Jump to content

Postcards from a Young Man

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Lawrence Lewis Bergstein (talk | contribs) at 11:01, 28 March 2011. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Untitled
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Rockfeedback(3/5)[1]
Drowned in Sound(6/10)[2]
Clash(8/10)[3]
BBC(favourable)[4]
The Guardian[5]
The Independent[6]
The Daily Telegraph[7]
The Fly[8]
The Skinny[10]
musicOMH[11]
Pitchfork[9]
Allmusic[12]
NME[13]
GOD[14]

Postcards from a Young Man is the tenth studio album by the alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, which reached the number 3 spot on the UK Charts. The Manics began recording the album (provisionally titled It's Not War - Just the End of Love) in October 2009 at their Faster Studio in Cardiff. Released on 20 September 2010, the album was supported by the Manics' most extensive tour of the UK to date.[15] James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire have both referred to the album as "one last shot at mass communication"[16].

Background

In an interview for the NME, Bradfield said that "We're going for big radio hits on this one ... It isn't a follow-up to Journal for Plague Lovers."[17] Nicky Wire has said, "We've always been about infiltrating the mainstream. It was a conscious decision this time to want to hear ourselves on the radio. Our mantra at the start was, 'If you've got something to say, say it to as many people as possible'."[18] In pre-release interviews, Wire also compared the album to the Aerosmith album Pump, saying that "It's going to be an amazing album...Send Away the Tigers was Permanent Vacation, this next one is our Pump."[19]

In July 2009, Wire said that the band's forthcoming album would "be heavy metal Tamla Motown. Van Halen playing The Supremes! I know there's a lot of creativity in us and obviously because I didn't write lyrics on the last record, I've got tons of words done."[20] Manics biographer Simon Price reacted to Nicky's announcement with amusement: 'Heavy metal Motown? I’ll believe it when I hear it. That Nicky Wire certainly can talk a good game. The thing is with those three lads is they'll sit around before writing any songs and come up with all these wildly juxtaposing ideas and styles, all of which sound great in theory, but when they actually start working towards them it always comes across sounding very much like a Manics record ... I remember just before the Lifeblood album came out in 2004 Nicky had been telling me it was going to sound like Goldfrapp-meets-late ’70s era David Bowie. And I could see what he meant, but when I actually heard it just reminded me of a more subdued version of their other stuff. In a good way though. A lot of the time Nicky goes public with these bold statements and then it comes down to it, it's up to James to try and back them up. That's a lot of pressure to put one person under and sometimes I’m positive James is at home half the time going, "Oh no, what have you said this time?".'[21]

Ex-Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan guests on one of the album's songs, "A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun," and four other tracks on the album feature a gospel choir.[18] On their website on 24 June 2010, the Manics posted the message: "Magical day in Cardiff: Ian McCulloch singing duet & John Cale playing on a new Manics track in LA.[22] Of the album's lead single, "(It's Not War) Just the End of Love," Nicky Wire claimed: "I believe in the tactile nature of rock 'n' roll. There's a generation missing out on what music meant to us...You can only elaborate on the stuff that compels you to. But "It's Not War..." is kind of saying, "Alright, we're not 18, but even at 40 the rage is still there"."[18]

Postcards from a Young Man was recorded with producer (and longtime Manics collaborator) Dave Eringa and was mixed in America by Chris Lord-Alge.[23] It was released in a standard version, 2 CD deluxe version, and limited edition box set.[24] The album cover art uses a black and white photograph of British actor Tim Roth.[25]

The album went straight into the UK album charts at #3. In January 2011 the album was certified Gold status in the UK. The album was met with very good reviews from critics and fans described it as "Manics back at their best!".

Charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders) 55
Dutch Albums Chart[26] 62
Finnish Albums Chart[27] 20
German Album Charts 65
Greek Album Charts[28] 8
Spanish Album Charts[29] 61
Swedish Albums Chart[30] 45
Swiss Album Charts[31] 88
UK Album Chart[32] 3

Tracklisting

The official tracklisting is as follows:[33] [34]

All tracks written by Bradfield/Moore (music) and Wire (lyrics), unless otherwise noted.

  1. "(It's Not War) Just the End of Love" – 3:32
  2. "Postcards from a Young Man" – 3:39
  3. "Some Kind of Nothingness" – 3:52 (featuring Ian McCulloch, music by Wire)
  4. "The Descent (Pages 1 & 2)" – 3:30
  5. "Hazelton Avenue" – 3:27
  6. "Auto-Intoxication" – 3:52 (featuring John Cale)
  7. "Golden Platitudes" – 4:28
  8. "I Think I Found It" – 3:10 (Lyrics by Bradfield)
  9. "A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun" – 3:43 (featuring Duff McKagan)
  10. "All We Make Is Entertainment" – 4:18
  11. "The Future Has Been Here 4 Ever" – 3:42
  12. "Don't Be Evil" – 3:18
  13. "Red Rubber"  [Japan only]
  14. "Evidence Against Myself"  [Japan only]


Deluxe Limited Edition - CD2 Demos. Tracklisting as above, excluding the two Japan only tracks (later released as b-sides).

Personnel

Manic Street Preachers
  • James Dean Bradfield – lead vocals, guitar, mandola on "I Think I Found It"
  • Nicky Wire – bass, lead vocals on "The Future Has Been Here 4 Ever", backing vocals
  • Sean Moore – drums, percussion, trumpet


Additional personnel
  • Ian McCulloch - second lead vocals on "Some Kind of Nothingness"
  • John Cale - keyboards and noise on "Auto-Intoxication"
  • Duff McKagan - bass on "A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun"
  • Loz Williams - piano, Hammond organ, Mellotron
  • Nick Naysmith - piano, Hammond organ
  • Catrin Wyn Southall - vocal arrangement and backing vocals
  • Melissa Henry - backing vocals
  • Osian Rowlands - backing vocals
  • Gareth Treseder - backing vocals
  • Fflur Rowlands - backing vocals
  • Roland George - backing vocals
  • Aled Powys Williams - backing vocals
  • Andy Walters - string arrangement and string player
  • Joanna Walters - string player
  • Carly Worsford - string player
  • Bernard Kane - string player
  • Simon Howes - string player
  • Nathan Stone - string player
  • Richard Phillips - string player
  • Claudine Liddington - string player

References

  1. ^ Moran, Bethany. "Rockfeedback Review: Manic Street Preachers - 'Postcards From A Young Man' (Columbia)". Rockfeedback. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  2. ^ Lukowski, Andrzej. "Manic Street Preachers Postcards from a Young Man". Drowned in sound. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  3. ^ James, Gareth. "Manic Street Preachers - Postcards from a Young Man". Clash. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  4. ^ McLaren, James. "Manic Street Preachers - Postcards From A Young Man review". BBC - Wales Music. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  5. ^ McLaren, James. "Manic Street Preachers: Postcards from a Young Man". Guardian. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  6. ^ Gill, Andy. "Album: Manic Street Preachers, Postcards from a Young Man (Columbia)". The Independent. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  7. ^ Perry, Andrew. "Manic Street Preachers: Postcards From a Young Man, CD review". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  8. ^ Doherty, Niall. "Album Review: Manic Street Preachers". Thefly.co.uk. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  9. ^ Tangari, Joe. "Manic Street Preachers: Postcards From A Young Man". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  10. ^ Buckle, Chris. "Manic Street Preachers – Postcards From A Young Man". The Skinny. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  11. ^ Burgess, Andrew. "Manic Street Preachers - Postcards From A Young Man". MusicOHM. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  12. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Manic Street Preachers: Postcards From A Young Man". Allmusic. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  13. ^ Denney, Alex. September 2010 "Manic Street Preachers: Postcards From A Young Man". {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  14. ^ Denney, Alex. September 2010 "Manic Street Preachers: Postcards From A Young Man". {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  15. ^ "Postcards From A Young Man". Manic Street Preachers. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  16. ^ "postcard_june2010.png". Manic Street Preachers. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  17. ^ "Manic Street Preachers announce UK tour and new album details". NME. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  18. ^ a b c Mayer Nissim (7 June 2010). "Ex-GN'R bassist features on new Manics LP". digital spy. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  19. ^ Chris Cope (26 May 2010). "Manic Street Preachers Look to Aerosmith on New Album". spinner UK. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  20. ^ "Manic Street Preachers - Manic Street Preachers' New Direction". contactmusic.com. 20 July 2009. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  21. ^ Nathan Bevan (22 July 2009). "Manics signal new direction for next album". WalesOnline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  22. ^ [1]
  23. ^ "Preview: Manic Street Preachers in Blackburn". Lancashire Telegraph. 4 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  24. ^ "Postcards From A Young Man (Deluxe Edition)". Play.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  25. ^ "Nuovo dei Manics a settembre". Indie-Rock. 6 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |Language= ignored (|language= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ GfK Dutch Charts
  27. ^ Suomen virallinen lista
  28. ^ Greek Album Charts
  29. ^ Spanish Album Charts
  30. ^ Swedish Album Charts
  31. ^ Swiss Album Charts
  32. ^ The Official UK Charts Company
  33. ^ http://www.sonymusic.co.uk/news/17852//
  34. ^ http://www.manicstreetpreachers.com/global/news/global/2010/07/26/new_single_details_and_album_tracklisting
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Postcards_from_a_Young_Man&oldid=421127226"