Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go
In 1995 the Manic Street Preachers where preparing to go to America to a promional tour for their LP “The Holy Bible” But the night before guitarist and main lyrics Richey Edwards disappeared. After these terrible events they could have just split up and called it a day. They would have left us with three classic albums. But in May 1996 they came back with such emotion and beauty Everything Must Go. The album opens to water flowing and then it kicks into “Elvis impersonator Blackpool Pier” musically the track is very beautiful with a harp a good opener. “A Design For Life” follows it is the first single off the album and the manics have never sounded as good. The song has a great use of strings to help give this song a great powerful and epic feel to it. Simply brilliant stuff. Next is “Kevin Carter” which is one of the few tracks that they were working on with Richey before he disappeared. The song has some great trumpet work on it. Lyrically it tells the story of the photographer Kevin Carter. “Elona/Alone” is Nicky trying to cope with Richey leave “all I wanna do is leave no matter how miserable it is” and it comes with very pretty results. “Everything Must Go’ follows suite. This song is big it is the manics call to their fans saying this is the only thing they could have done after the disappearance. Beautiful track and one of the highlights of this album. Next does Richey write another song “Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky” great use of the harp here to give the lyrics such a beautiful backdrop James sounds beautiful here. “The Girl Who Wanted To Be God” comes up next and I have no clue what this song is about but you know what I love it and I sing along with it every time I hear it brilliant filler song. Next “Removables” which is another song written buy Richey that is a very haunting song lyrically it deals with Richey cutting himself. Next we have the lovely “Austrailla” this song is perfect. It’s just about wanting to go far away from everything around you. The song has a great feel it and I can see being used for film and TV. “Interiors” follows another one of those confused Nicky written songs that has a more upbeat feel it. Further Away is the next track and it is the manics love song. The closer No Surface and All Feeling is the sound of a band that feel so empty and drained and don’t really know what to do brilliant track. The Manics created on those great records that will never leave your head and each one of these songs could be singles without question. This album will stay with you for a long time. Must Have
By John Siwicki
