant opening and the"Hanging From The Walls" guitar pick sounds like it was lifted straight from a spaghetti western - perfect.

Final track of the collection "Nothing More" is a stunning way to end, it's like the comedown after you've eaten too much sherbert (or had too much fizzygood - or whatever it is the youngfolk imbibe these days). It feels nicely mellow and is a fabulous way to round off a selection of songs that have plenny of high octane guitars and tempered vocals.

I absolutely adore these guys and they need as much exposure as possible (not in THAT way you pervs) so please do yourself a favour and put this album in your collection, like, pronto and shizz. It's a superb album and well worth the tiny amount of pennies it will cost you. Give these guys your support!