Fretplay.com Manic Street Preachers CD reviews Manic Street Preachers guitar tabs Manic Street Preachers CD reviews Manic Street Preachers tabs Gold Against the Soul


Manic Street Preachers - Gold Against the Soul Audio CD

A fair review of the Manic Street Preachers "Gold Against the Soul" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Manic Street Preachers reviews here, or go back to the Manic Street Preachers tabs.

Manic Street Preachers Band: Manic Street Preachers
Title: Gold Against the Soul
Rating:
Release Date: 1996-01-17
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Sleepflower 2: From Despair to Where 3: Tristesse Durera 4: Yourself 5: Life Becoming a Landslide 6: Drug Drug Druggy 7: Roses in the Hospital 8: Nostalgic Pushhead 9: Symphony of Tourette 10: Gold Against the Soul 11: Roses in the Hospital [*][Mix] 12: Roses in the Hospital [*][Mix] 13: Roses in the Hospital [*][Mix]

OK but not great
Only 4 stand out tracks for me : La Tristesse,Sleep flower,Life landslide, and 'From despair'. Don't get me wrong, I love them but this is average compared to the 3 great albums which followed it. For some reason I cringe at 'Roses', why do so many like it ? The album often sounds amateurish to my ears. Buy Bible instead.


Powerful and Passionate
The Manics are nothing if not passionate. . that much at least everyone can agree on regarding the controversial Welsh rockers. Beyond that they have been described as being everything from brilliant to worthless. On "Gold Against the Soul", they will do nothing to dispel the notions of those in the latter camp. However, to the fans who have discovered the tremendous talent and emotion of this band, GATS is the epitome of Manics albums.

Loud, beautiful, melodic, confrontational. . . all words could be used to describe this album. From the gradiose, open country feel of opener "Sleepflower", to the psuedo-metal/funk closing title track, the Manics, still with since-missing guitarist/lyricist Richey James, pull out all of the stops. Again, the operative keyword here is *passionate*. When vocalist James Dean Bradfield screams "Gold destroys the soul. . . destroys the soul. . . ", you KNOW that he means it. Whether you agree with their politics or not (and many don't), the Manics deserve points for their brutal honesty in their songwriting. The songs touch on a broad wave of topics, from international politics, personal relationships, James's ever-increasing inner turmoil and self-loathing (which would go on to be the focal point of 1994's bleak "The Holy Bible"), and even a diatribe about Tourrete's Syndrome. James and his partner in controvserial-songwriting crime, bassist Nicky Wire, tune down the raw outbursts which were evident on "generation terrorists", but the message is as unabashed as ever.

If the political rhetoric has remained on par, then the musical output of the band has grown increasingly refined. The Manics dispatch any remaining semblance of their punk band past, and instead embrace a melodic, yet forceful, brand of guitar rock. Bradfield and drummer Sean Moore, the musical "directors" of the band, show their keen sense of melody and arrangement throughout GATS. "La Tristesse Durera" is a funk/guitar-driven melodic sing-along, "Roses in the Hospital" is a shimmering, groove-based anthem, and "Life Becoming a Landslide" is simply beautiful. "Symphony of Tourrete's" is a break from the formula, with the band showing that although they don't turn out Clash-inspired punk like they used too, they can still crank it up.

Notions that GATS represents a "sophomore slump" for the band are groundless assertions. Rather, GATS ranks among the band's finest work, and represents a final ray of sunlight before Richey James drove the band down the dark, disturbing path which led to the aformentioned "Holy Bible". No Manics fan should be without this, and those who are curious about the group would be wise to pick it up.


Good stuff
Unfortunately, anyone who lives here knows how pathetic the current state of American music has become- the backstreet boys and britney spears have completely consumed the music industry. The fact that my review is the only one submitted by an American is a testament to how unknown this group is in the US. With options such as these at home, one is forced to look across the Atlantic. From what I could tell, MSP are very popular in the UK, so I decided to give them a chance. I must confess that my initial listen was made possible through Napster, but I was so impressed that I immediately purchased this CD, and soon after, ALL their others. MSP had a much harder sound at this stage in their career, they seem to have become more pop-sounding with their two most recent albums, but this is in no way a bad thing. On playing the CD, the first thing you will hear is the raw guitar at the beginning of "Sleepflower. " Its like a shot of caffeine that immediately gives your pulse and heart rate a boost! To me, the only other group who can really achieve this effect is Metallica. In any case, give this album (and their others) a chance, as I did, and you will not be disappointed. Unless you like the backstreet boys, that is!.


Do not miss out!
For me, the highlight of the album is 'La Tristesse Duera (Scream To A Sigh)'- Amazing. The Manics are unbelievably underrated, but take no notice of it! The whole CD is a great compilation of meaningful, original music. But then again, maybe 'Roses in the hospital', or 'From Despair To Where', or maybe 'Drug Drug Druggy'. . . . . (who knows? who cares? it's all soo good!).


manics are the best!
i have read somethings that the manics greater are than oasis, but that is not true,i do`nt want to say a bad word of the manics. hi, i`m a great fan of the manics,but i love oasis to. i think that oasis and the manics the best bands of the whole world are! greetings a big music fan!.


You can see a complete list of all Manic Street Preachers discography, or go back to the Manic Street Preachers tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]