Journal for Plague Lovers

Journal for Plague Lovers
Studio album by Manic Street Preachers
Released 18 May 2009
Recorded Rockfield Studios, Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales, United Kingdom, October 2008 – February 2009
Genre Alternative rock, hard rock, post-punk
Length 42:37
Label Columbia[1]
Producer Steve Albini and Dave Eringa
Manic Street Preachers chronology
Send Away the Tigers
(2007)		 Journal for Plague Lovers
(2009)		 Postcards from a Young Man
(2010)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [2]
Clash (8/10)[3]
Drowned in Sound (9/10)[4]
The Guardian [5]
NME (8/10)[6]
The Observer [7]
Pitchfork (7.8/10)[8]
PopMatters (8/10)[9]
Q [10]
The Times [11]

Journal for Plague Lovers is the ninth studio album by the alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 18 May 2009, and features posthumous lyrics by Richey Edwards, who vanished on 1 February 1995, and was presumed deceased in 2008. It is the only Manic Street Preachers album in which the lyrics for every song were written solely by Edwards.[12][13] The album cover is an original painting by Jenny Saville who also contributed artwork for The Holy Bible.[1][14]

Contents

Background

The Manics posted the following message on their official website: "All 13 songs on the new record feature lyrics left to us by Richey. The brilliance and intelligence of the lyrics dictated that we had to finally use them. Topics include The Grande Odalisque by Ingres, Marlon Brando, Giant Haystacks, celebrity, consumerism and dysmorphia, all reiterating the genius and intellect of Richard James Edwards.".[14] Wire, who is usually the band's de facto lyricist, had begun contributing musically to the songwriting process on Send Away the Tigers, and was thus able to write some of the music for Journal, stating "“I did write quite a bit of music...I wrote all of ‘William’s Last Words’, I wrote pretty much all of ‘Marlon JD’, I wrote the chorus for ‘Peeled Apples’, the verse for ‘She Bathed Herself In A Bath Of Bleach’".[15]

The lyrics are taken from a folder of songs, haikus, collages and drawings Edwards gave to bassist/lyricist Nicky Wire a few weeks before he disappeared.[16] Edwards also gave photocopies of the folder to singer/guitarist James Dean Bradfield and drummer Sean Moore. The band have described the Rymans folder as having a picture of Bugs Bunny drawn on the front emblazoned with the word ‘OPULENCE’. In promotional interviews for the album, Bradfield and Wire have revealed that the folder contains around 28 songs. Four of these appeared on the 1996 album Everything Must Go: "Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier", "Kevin Carter", "Removables" and "Small Black Flowers that Grow in the Sky". Of the rest of the folder, Wire stated: “There’s probably between eight and ten maybe that were too impossible. Some of them are little haikus, four lines. "Dolphin-Friendly Tuna Wars", that’s one, "Alien Orders/Invisible Armies", that’s one [the band have recorded an instrumental that takes its title from this lyric]. "Young Men", which is quite Joy Division. They just didn’t feel right. We’ll probably put them all out in a book one day. There’s not gonna be a Journal for Plague Lovers Two. The special version of the record does come with the original version of the tracks on there. So you can see the editing process, if there is any”.[16]

Several tracks refer to Edwards' time in a couple of hospitals in 1994. Among them is "She Bathed Herself in a Bath of Bleach," of which James Dean Bradfield said to the NME: "There're some people he met when he was in one of the two places having treatment and I think he just digested other people's stories and experiences." [17] The final track, "William's Last Words", has been compared to a suicide note, and although Nicky Wire rejects this suggestion,[18] Bradfield observes "you can draw some pretty obvious conclusions from the lyrics."[19] Wire, who admitted finding the task of editing this song "pretty choking",[18] eventually composed the music and sang lead vocals after Bradfield found himself unsuited to the task.[20] The album features several cultural references, including a passage from the film 'The Machinist', which features in the song 'Peeled Apples' and a passage taken from the film 'The Virgin Suicides' also features in the song 'Doors Closing Slowly'.

Release

The album is available on CD, deluxe 2CD, download and LP.[14] The deluxe edition includes a second disc with demo versions of all thirteen album songs and a hardback 36-page booklet featuring Edwards' original lyrics and artwork. This version of the album is missing the hidden track "Bag Lady".[21][22][23] The Japanese edition of the album was released on 13 May 2009, and features two exclusive bonus tracks.[24] The download version includes a bonus remix by the New Young Pony Club and an acoustic version of the title track.[25]

Opening track "Peeled Apples" was played for the first time on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on 25 March 2009.[26] During an interview with Lowe, Wire said there would be no singles released from the album.[27] "Jackie Collins Existential Question Time" was aired on XFM and Kerrang Radio on 30 March.[28] It was also embedded on the band's official website.[29] The top four UK supermarkets stocked the CD in a plain slipcase, as the cover has been deemed "inappropriate". Bradfield regards the decision as "utterly bizarre" and has commented: "You can have lovely shiny buttocks and guns everywhere in the supermarket on covers of magazines and CDs, but you show a piece of art and people just freak out."[30]

Remixes EP

Journal For Plague Lovers has been remixed by a number of artists. The EP was released on 15 June 2009. Martin Noble of the band British Sea Power has remixed the song "Me and Stephen Hawking."[31] Andrew Weatherall has produced a remix of "Peeled Apples", which he has described as sounding like Charlie Watts playing with PiL. The Horrors have remixed "Doors Closing Slowly".[32] New Young Pony Club have remixed the song "Marlon J. D". The EP also features remixes by Patrick Wolf, Underworld, Four Tet, Errors, Adem, Optimo and Fuck Buttons.[33][34]

Tracklisting

All music written by Bradfield/Moore/Wire. All lyrics Edwards.

  1. "Peeled Apples" – 3:33
  2. "Jackie Collins Existential Question Time" – 2:24
  3. "Me and Stephen Hawking" – 2:46
  4. "This Joke Sport Severed" – 3:04
  5. "Journal for Plague Lovers" – 3:45
  6. "She Bathed Herself in a Bath of Bleach" – 2:18
  7. "Facing Page: Top Left" – 2:40
  8. "Marlon J.D." – 2:50
  9. "Doors Closing Slowly" – 2:52
  10. "All Is Vanity" – 3:35
  11. "Pretension/Repulsion" – 2:05
  12. "Virginia State Epileptic Colony" – 3:25
  13. "William's Last Words" – 4:15 / "Bag Lady" (hidden track) – 3:05[35]

Download Version

  1. "Peeled Apples" – 3:33
  2. "Jackie Collins Existential Question Time" – 2:24
  3. "Me and Stephen Hawking" – 2:47
  4. "This Joke Sport Severed" – 3:04
  5. "Journal for Plague Lovers" – 3:45
  6. "She Bathed Herself in a Bath of Bleach" – 2:18
  7. "Facing Page: Top Left" – 2:40
  8. "Marlon J.D." – 2:50
  9. "Doors Closing Slowly" – 2:52
  10. "All Is Vanity" – 3:34
  11. "Pretension/Repulsion" – 2:05
  12. "Virginia State Epileptic Colony" – 3:23
  13. "William's Last Words" – 4:19 / "Bag Lady" (hidden track) – 3:05
  14. "Marlon J.D." (NYPC's Wire Up Mix)
  15. "Journal for Plague Lovers" (acoustic)

Japanese Version

  1. "Peeled Apples" – 3:33
  2. "Jackie Collins Existential Question Time" – 2:24
  3. "Me and Stephen Hawking" – 2:47
  4. "This Joke Sport Severed" – 3:04
  5. "Journal for Plague Lovers" – 3:45
  6. "She Bathed Herself in a Bath of Bleach" – 2:18
  7. "Facing Page: Top Left" – 2:40
  8. "Marlon J.D." – 2:50
  9. "Doors Closing Slowly" – 2:52
  10. "All Is Vanity" – 3:34
  11. "Pretension/Repulsion" – 2:05
  12. "Virginia State Epileptic Colony" – 3:23
  13. "William's Last Words" – 4:19
  14. "Alien Orders/Invisible Armies" – 2:36
  15. "Primitive Painters" (originally by Felt) / "Bag Lady" (hidden track) – 10:13

Charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders) 69
Dutch Albums Chart[36] 88
Finnish Albums Chart[37] 23
Swedish Albums Chart 37
UK Album Chart[38] 3

Personnel

Manic Street Preachers
Additional personnel

Production

References

  1. ^ a b "Journal for Plague Lovers". columbia.co.uk. http://www.columbia.co.uk/news/12391/0/. Retrieved 24 March 2009. 
  2. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Journal for Plague Lovers". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1573110. Retrieved 1 January 2012. 
  3. ^ Mike Diver (15 May 2009). "Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plague Lovers". Clash. http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/manic-street-preachers-journal-for-plague-lovers. Retrieved 1 January 2012. 
  4. ^ Dom Gourlay (16 December 2009). "Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plague Lovers". Drowned in Sound. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14412/reviews/4136880. Retrieved 1 January 2012. 
  5. ^ Caroline Sullivan (15 May 2009). "Manic Street Preachers: Journal for Plague Lovers". The Guardian. 
  6. ^ John Doran (13 May 2009). "Album Review: Manic Street Preachers". NME. 
  7. ^ "Rock review: Manic Street Preachers, Journal for Plague Lovers". The Observer. 17 May 2009. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/may/17/manic-street-preachers-journal-plague-lovers. Retrieved 1 January 2012. 
  8. ^ Joe Tangari (1 June 2009). "Manic Street Preachers: Journal for Plague Lovers". Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13150-journal-for-plague-lovers/. Retrieved 1 January 2012. 
  9. ^ David Smith (18 May 2009). "Manic Street Preachers: Journal for Plague Lovers". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/92866-manic-street-preachers-journal-for-plague-lovers/. Retrieved 1 January 2012. 
  10. ^ Q (June 2009): 120. 
  11. ^ http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article6233368.ece
  12. ^ "Band to take 'Journal For Plague Lovers' on the road". nme.co.uk. http://www.nme.com/news/manic-street-preachers/43650. Retrieved 24 March 2009. 
  13. ^ BBC Wales, "Manic Street Preachers - Richey Edwards",BBC Wales
  14. ^ a b c "Journal for Plague Lovers". manics.co.uk. http://www.manicstreetpreachers.com/07/news/2009/03/24/journal_for_plague_lovers?page=1. Retrieved 24 March 2009. 
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ a b "Manic Street Preachers Interview — Part One 'In a Movie About Us, Christian Bale Would Play Richey'". nme.com. http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=10&title=manic_street_preachers_interview_part_1_&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1. Retrieved 16 May 2009. 
  17. ^ She Bathed Herself In a Bath of Bleach Songfacts
  18. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (8 May 2009). "'This album could seriously damage us'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5grc907Fk. Retrieved 18 May 2009. "it's difficult to overlook the similarity between the lyrics of William's Last Words, which Wire edited down from a long prose piece, and a suicide note: "Wish me some luck as you wave goodbye to me, you're the best friends I ever had." Wire insists he thinks the lyric isn't about Edwards, but nevertheless, the process of editing it down was "pretty choking"." 
  19. ^ Mackay, Emily (18 May 2009). "Manic Street Preachers Interview Part Four – "This Record Is More Personal Than 'The Holy Bible'"". NME. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5grcqsRV1. Retrieved 18 May 2009. 
  20. ^ Mackay, Emily (18 May 2009). "Manic Street Preachers Interview Part Four – "This Record Is More Personal Than 'The Holy Bible'"". NME. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5grcqsRV1. Retrieved 18 May 2009. "I tried to edit it, and I couldn't get to the kernel of how to approach it musically, and Nick finally did it ... [h]e did a demo of it and it just worked straight away ... I can't do that with my voice ... I can't convey what he does." 
  21. ^ "Journal for Plague Lovers (Deluxe Edition)". manic.co.uk. http://www.manicstreetpreachers.com/global/news/global/2009/05/07/exclusive_signed_albums. Retrieved 9 May 2009. 
  22. ^ "Journal for Plague Lovers (Deluxe Edition)". hmv.com. http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1;-1&sku=956158. Retrieved 25 March 2009. 
  23. ^ Manic Street Preachers. Journal For Plague Lovers, Columbia (2009).
  24. ^ "Journal for Plague Lovers (Japanese Version)". www.sonymusic.co.jp. http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/International/Arch/ES/ManicStreetPreachers/. Retrieved 3 April 2009. 
  25. ^ Journal for Plague Lovers (Download Version). www.itunes.co.uk (information shown on album pre-order page). Retrieved on 5 May 2009
  26. ^ Manic Street Preachers - Zane Lowe Radio Play
  27. ^ "Zane Lowe Radio One Show - 25 March 2009". www.bbc.co.uk/programmes. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00j8h20. Retrieved 28 March 2009. 
  28. ^ "Jackie Collins Existential Question Time on the radio". www.manics.co.uk. http://www.manicstreetpreachers.com/07/news/2009/03/30/jackie_collins_existential_question_time_on_the_radio?page=1. Retrieved 30 March 2009. 
  29. ^ "Latest Audio on front page of official Manics website". manics.co.uk. http://www.manicstreetpreachers.com/global/frontpage. Retrieved 6 March 2009. 
  30. ^ "Supermarkets cover up Manics CD". BBC News. 14 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8050110.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-14. 
  31. ^ "British Sea Power remixing Manic Street Preachers". www.nme.com. http://www.nme.com/news/manic-street-preachers/44109. Retrieved 20 April 2009. 
  32. ^ "A Quietus Interview". www.thequietus.com. http://thequietus.com/articles/01583-new-testament-manic-street-preachers-interviewed-about-journal-for-plague-lovers-richey-edwards-and-the-holy-bible. Retrieved 1 May 2009. 
  33. ^ "Free Manics downloads from nme.com". http://www.manicstreetpreachers.com/global/news/global/2009/05/18/free_manics_downloads_from_nme.com. Retrieved 18 May 2009. 
  34. ^ "The Horrors and Manic Street Preachers cover each other — free mp3s". http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=122&title=the_horrors_aamp_the_manic_street_preach&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1. Retrieved 18 May 2009. 
  35. ^ "Journal for Plague Lovers". www.sonymusic.dk. http://www.sonymusic.dk/view.php?template=artist&page_id=53. Retrieved 29 April 2009. 
  36. ^ GfK Dutch Charts
  37. ^ Suomen virallinen lista
  38. ^ The Official UK Charts Company

External links

Manic Street Preachers
Studio albums
Generation Terrorists (1992) · Gold Against the Soul (1993) · The Holy Bible (1994) · Everything Must Go (1996) · This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours (1998) · Know Your Enemy (2001) · Lifeblood (2004) · Send Away the Tigers (2007) · Journal for Plague Lovers (2009) · Postcards from a Young Man (2010)
Compilation albums
EPs
Singles
"Suicide Alley" (1988) · "UK Channel Boredom" (1990) · "Motown Junk" (1991) · "You Love Us (Heavenly Version)" (1991) · "Feminine Is Beautiful" (1991) · "Stay Beautiful" (1991) · "Love's Sweet Exile/Repeat" (1991) · "You Love Us" (1991) · "Slash 'n' Burn" (1992) · "Motorcycle Emptiness" (1992) · "Suicide Is Painless (Theme from M*A*S*H)" (1992) · "Little Baby Nothing" (1992) · "From Despair to Where" (1993) · "La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)" (1993) · "Roses in the Hospital" (1993) · "Faster/P.C.P." (1994) · "Revol" (1994) · "She Is Suffering" (1994) · "A Design for Life" (1996) · "Everything Must Go" (1996) · "Kevin Carter" (1996) · "Further Away" (1996) · "Australia" (1996) · "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" (1998) · "The Everlasting" (1998) · "You Stole the Sun from My Heart" (1999) · "Tsunami" (1999) · "The Masses Against the Classes" (2000) · "Found That Soul" (2001) · "So Why So Sad" (2001) · "Ocean Spray" (2001) · "Let Robeson Sing" (2001) · "There by the Grace of God" (2002) · "The Love of Richard Nixon" (2004) · "Empty Souls" (2005) · "Underdogs" (2007) · "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough" (2007) · "Autumnsong" (2007) · "Indian Summer" (2007) · "The Ghosts of Christmas" (2007) · "(It's Not War) Just the End of Love" (2010) · "Some Kind of Nothingness" (2010) · "Postcards from a Young Man" (2011) · "This Is the Day" (2011)
Box sets
Video Albums
Other appearances
"Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" (1995)  · "Leviathan" (2005)  · "The Instrumental" (2006) · "Umbrella" (2008)
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