Because geek is cool and clever

Journal For Plague Lovers May 20, 2009

I think I first saw the Manic Street Preachers around 1991. I think it was at Oxford’s Jericho Tavern. I also think I was working there at the time. My memory isn’t so bad that I don’t actually remember if I ever actually worked at the JT – I certainly did – but I also attended a lot of gigs there. For Primal Scream I certainly wasn’t working because I remember the utter chaos of being in the audience. For Cornershop (way back before Brim Full Of Asha) I was definitely not working because I remember standing in a heightened state of stupor, watching some Asian guy picking at a sitar while the planet seemed to explode in distorted guitars.

It was utterly ace.

For Birdland (look ‘em up, pop pickers) I’m also sure I was in the audience because one of the blonde haired toss-bags tried to perform crude brain surgery on sound man Macca’s head with his Telecaster and you don’t forget riots so easily.

The thing about the MSP (I hate the term ‘Manics’) is that I’ve seen them three or four times, each of those times being in the early days and I really don’t remember where I was or if I was behind a bar at the time. Go figure.

Anyway, I’ve always loved MSP – sometimes more than others. The Holy Bible is an absolutely amazing album but it’s so bleak and dark that I have to be really upbeat to listen to it.

I continued briefly to listen to MSP albums after Richey’s disappearance in 1995 and actually enjoyed their stuff as a three piece.

Then they ran out of material and entered their decidedly dodgy phase.

Know Your Enemy was OKish but I’ve not even listened to what came after. Even Send Away The Tigers from a couple of years ago was BitTorrented and remains largely ignore.

Out this week is Journal For Plague Lovers and, my God Almighty, it’s a return to the old days – not least of all because the lyrics are taken from a notebook that Richey handed to Nicky before his disappearance.

Nicky has sat on this content for so long. These are lyrics written in a world not troubled by the war on terrorism but are troubled nonetheless. Putting non-rhyming poetry to song wasn’t easy but the outcome is astonishing. It’s like a missing limb on a world famous sportsman suddenly growing back. I’m not saying that MSP can forget any further future with Richey but, my God, you realise how much the man’s lyrics contributed to the chill that goes up your spine with a good MSP song.

I’ve been listening to this album all day now and I have to profess that I have a side of my that can’t resist sentimentality. As such ‘William’s Last Words’ is absolutely fucking awesome. I can honestly say it’s one of the best songs I’ve heard for a very long time.

“I’m just gonna close my eyes
Think about my family
Shed a little tear

Goodnight sleep tight
Goodnight, God bless
Goodnight North Star
I’ll try my best

Isn’t it lovely when the dawn brings the dew? I’ll be watching over you.
Isn’t it lovely when the dawn brings the dew? I’ll be watching over you.

I even love the devil
But yes he did me harm
Don’t keep me any longer
Cuz I’m really tired
I’d love to go to sleep
And wake up happy

The musicianship and direction of that song in particular is straight off ‘This Is My Truth…’ but the rest of the album is a clear nod back to The Holy Bible, particularly with the movie samples and vocal filters.

Already I love this album and I’ve only owned it a couple of days. It’s all parts rocking, lyrical, soaring, nostalgic and huge points to Nicky for breaking into song. He did it for a reason. I still wish that reason might be out there somewhere and listening to it.