1. Peeled Apples2. Jackie Collins Existential Question Time
3. Me And Stephen Hawking
4. This Joke Sport Severed
5. Journal For Plague Lovers
6. She Bathed Herself In A Bath Of Bleach
7. Facing Page: Top Left
8. Marlon J.D.
9. Doors Closing Slowly
10. All Is Vanity
11.Pretension/Repulsion
12. Virginia State Epileptic Colony
13. William's Last Words
The Manics roll back the years on this their ninth studio album and as per usual it's not a simple affair. Recorded on the back of the hearing that proclaimed Richey Edwards as 'presumed dead', Bradfield and co took a series of unpublished Richey lyrics and put them to music on what many have described as the sequel to the masterpiece 'The Holy Bible'.
Whilst there are undoubtedly similarities between this 'Journal' and the original 'Holy Bible' - starting with the cover art provided by Jenny Saville -,this is not just another attempt at an earlier winner. Nothing could ever be as vehement as 'The Holy Bible' was, but what makes this album equally as compelling is that it combines all that was manic during the Richey-era - tracks such as opener 'Peeled Apples', 'All Is Vanity' or particular favourite 'Marlon J.D' - with the natural progression the band has made since he departed - highlighted in tracks such as 'Jackie Collins...', 'Me And Stephen Hawking' or the delightful 'Doors Closing Slowly'.
The Manics are back with a vengeance and, on this showing, are most definitely presumed alive.
NME-E Rating 9/10
Top Track: 'Marlon J.D.'
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