| CUSTOMER REVIEWS: | 5/5 - Punk for my Generation
Looking back at the greatest albums of the punk revolution its easy to see where the inspiration for this album came. Just glance back to The Ramones or The Clash and there are obvious similarities to this debut for the Welsh (then) four-piece.
Generation Terrorists is in essence a punk album for the younger generation, it retains the snarling teenage angst of the genre's early offerings of the 1970s with that same boredom and political message of albums such as "Never Mind the Bollocks" or "London Calling". In its own right it is equally as important as any of the early punk albums. This kick-started the Manics career and propelled them onto a big label, giving one of the best bands of the 1990s their voice.
Having said that, there are only a limited number of excellent songs. Most of the 18-strong album is pretty standard rock n' roll stuff, though the lyrics are intelligent and typically Manics. Standout tracks include 'Slash n' Burn', 'Stay Beautiful' and 'Little Baby Nothing' - yet what makes the album so brilliant is just two songs, without which this record wouldn't get that fifth star. They are 'Motorcycle Emptiness'; a remarkably beautiful song which is virtually perfect as music goes; and 'You Love Us' - an acid-spitting, gun-waving, petrol bomb-throwing slice of vitriolic punk rock.
In all the album suffers from some major flaws, its too long by about four or five tracks and contains some pretty average material, as well as being 10 years too late for the punk wave. But its strange that these are the qualities that make it so awesome an album. Its snarling yet smart, brash, cocky and loud (effectively a definition of the genre). Its flaws actually galvanise the album and make it what it is.
All in all it is an incredible punk album that has a certain magic that puts it into the 5-star category, despite its flaws.
5/5 - WE LOVE YOU!
This is one of the best debut rock albums in the world. The Manic Street Preachers are perhaps lryically one of the most controversial bands of the decade, however their unique ability with these use of politics slamming lryics shines through and is not lost beneath the excellent guitar solos of James Dean Bradfield along with his powerful yet tuneful voice which no other singer can touch. Songs like Motorcycle Emptiness, You Love Us, Stay Beautiful, Little Baby Nothing and Love's Sweet Excile will stay with the Manics to the grave and fans still get excited about them when they are played live ten years on. This album is the start of something beautiful, a rock and roll band with strong beliefs which they can reach people with in an entertaining manner, you've not heard The Manics untill you've heard this rocker of an album, 18 songs and everyone is a very strong effort!
4/5 - A flawed work of genius
The inclusion of Motorcycle Emptiness alone makes this one of the best albums of the 90s - this one track is simply one of the greatest songs ever made, whose music and lyrics marry perfectly to articulate the despair and powerlessness that one feels in the face of a world with such inequalities as this. Truly a timeless masterpiece.
Most of the other first 7 or 8 songs are pretty good punk / rock fare, with Little Baby Nothing the most original musically by quite a long way, as well as being one of the most intelligent songs ever made about prostitution. The rest of the album, with the exception of Stay Beautiful, is basically filler, which is a real shame, as if they had kept the album to 9 or 10 songs then this really would have been one of the best rock albums ever made. As it is, it is still one of the most interesting albums of the 90s, with a couple of songs that will be seen as classics even in 20 or 30 years' time. |
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Monday, September 8, 2008
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