Postcards From A Young Man

Wow, what an album. I have been a Manics fan for a long, long time and this is among their finest work to date. I would love for this album to get some attention in the states because it could be huge here if people would just hear it. Manics fans need to be calling/writing radio stations demanding to hear them on American radio. They said their goal was to reach mass audiences with this album and if this album can't do it, then I don't know what can.
Amazing, I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. A great album to introduce people to the Manics with, very accessible without compromising their music or style.
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This record is great and kind of ironic...according to Nicky Wire, PFAYM is intended to be their last record aiming for commication with the masses...but it's not available domestically in the US, only their 2nd that is import only...the other is their misfired 2005 New Wave/Synthpop record "Lifeblood", and the 2 solo works...but their prior album, 2009's "Journal For Plague Lovers" was released and promoted here, and it was willfully difficult and uncommercial, yet great, a stylistic followup to 1994's "The Holy Bible" with Richie-penned lyrics...ironically, THB was released here as a 10th anniversary deluxe edition only, but never on it's initial release.

Anyhoo, "Postcards" is an intentionally big, melodic, orchestral even, POP/powerpop record, with soaring choruses, strings, choirs, etc, but done Manics-style, with policial-leaning lyrics that are personal and emotional, with resources that are obscure to most and referenced in unique ways...like all their works, T.S. Eliot is quoted in the book(let), among many. The single "(It's Not War) Just The End Of Love" is a typically great Manics-styled pop tune, along the lines of "A Design For Life" or "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough", but very 2010, not retro. All 12 tunes are killer. Yes, there are B-sides on singles and 2 Japanese-only bonus tracks, but this deluxe box is not worth it to me...the demos are on, er, CASSETTE???!!??? And the DVD is good for maybe 1 watching...question is, how long is it?? And the spiral scrapbook is cool, as are the postcards, but you get the book condensed in the 2CD deluxe version, with the demos on a second CD, not cassette...so that version, in a gold-coloured, hard-covered book package (also limited edition and weirdly not available on Amazon), is better for me, and it's 80 bucks cheaper...I was a tad worried about the CDs though, as the pockets in the covers were a TAD too tight, but they are OK.

I'm also weirded out that "Postcards" is not available in the States domestically because this record is tailor-made for US radio and these songs would go over so well live and win over some American fans...but me, I've been a Manics freak since 1991 and "Genration Terrorists"...not easy being an American Manics fan, as this country never gave this Welsh trio any love over the years...

A shame totally.

I happened to hear a song from the Manic Street Preachers on a radio show and have since bought every album they've done since and including The Holy Bible. Their albums vary a lot in style . Some people may not like certain albums but I appreciate their excellent musical abilities and arrangements. Sean Moore is in my opinion the best drummer perhaps ever. Nicky Wire is a great bassist / guitarist and James Dean Bradfield is an excellent singer / guitarist. Wire writes the lyrics and Bradfield and Moore write the music to go with it. I like the fact that the drums have such a prominent role in their music. The music is very refined , they spend a lot of time on each songs arrangement. It is hard for me to believe they aren't more popular in other counties including the US. They don't seem to try to write top 40 music although I understand they have had many hits in the UK. I'm glad I happened across them. They are the best band in the world in my opinion. Perhaps the best ever. Because of the complexity of their music it is hard to tell how good a song is from hearing only 20 or 30 seconds of it. I almost didn't buy Postcards From A Young Man because I didn't like the sound of these excerpts. I'm glad I took a chance on it. This is a great album. Although I'm not prepared to say it is their best because they've done a number of excellent albums. I hope this is helpful.