Manic Street Preachers - 'Lifeblood' (Sony) Released 01/11/04

Welsh rockers Manic Street Preachers released their first album back in 1992, survived the Britpop movement and also the loss of a bandmate.  ‘Lifeblood’ is album number seven (not including the greatest hits and b-sides collections) and the first since 2001’s ‘Know Your Enemy’.  It is possibly the best record released this year.

Nothing here is revolutionary, and it is certainly closer to modern Manics than the raw sounds of their early releases.  But this is a collection of intelligent, charming, and meaningful songs.  ‘The Love Of Richard Nixon’ is as political as the title suggests it could be, and its rhythm digs into your skull along with the gentle vocals of James Dean Bradfield.  Second single ‘Empty Souls’ has a great simple piano line and hook, and some stimulating and powerful lyrics – but then would you expect anything less from this band?  Potentially a song for students, ‘I Live To Fall Asleep’ has a deliberately lazy charm, but the lyrics are dark and disturbing, resulting in a truly great track.  Anyone who harbours a desire for early MSP, ‘To Repel Ghosts’ goes in that direction… but doesn’t actually get there. 

What is noticeable about ‘Lifeblood’ are how well the arrangement in each track is.  ‘Always/Never’ showcases this well, as do ‘Emily’ and ‘Solitude Sometimes Is’ – which features a guitar riff being taken over by a xylophone, and Bradfield practically growling by the end of the song.  Speaking of riffs, ‘Glasnost’ is a mid-tempo track that is infectious due to the guitar work, and a none-too-shabby solo to boot.

They may never again see the commercial success of 1996’s ‘Everything Must Go’, but the Manic Street Preachers have graced 2004 with a masterful rock record.  Nothing else this year is as intelligent nor as thought provoking.  This album will make you life better.