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Track Listings
| 1. Bag Lady |
| 2. Peeled Apples |
| 3. Jackie Collins Existential Question Time |
| 4. Me And Stephen Hawking |
| 5. This Joke Sport Severed |
| 6. Journal For Plague Lovers |
| 7. She Bathed Herself In A Bath Of Bleach |
| 8. Facing Page: Top Left |
| 9. Marlon J.D. |
| 10. Doors Closing Slowly |
| 11. All Is Vanity |
| 12. Pretension//Repulsion |
| 13. Virginia State Epileptic Colony |
| 14. William's Last Words |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Never shy of talking history, Manic Street Preachers have tackled everything from fellow Welshman Dylan Thomas to World War Two concentration camps in their two-decade history. Journal For Plague Lovers, however, sees the Manics tackling a past even closer to home: their own. With a sleeve painted by artist Jenny Saville and words culled from the notebooks of Richey Edwards, the band’s former lyricist and guitarist who apparently disappeared into the fog back in 1995, Journal For Plague Lovers consciously harks back to the group’s excellently caustic 1994 album The Holy Bible. Journal For Plague Lovers is a softer album than that, one that perhaps imagines The Holy Bible’s razor edges through a sepia filter. But a recording job by Steve Albini leaves songs like "Peeled Apples" and "She Bathed Herself In A Bath Of Bleach" feeling satisfyingly raw and there remains something undeniably thrilling about the pairing of James Dean Bradfield’s vocal--gruff, passionate--and the strange, cryptic imagery conjured up by Edwards’ lyrics: "This beauty a dipping neophobia", he choruses, soulfully on "Facing Page: Top Left", and you remember what a strange, special band the Manics can be when they put their minds to it. ––Louis Pattison
Product Description
Limited special offer.2009 album! Every song contains lyrics left over by still-missing guitarist Richey Edwards, who disappeared in Feburary 1995. Produced by Steve Albini. Includes "Peeled Apples".
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As a long time Manics fan I'd have bought this album regardless of the reviews on here. And I certainly wasnt dissapointed.
It has been said 'Journal For Plague Lovers' is a return to the 'old manics' and is in a similar vein to their masterpiece 'The Holy Bible'. It is easy to see how you can make these claims. All the lyrics are by missing since 1995 lyricist Richey Edwards, just one look at the lyrics could affirm this. The album coverart is also by the same artist (Jenny Saville)whose work was used for The Holy Bible cover.
But despite all this its unfair to call this album The Holy Bible mk2. Its a far more personal album - while the bible was often political and has tracks about the Holocaust this album is more focussed on an individuals feelings. The lyrics are still pretty dark however, and not particularly radio friendly. The music is perhaps more akin to the music on that album than any of their other recent efforts, but is more polished, the sound of a band that know their stuff.
I dont pretend to understand all that Richey writes about, although final track Williams Last Words could perhaps have all too clear a meaning...personally I find it a track that brings a tear to my eye, but most of the songs still have a catchiness that will have you revisting this album time and time again. There are no weak links here.
This album shows the Manic Street Preachers are still a fantastic band (and their recent performance at T in the Park definately confirmed this) who aren't afraid to try something different, and are not out just to sell mindless millions of records. With their last album, Send Away the Tigers, they were also on form and this cements their position as one of the most though provoking bands to ever come out of Britain.
A fitting tribute to Richey Edwards, im sure he would have thought highly of the music put to his lyrics here.
Lets hope they continue making such brilliant records.
It has been said 'Journal For Plague Lovers' is a return to the 'old manics' and is in a similar vein to their masterpiece 'The Holy Bible'. It is easy to see how you can make these claims. All the lyrics are by missing since 1995 lyricist Richey Edwards, just one look at the lyrics could affirm this. The album coverart is also by the same artist (Jenny Saville)whose work was used for The Holy Bible cover.
But despite all this its unfair to call this album The Holy Bible mk2. Its a far more personal album - while the bible was often political and has tracks about the Holocaust this album is more focussed on an individuals feelings. The lyrics are still pretty dark however, and not particularly radio friendly. The music is perhaps more akin to the music on that album than any of their other recent efforts, but is more polished, the sound of a band that know their stuff.
I dont pretend to understand all that Richey writes about, although final track Williams Last Words could perhaps have all too clear a meaning...personally I find it a track that brings a tear to my eye, but most of the songs still have a catchiness that will have you revisting this album time and time again. There are no weak links here.
This album shows the Manic Street Preachers are still a fantastic band (and their recent performance at T in the Park definately confirmed this) who aren't afraid to try something different, and are not out just to sell mindless millions of records. With their last album, Send Away the Tigers, they were also on form and this cements their position as one of the most though provoking bands to ever come out of Britain.
A fitting tribute to Richey Edwards, im sure he would have thought highly of the music put to his lyrics here.
Lets hope they continue making such brilliant records.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I come to this without a lot of prejudice - familiar with the Manics through Forever Delayed and This Is My Truth but turned off a bit by Know Your Enemy - although listening to this album makes me want to listen to that again in case I missed something first time around.
This album sounds incredibly fresh - not at all what you would expect from a band that has been going for more than 15 years. It doesn't feel formulaic or contrived and genuinely seems to have been born out of loss and continued love for a friend.
I bought this at the same time as The Holy Bible as I read reviews comparing the two and I would rate this album higher - more accomplished musically and more grown up but obviously dealing with many of the same themes.
It's a miracle that a band can produce work like this after so long in the business - Radiohead maybe the only other one I can think of.
This album sounds incredibly fresh - not at all what you would expect from a band that has been going for more than 15 years. It doesn't feel formulaic or contrived and genuinely seems to have been born out of loss and continued love for a friend.
I bought this at the same time as The Holy Bible as I read reviews comparing the two and I would rate this album higher - more accomplished musically and more grown up but obviously dealing with many of the same themes.
It's a miracle that a band can produce work like this after so long in the business - Radiohead maybe the only other one I can think of.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have this album now for two months and I have listened to it almost 50 times now. It is quite simply a brilliant album. It is definitely in my top 4 of the Manics. Top 4 being Everything Must Go, The Holy Bible, Gold Against The Soul and Journal For Plague Lovers. Not in this specific order though, After all these years I am still trying to figure out which one is the best, I guess all of them have a different effect on me depending on the mood I'm in at that moment.
This album is highly addictive, it will make you listen over and over again and I'm sure I will do so in many years to come.
At times it even made me cry, from JOY that is !!!
If you don't have it yet, just go and get it.
This album is highly addictive, it will make you listen over and over again and I'm sure I will do so in many years to come.
At times it even made me cry, from JOY that is !!!
If you don't have it yet, just go and get it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
scratch beneath the surface and there is much to admire.
It seems strange now, looking back, at how much the feather-boa wearing hordes focused in on `The Holy Bible', raising it up as the archetypal Manics' sound, somehow betrayed when... Read more
Published 3 months ago by sonicabuse
An excellent tribute to their lost friend
Fans waiting for the Holy Bible pt 2 won't be disappointed here! Along with THAT album and 'This Is My Truth... Read more
Published 5 months ago by theone&only
"Shards, oh shards"
After the Manics had gone through a rough patch with the bland rock of the "Send Away The Tigers" album, it was most welcome return to some well written and well crafted... Read more
Published 12 months ago by J. Radley
Surprisingly good
After reading that this was basically the Holy Bible II I was a bit hesitant, but it's definately a grower - gets better with every listen.
Published 16 months ago by James M. Fothergill
This is great
I'm not actually a massive Manics fan. I've dipped in and out since the first album, in fact, since seeing them doing 'You love us' on some ancient telly talent show. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Kenny P.
A small scale delight
An idea that could have beeen self indulgent or crass, putting music to Richey's hitherto personal notes.
It turns out to be a triumph. Read more
It turns out to be a triumph. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mr. J. Fenna
brilliant
absolutely brilliant , the best manics album since the holy bible , improves on every listen , a masterpiece . enough said !!!!!
Published 19 months ago by Gareth I. Jenkins
Incredible...
Personally I found this album to be their best yet. I haven't heard the Postcards from a young man yet though. Read more
Published 20 months ago by That welsh one
a gem!
As a late 30 something i`ve listened to a lot of music. I`ve enjoyed the manics but found them to be somewhat patchy in the quality of their output. Read more
Published 23 months ago by E. Lupton
A return to former glories
I'm not one to write reviews to be honest but in short I think this is one of thier finest pieces of work. Excellent
Published on 21 April 2010 by Mr. C. Bryan
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