Critical Thinking Manic Street Preachers

• 1 Critical Thinking 03:01
• 2 Decline & Fall 03:42
• 3 Brushstrokes of Reunion 03:35
• 4 Hiding in Plain Sight 03:34
• 5 People Ruin Paintings 04:22
• 6 Dear Stephen 03:31
• 7 Being Baptised 04:02
• 8 My Brave Friend 03:23
• 9 Out Of Time Revival 02:55
• 10 Deleted Scenes 03:23
• 11 Late Day Peaks 03:14
• 12 OneManMilitia 02:53
• Total Runtime 41:35

Info for Critical Thinking

Manic Street Preachers return with their most pressing album in years. This is a plate of colliding opposites--a plate of dialectics trying to find a way of solution. While the music is tangy and elegiac edifying, most of the lyrics are about the cold analysis of the self, except for the three texts of James (Dean Bradfield), who seeks answers in people, their memories, their language, and their beliefs and hopefully finds them too.

Initially inspired by a line from the poet Anne Sexton ("I am a collection of dismantled almosts"), ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’ contrasts a fearful midlife nostalgia - one in which the writer longs to “keep the curtains drawn all day” - with a gloriously uplifting melody that draws on classic ’70s rock’n’roll of The Only Ones, Cockney Rebel and the loose flow of Dinosaur Jr’s ‘Freak Scene’. Recorded at the band’s Door To The River Studio and Rockfield, Monmouth, the song features a lead vocal by Nicky Wire and added vocals by Lana McDonagh. It was produced by the band with regular collaborators Dave Eringa and Loz Williams and mixed by Caesar Edmunds (St Vincent/Wet Leg). 

‘Critical Thinking’ celebrates conflicting ideas colliding, with unflinchingly soul-searching lyrics meeting some of the most head-on, addictive melodies the band have ever recorded.

Manic Street Preachers’ Nicky Wire on Critical Thinking: “This is a record of opposites colliding - of dialectics trying to find a path of resolution. While the music has an effervescence and an elegiac uplift, most of the words deal with the cold analysis of the self, the exception being the three lyrics by James (Dean Bradfield) which look for and hopefully find answers in people, their memories, language and beliefs.

The music is energised and at times euphoric. Recording could sometimes be sporadic and isolated, at other times we played live in a band setting, again the opposites making sense with each other. There are crises at the heart of these songs. They are microcosms of skepticism and suspicion, the drive to the internal seems inevitable - start with yourself, maybe the rest will follow.”

"This is the Manic Street Preachers growing older and well, yes...softer. But that does not make them less relevant. They are not trying to create a top-five album because the masses are not that important to them. The band is trying to make music they like and hope their fans do. And their fans should. It is not The Holy Bible, but then what album is? The fact is that the production value, melodies, and execution are fantastic here. The band knows what they are doing. Still, the lyrics have value as they almost always have done. That makes the album worth buying and adding to your vast Manic Street Preachers record collection." (Lee Vowell, audiophix.com)

Manic Street Preachers

Manic Street Preachers
Band members meet in 1986 in Balckwood, South Wales. James Dean Bradfield (vocals, guitar, piano and keyboard) starts writing lyrics – later to be replaced with Nicky Wire (bass guitar, piano, and vocals). Sean Moore (drums, percussions, trumpet and vocals) joins the band and writes the music. They start off as a punk band. But when their style starts changing in 1988, bass guitarist Miles Woodward decides to leave the band. It is also the year they release their first single “Suicide Alley”. Following this release, Richey Edwards (guitar, vocals) joins the band. After signing a contract with Damaged Goods Records in 1990, they also release their first EP called “New Art Riot”. The contract only being for one release, they later sign a contract with the indie label Heavenly Records. They consequently release the single “Motown Junk” and begin working on an album.

Their debut album “Generation Terrorists” (1993) is a great success. It will be closely followed by their second album “Gold Against the Soul” – more grunge, but also more commercial, reaching the top of the UK charts. This opus is described as more personal and less political than their previous work.

In 1994, Edward’s personal issues lead him to a mental hospital. The band keeps performing live to pay for his recovery treatments. It is also the year they release “The Holy Bible”, their third studio album. The promotion for this album is quite controversial. They often appear live dressed up as terrorists/army men. Adding to the controversy, Edwards goes missing and is presumed dead after his car is found empty three days later. For six months, the band stops all activities but eventually decide to keep working.

Their next album “Everything Must Go” (1996) includes five tracks written by Edwards – as a tribute after his passing – and is critically acclaimed. The opus wins two Brit Awards. Two years later, they release “This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours” (1998) which is an international success which get them two more Brit Awards in 1999. In 2000, their limited edition single “The Masses Against the Classes” reaches the top of the UK charts with almost no promotion.

In 2001, Manic Street Preachers make another political statement playing live in Cuba for President Fidel Castro. This trip will make a documentary film called “Louder Than War”. The next year, they release their first best-of album, “Forever Delayed” with two exclusive tracks.

Their next really successful album will be “Lifeblood” in 2004. They promote in arenas around the UK following their great popular and critical success. That year, they also release an anniversary version of their album “The Holy Bible” including rare mixes, exclusive tracks, interviews and live performances.

Their next album “God Save the Manics” is also a limited edition which they give out to fans at their shows. It will later be uploaded on their website. In 2008, they receive the God-Like Geniuses Award at the NME Awards ceremony.

In 2009, their ninth album “Journal for Plague Lovers” includes bits of lyrics from Edwards which had not been used before. The opus is released as a new kind of tribute to their late friend.

Their next album “Postcards from a Young Man” (2010) is way more pop than usual. According to the members themselves, they wanted to write hit singles for this one, and match the “mass communication” trend.

In 2012, Manic Street Preachers embark on a massive European greatest hits tour. In 2013, they continue touring in Australia and New Zealand. In September, the first single for their next album comes out, “Show Me the Wonder”. The album “Rewind the Film” is released later that month and is a great success.

This album contains no booklet.