Just under a year and a half after Journal For Plague Lovers, the tenth full-length of the Manic Street Preachers is already there. The previous record was entirely based on old lyrics by former guitarist Richey Edwards, who has been missing for years (and now declared dead), so the band was still full of ideas. The group from Wales has been making music for over twenty years, but still has enough
… notes on its vocals and sets the bar very high for Postcards From A Young Man. The general public must be reached and hits are necessary for that. In any case, the sound is great, on a handful of songs even a choir is used to emphasize their messages. And the band still has a lot to say. In the past, socialist themes were an important motivation and the socially critical tone is clearly discernible in songs like Don't Be Evil and the cynical All We Make Is Entertainment. The Manic Street Preachers know better than anyone how to pack a deep message into a solid pop album. (JE)more
