777. Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible (1994)

Track Listing

1. Yes
2. Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayitsworldwouldfallapart
3. Of Walking Abortion
4. She Is Suffering
5. Archives Of Pain
6. Revol
7. 4st 7lb
8. Mausoleum
9. Faster
10. This Is Yesterday
11. Die In The Summertime
12. The Intense Humming Of Evil
13. P.C.P.

Review

I have never been one for the Manic Street Preachers, but this album has undeniable mystique. From the pretty great cover to the title to the disappearance of Richey James Edwards which resonates immensely with the lyrics which were mainly written by him.

Fortunately the album does not live solely of its mystique, the music, though dark, is very attractive and here you can see the germ for countless alternative rock bands. Bands like Muse draw a lot from this and even Radiohead clearly is influenced by it, while this album is clearly influenced by bands like the Dead Kennedys and Wire.

There are some pretty great moments, the martial push of the second track has been endlessly imitated and the lyrics are generally great, focusing on depression, politics and other happy things. I really liked this, even if it isn't generally my kind of thing.

Track Highlights

1. Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayitsworldwouldfallapart
2. Yes
3. 4st 7lb
4. Faster

Final Grade

9/10

Trivia

From Wikipedia:

The song lyrics consisted of many diary/journal entries made by Edwards, and were, in essence, his final writings before his mysterious disappearance on February 1, 1995. In Q magazine's January 2006 100 Greatest Albums Ever! list, where The Holy Bible came in at #69, it was said of the album: 'Graphic, violent torrent of self-lacerating punk fury which infamously details the horrors in Richey Edwards' head before his 1995 disappearance.'

Faster: