Forever Delayed: Greatest Hits - Manic Street Preachers

Forever Delayed can come in a snazzy special edition with a cardboard case and a bonus CD full of remixes. I own this, but I shan't bother covering the bonus disc as I don't want you to feel cheated if you buy a copy that doesn't have this. Plus, I haven't listened to it, as remixes generally suck. Still, it's the same price and it means you get a version of the stupendous Let Robeson Sing which ain't on the main CD. Even the packaging is a Manics fan's dream. The sleeve depicts the stark walls of an art gallery, walls adorned with the Manics singles comprising this compilation, and accompanying pretentious quotes from Sylvia Plath to Elvis Presley. ...

The Manics Street Preachers were a kick when they first entered the music scene, some ten years ago. They promised to destroy everything in the true punk manifesto, while looking different to the alternative sounds coming out of ?Madchester? at the time. With such strong anti-corporation ideals behind them, it seems a little strange for the Manics now in 2003 to be releasing a best of album, a real attempt to flog a few more albums and make a little more money for their big record company. I was given a copy of this for a birthday present. I doubt I would have paid for it out of my own accord, for two reasons. Firstly already owning most of their CDs there ...

It must be that time of year again, when creativity in the music industry dies up (not that it was flowing very much through the rest of the year). U2, The Stone Roses, Pulp and even Elton John have been releasing, what must be an oxymoron of Elton ?Best of? compilations. But for today?s lesson children, we shall be concentrating on the Manic Street Preacher?s attempt at such an offering, entitled Forever Delayed. Obviously, if it was actually forever delayed, this album wouldn?t be released when the band are still performing and are still popular, but that would hardly deliver the same sales, especially when the band can record new songs to promote the album. Well ...