I guess the manics could release a country album and I'd still love it!
Once again different to anything they've done before (but I'm getting used to that...after all each of their albums is unique), but still it's the typical manic street preachers style.
The album has great lyrics, and James delivers them with so much devotion (as he always does) that it gives you goosebumps (in a positive way). Sometimes the drums sound a bit electronical and artificial, and since I think Sean Moore is the most versatile, most inventive and most genious (and fastest) of all drummers I know, this is a bit sad, but on the other hand the fact he made it sound that way shows his greatness even more, because combined with the music, the electronical/artificial drums sound really good (but I love the "real" drum roll on Cardiff Afterlife).
If your musical interest is limited to rock, and you want to hear the manics rock (and rock only), then I'm not sure if you'll have much fun with this album. But if you're as versatile as the manics, you may find another manic masterpiece here!
My faves from the album are 1985, Glasnost and To Repell Ghosts.