The Return Of The Big Fat Rock Album--Manic Street Preachers' Postcards From A Young Man

Mystery And Youth Must Surely Collide

Just as the heading states, Postcards From A Young Man a great big fat rock record, probably with a budget reserved for musical royalty like Katy Perry and the Jonas Gang. I saw Katy Perry on some MTV Europe awards show, with an army of clowns and hired hands on stage. The power of the spectacle. It seemed like they were throwing a rich child's birthday party instead of a musical performance. It was all calculated to grab viewers attention in this attention deficit modern world we inhabit. Fireworks, dancing, explosions, bizarre costumes. Oh, yeah, and a shitty song. At least she really sang it. No wonder the lo-fi movement carries such resonance, it has a primal power to it, without any sort of scientific studio manipulation. On the other hand, when money is used wisely in the creation of an album, something wonderful can happen.

When I was a teenager, Rock bands were behemoths. You had Queen, Rolling Stones, Foreigner, Kiss, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Boston, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Rush, David Bowie. Rock stars were considered a sort of jaded royalty in America and idolized as such. All these gigantic mega albums came out which people could not wait to hear.Then punk rock came and gave the musical world a well needed purge. And something odd happened. In a lot of ways the rock star persona has dimmed in our country. In the UK, Radiohead, Paul Weller, Ian McCullough, The Clash, even John Lydon have been let into the club. Do you think John Doe, Jello Biafra, Bob Mould, or Paul Westerberg are viewed in the same light? Maybe its for the best. I do appreciate good musicians and their talents, but idolatry should not be part of the punk/alternative ethos.

Wales' Manic Street Preachers have put out one of those epic Dark Side Of The Moon/Ok Computer mega stadium filling lighter flashing masterpieces. It has got to be one of the biggest records put out this year. Postcards is hugely ambitious, with massive intricately orchestrated arrangements. It practically beats you over the head with its grandiosity. This is their Thriller and they are on a mission. But the songs are intelligently written, overflowing with passion, the musicianship fierce and impeccable. The Manics are without doubt one of the most talented bands in Britain. And they and the good folks at Sony must have spent a fortune to create this work. I still think its completely baffling that this is available only as an import in the US. I can think of no reason why this should not be hugely popular. It's clear the Manics are not household names here. Perhaps it is the perception of their politics, maybe they are viewed as being too British for American tastes, as the Kinks were considered at times in their long career. Or perhaps they are planning an invasion of our shores as I type. I mean, a lot of people live here--why wouldn't they try to sell this here? Maybe mp3's are enough now.

I know I sound a little like a crank, but lately I haven't heard too many huge albums, no London Callings, Pink Flags, Double Nickels On The Dimes. OK Computer was a landmark album, but sometimes I wonder whether I actually like the album. Listening to it beats me up. It's pretty grim fare! Neutral Milk Hotel's In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is also a great album, one that a lot of people consider to be one of the best albums of the last 20 years. The bad news is that probably those people are correct.

I'm not jaded enough to not realize that even in the worst of times, people are making great music somewhere. And with the technological advancements of today people can record an elaborate album in their bathroom. Maybe what I am really saying in a round about way is that market failure is a real problem in the music business today. The money is not going to intelligent and creative artists where it should be. It seems to be going to put an elaborate garnish on a crap sandwich. Spend cash on marketing and bribes and overkill and turn Ken and Barbie into pop stars using studio manipulation. The public wants what the public gets. No wonder why so many groups stay on small labels. Getting signed doesn't seem to be the game changer it once was for bands.



My only regret about this album is that I didn't splurge and pick up the deluxe 2 disc version, where the songs are recorded as demos. Put the album on and listen to (It's Not War) Just The End Of Love. The song jumps right out at you. "To feel forgiveness you got to forgive, do you see the stars or the darkness begin"? I think a lot of critics and long time fans of the band might not find this radio ready ambiance very appealing. In interview they have made allusions to Aerosmith and Motown when talking up Postcards. Oddly enough, in a crazy way the album reminds me of a steroided up noisy version of Supertramp's Breakfast in America, at least melodically. When I was in High School songs from that album were on permanent radio rotation. If you had a car radio on you could not escape. Today nobody cares too much about them. Easy come easy go. Don't misconstrue this, the Manics have made an album that towers over anything Supertramp ever did. It's no accident that Ian McCullough is a guest vocalist on Some Kind Of Nothingness, because they are in many ways following the path of the Bunnymen's Ocean Rain album. The end of Hazleton Street is also reminiscent of the easternisms of The Cutter. Perhaps Guns N Roses bassist Duff McKagan's presence on one track indicates another path...



Every song is a highlight. One of the best is A Billion Balconies Facing The Sun. One of the pleasures of this album are the concise ripping little guitar solos. Though the album is a sumptuous sonic banquet, there isn't a lot of fat. All the songs are about three minutes thirty. Only one longer than four minutes.The songs don't drag at all, it's a little exhausting but never boring. Of note is fellow Welshman (and one of my favorite musicians) and ex-Velvet John Cale's cameo appearance on Auto Intoxication on keyboards and NOISE. James Dean Bradfield vocals are stupendous here--listen to tracks like The Descent or the string saturated Golden Platitudes and you would have to concur. Hazleton Street is another stunning winner on Postcards. "Don't need a wilderness to feel solitary." Nice mandolin work on I Think I Found It also.

No Longer Preaching To The Converted

I don't want to go on and on. Postcards From A Young Man is the best thing I've heard this year. It is a behemoth of an album that crushes everything in its path. I usually go for the underdog, the little gem of an album hidden under a rock. With this post I make a notable exception. Granted, it is not exaggeration that these guys are not big where I live. Whether you like Sigur Ros, or the Clash, Bon Jovi, Oasis, or Led Zeppelin, this is an album that crosses every rock and roll divide. Check it out or miss out. It's like a 21st century arena rock Odessey and Oracle.