Gold Against the Soul

by

Manic Street Preachers

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It really gets to me when people whine about this album. If any of you could produce something this good then I wish you'd get on with it because you're guarenteed a buyer. This was the first manics album I purchased and I love it to THIS day. Sleepflower, Yourself, Life Becoming a landslide, Nostalgic Pushead... It's a breath of fresh air before the self destruction of The Holy Bible and after the political genius of Generation Terrorists. No it isn't the most immediate of albums, and no it doesn't carry as clear a message as The Holy Bible, but musically it is as good and worth the same amount of credit. Yes the Manics admit it is their weakest album, but that is what Radiohead said about Pablo Honey and readers of a high profile British music Mag have just rated it Number seven, just below the White Album. If you don't like this album then fair enough but if you discredit it just because it isn't as popular then the others then you have done the Manics and yourself a great disfavour.

Not since Billy Idol's early 80s heyday has there been a group of nastier-looking punks making such radio-friendly music.

For all their snarling lips and spiked hair, on Gold Against the Soul, the Manic Street Preachers wanted a hit and wanted it bad. In North America, "Scream to a Sigh", a formula pop song of the highest order, almost did it for them.

Same can be said of "From Despair to Where", which lets the world finally find out what a Styx with talent might have sounded like. And I mean that in a good way...

Lyricists Nicky Wire and Richy James' topics range from depression to, well, depression, offering personal takes on suicide, sickness, separation, drugs, politics and, yes, even Tourette's Syndrome. Surprisingly, the heavy subjects don't come off as heavy-handed, thanks to the upbeat music of Sean Moore and James Bradfield.

Not as strong a CD as the biting The Holy Bible, but an admirable step toward it. Ignore the haircuts, enjoy the music.