Ranked: Manic Street Preachers
A purely subjective list of of I rank the Manic Street Preacher albums worst to best. |
| 12 |  | Manic Street Preachers
Lipstick Traces (A Secret History of MSP)
It's not a studio album but it's worth mentioning because it consists entirely of unreleased material. Unfortunately though,
hardly any of the songs really stand out here which in turn leaves you thinking it was good that they were cut from the
respective albums. Criminally, the 'La Tristesse Durera' B-side 'Patrick Bateman' is not included leaving this release unessential,
still a few decent tracks though. My top 3 from Lipstick Traces - 1. We Are All Bourgeois Now 2. Comfort Comes 3. Judge Yr'self |
| 11 |  | Manic Street Preachers
Lifeblood
Lifeblood is definitely my least favourite Manics studio album. It just sounds a little too dull and somewhat abandoned their
familiar rock sensibilities that usually dominates their albums. I can't criticize the band for trying something new but the only real
saving grace here is 'Empty Souls'. My Top 3 from Lifeblood - 1. Empty Souls 2. Always/Never 3. To Repel Ghosts |
| 10 |  | Manic Street Preachers
Postcards From A Young Man
Despite an excellent lead single and a handful of decent tracks, Postcards From A Young Man is unfortunately one of the
Manic's weakest efforts. The band stated the album was a conscious push for commercialism and it suffered for it - at least we
can hope for the next 'pure indulgence' album they have promised. My top 3 from Postcards From A Young Man - 1. (It's Not
War) Just The End Of Love 2. Auto Intoxication 3. All We Make Is Entertainment |
| 9 |  | Manic Street Preachers
Know Your Enemy
The band tried to repeat Generation Terrorists here with a lengthy, punk orientated album. Some of the tracks are excellent and
some are poor, some of the experimentation works and sometimes it doesn't - it's a 50/50 album that could have been shorter
by about four songs. My top 3 from Know Your Enemy - 1. So Why So Sad 2. My Guernica 3. Dead Martyrs |
| 8 |  | Manic Street Preachers
Forever Delayed
Forever Delayed is only a 2002 compilation release but again, it's worth mentioning because of the previously unreleased
material. It's a great introduction to the band but for a more comprehensive collection with the original and unedited songs, go
for National Treasures. My top 3 from Forever Delayed 1. There By The Grace Of God 2. The Masses Against The Classes 3.
Suicide Is Painless |
| 7 |  | Manic Street Preachers
Send Away The Tigers
This was a huge return to form after the lacklustre Lifeblood. Send Away The Tigers is a resurgence of the rock and melodic
sensibilities the band had not displayed since the mid 90's which in turn made the album a critical and commercial success and
has also become a fan favourite. The album may be a tad short, but that's as negative as it gets. My top 3 from Send Away
The Tigers - 1. Underdog 2. I'm Just A Patsy 3. Send Away The Tigers |
| 6 |  | Manic Street Preachers
This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours
The immensely popular singles released from this album are what initially introduced me to the band. It took me a while to
appreciate the actual album and even though some of the songs don't quite work or are a little too sentimental, Nicky Wire did a
top job with the lyrics and some songs are simply phenomenal. My top 3 from This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours - 1. You Stole The
Sun From My Heart 2. Nobody Loved You 3. Born A Girl |
| 5 |  | Manic Street Preachers
Journal For Plague Lovers
14 years after his mysterious disappearance, the Manics decided to write music for Richey Edwards' unused words and they did
them great justice. This album carried on and increased the new found form the band established with 'Send Away The Tigers'
and, though not as dark as The Holy Bible, this album offers a striking resemblance to the caustic sound and tone which bled
from that release. My Top 3 from Journal For Plague Lovers - 1. Pretension/Repulsion 2. Jackie Collins Existential Question Time
3. Journal For Plague Lovers |
| 4 |  | Manic Street Preachers
Everything Must Go
I heard this album whilst getting my haircut and went out and bought it straight away. That was where my love for the Manics
started. After an absolutely tragic chapter during the bands career; the Manics produced this hopeful, optimistic and less
abrasive album which probably took everybody by surprise. However, with the lyrics left over by Richey Edwards and
melancholic tones which fill the album, the sadness still creeps through. An excellent album that documented the band turning a
new leaf. My top 3 from Everything Must Go - 1. The Girl Who Wanted To Be God 2. A Design For Life 3. Further Away |
| 3 |  | Manic Street Preachers
Generation Terrorists
This debut definitely has enough anthemic hits crammed with intellectually charged lyrics and glam metal inspired riffs to justify
itself within the top three. Some of the songs may not make as much an impression as others but there is definitely too many
great songs to easily choose a top three. But just when you think the album has ran out of steam, the Manics unleash one of
the most electrifying album closers ever. My top 3 from Generation Terrorists ' 1. Slash N' Burn 2. Motorcycle Emptiness 3.
Condemned To Rock 'n' Roll |
| 2 |  | Manic Street Preachers
The Holy Bible
Given the knowledge that Richey Edwards wrote the majority of the lyrics, it's easy to read the words as prophetic regarding
the events that followed. The Manics tackle the darkest subject matter imaginable from anorexia to the holocaust in a lo-fi
post-rock style to create one of the most tragic albums in history. The lyrics that are squeezed into the songs are some of the
most intellectual in rock, in their own despondent way. Caustic, hopeless, grim, but ultimately very compelling. My Top 3 from
the The Holy Bible - 1. Archives Of Pain 2. 4st. 7lbs 3. Yes |
| 1 |  | Manic Street Preachers
Gold Against The Soul
Now this may be a shock, but I have a tendency to appreciate the more underrated albums and this is another which I love.
The Manic's themselves refer to Gold Against The Soul as 'a typical unfocused second album' which I can somewhat
understand but it is still phenomenal and displays James Dean Bradfield's greatest vocals and also gave clues to the dark
direction the band went with the lyrics. I've listened to this hundreds of times and it's definitely among my top 5 albums ever.
Gold Against The Soul is criminally underrated. My top 3 from Gold Against The Soul - 1. La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A
Sigh) 2. Nostalgic Pushead 3. Yourself |
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