Repeat after me... (Generation Terrorists - Manic Street Preachers)

Member Name: lex-bubbles

Product:	Generation Terrorists - Manic Street Preachers
Date:	18/07/09 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: guitar solos ahoy!, catchy, fun, ballsy, air-guitar worthy

Disadvantages: can seem repetitive, a bit long

In 1992 Welsh band Manic Street Preachers exploded onto the music scene in a flurry of spraypaint and eyeliner, proclaiming all rock n' roll to be homosexual and making such outlandish statement as 'we're going to be as big as Guns 'n Roses'.

Slagging off other bands, politicians, and entire nations whilst barely being able to play, lyricists Nicky 'The Wire' Jones and Richey James Edwards provided words full of spite, venom and anger for the punky, rocky music that guitarist James Dean Bradfield and drummer Sean Moore churned out.

'Generation Terrorists' is an epic debut. With a staggering 18 tracks and a not-to-be-sniffed-at play time of 1:10:05 this is an album determined to hammer the point home. And keep it there.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that opener 'Slash n' Burn' is in fact a GnR song. Ballsy guitar, equally ballsy vocals and a suitably anthemic chorus really set the tone for the rest of the album - both musically and lyrically. The first in a long line of guitar solos breaks up the repetitive vocals nicely, before ending with a slowed-down-riff. Jolly good choice for a single, boys.

'Natwest-Barclays-Midlands-Lloyds' is much of the same. Chunky, memorable guitar reminiscent of the glam-rock scene of the 80's. James' vocals lay nicely over a steady drum beat, punctuated by pretty guitar fills before we get to the 'all together now! shout with me!' chorus. If you're not having fun by this point and doing air guitar, you should be.

Third track 'Born to End' is one that most Manics fans seem to point out as something that should have been left off the slightly-too-long album. Personally, I love it. I would kick 'Natwest...' off in favour of keeping this one. Something of a solo-y guitar opening leads into a call-and-response verse before getting to one of the catchiest choruses of the whole album - 'H-bomb the only thing that will bring your freedom to life!' Fun. And yes, there is a guitar solo. Go, James, Go!

This leads into arguably one of the Manics' most loved songs. Beautiful ballad 'Motorcycle Emptiness'. At 5:07, it's no quickie, and after repeated listens can seem to drag on a bit. But who can resist that guitar riff or that wave-your-lighter-in-the-air chorus? All together now: 'Uuunder neon loooonlineeessss...'
This is the second of a massive SIX singles from the album, and it is brilliant (though the video... less so). Still played live to this day, 'Motorcycle Emptiness' is sure to get everyone singing and swaying. This song does well here to waylay opinions formed after the first three tracks that the Manics might be something of a one-trick-pony (but they aren't getting rid of the solo just yet)

This ballad gives way to the instantly catchy 'You Love Us'. Single #3. Just in case you didn't have an opinion on them, the Manics have given you one. You Love Them. Yeah, You Love Them. You Love Them, You Love Them, You Love... you get the point. The chorus is shamelessly repetitive and silly after the reflective 'Motorcycle Emptiness', and you have to love this song despite it all (and another guitar solo too!). Because You Love Them, Oh You Love Them...

Yet another single follows. 'Love's Sweet Exile' (released as a double A-side with 'Repeat') opens with a poetry excerpt read, and written, by Nicky's brother Patrick Jones. Rapid guitars keep this song going throughout, and there's another catchy-shouty chorus. Good, solid single material. And the accompanying video gained them a large number of female fans... oh, and don't forget the solo, James.

The onslaught of singles doesn't stop there. Oh no. 'Little Baby Nothing' was yet ANOTHER single released from this album, and it seems like they decided to put them all in one place. Who needs a greatest hits when you can just listen to the middle of this album? LBN opens with a piano (ooh) and jangly guitars, a song proclaiming the emptiness and mistreatment of women in the sex industry. Former porn-star Traci Lords provides the female vocals singing that she was 'Used, used, used by men' and that everybody 'wants a piece of me, hopelessly passive and compatible'. This is probably my least favourite single, and not a favourite of mine on the album either.

Repeat (Stars and Stripes) is a remix of single 'Repeat', which makes its appearance later in the album. Often hailed as a pointless remix that shouldn't have been included, I see this as rather harsh criticism. Not only do I prefer this mix to the UK version of Repeat, having both versions on the album provides a nice sense of symmetry and completeness. This song is laden with vocal samples, and definitely has memorable vocals. REPEAT AFTER ME, F*CK QUEEN AND COUNTRY! This is by far the punkiest song on the album, and is probably my favourite. It's a song to get angry to and jump up and down to. It's a song to smash things to. I LOVE it.

This gives way to 'Tennessee'. Which is more-of-the-same from the Manics. Back to the heavy riffs, solos and anthemic vocals. This is one track that could have done with not being on here. If it wasn't for the inclusion of such tracks as 'Repeat' and 'Motorcycle Emptiness', this album would be sounding awful samey round about now...

'Another Invented Disease' is also more of the same. But it's infinitely more tolerable than the previous track. This might be because the chorus is too damn catchy for you to not love the song. This is actually one of my favourites on the album, and often gets overlooked because by this point people have started drifting away out of boredom. After all, there's only so many times you can listen to the same song, right? Oh, come on. Lighten up. This isn't an album to be 'srs bsns' about. This is an album to have fun to. So leave behind your criticisms of repetition and lack of meaning and get that air guitar out. You still have 8 tracks to go, so get used to having FUN.

'Stay Beautiful' is the 5th single from this album, and is an instant favourite. More chunky guitars and catchy melodies. There's a suitable amount of venom in the lyrics, including a rather teasing chorus line - 'Don't want to see your face, don't want to hear your voice, why don't you just....' I'm sure you can guess what once came after that. And yes, there is a guitar solo. Did you expect anything less?

'So Dead' gives us a quick breather between singles and is more guitar packed, shouty lyric fun. There isn't much to say here that I haven't said about every song previously. 'I'm a slut and you just suuuuuuuuck' all good stuff, really.

And now we come to the last single (though by far not the last track) of the album - the UK, original, version of 'Repeat'. Opening with an air-raid siren before leading into those anarchistic lyrics. There's more guitar and less vocal samples here and overall it just seems less, well, fun. It is still air-guitar worthy though, with James acquiring yet another solo to his name. He does like his solos.

'Spectators of Suicide' is a lot slower and harks back to the ballad-like qualities of 'Motorcycle Emptiness', though it isn't quite as epic in length. This is a song for swaying to, because you must be exhausted from all that dancing you've been doing around your living room. There is, of course, a solo (kind of). Like you're going to get away without one.

The shortest (mercifully) song of the album, 'Damn Dog' follows with a quick burst of energy to wake you up again. It's largely rubbish. I'm not going to lie. It's pretty damn bad.

If you didn't turn the album off in disgust after that song, you'll be well rewarded with 'Crucifix Kiss'. Another reading from Patrick Jones opens this song, leading into loud guitars and louder vocals. Yep, it's catchy. Just like pretty much every other song on this album. 'Why walk when you can crawl? Stay on your knees and kiss my feet!' Yes, sir!

This gives way to one of my favourite songs on the album - 'Methadone Pretty'. It's less ballsy than most, but not quite a ballad. In that way it's similar to 'Little Baby Nothing', but about a hundred times better. Should have been a single. As if they needed another one. Oh, yeah, and don't forget the solo.

Album closer 'Condemned to Rock n' Roll' is the longest track on the album. At a whopping 6:07 it's almost twice as long as most. This can seem to drag a bit, at points, and is largely forgettable. The Manics would have done better to end on 'Methadone Pretty'.

All in all, this is a fun, ballsy, rocky album. The lyrics are too ridiculous to be taken too seriously, and those expecting the lyrical and music substance associated with later Manics will be sorely disappointed here. But if you're just looking for a fun album to jump around the living room to, this is definitely your thing. Don't think about it too much, and you'll find its brilliance.

Summary: Those expecting substance will be disappointed. This album is fun, not serious.