Record Collector: Manic Street Preachers new album "Critical Thinking" review/Nicky Wire Q&A - song re: Morrissey "Dear Stephen" (December 30, 2024)

Record Collector - #566, January 2025.

Web version of the above:

Critical Thinking - Record Collector Magazine

Over 30 years and 15 albums in and, thankfully, Manic Street Preachers have yet to call a truce with their furies. Critical Thinking lashes out against

recordcollectormag.com

Something previously missed in MOJO asserts the same re: Dear Stephen:

"A tender exploration of teenage fandom and adult disappointment, Dear Stephen is inspired by the time in 1984 when The Smiths played Cardiff University. Wire’s mum wrote to the group explaining that her teenage son was desperate to see the band but was too ill to attend. The Smiths wrote back, with Morrissey scribbling “get well soon Nick” on a postcard. "An almost spiritual antique" is how Wire describes the note, which he recently rediscovered."

Regards,
FWD.

 

[gashonthenail]

I remember the interview referred to. It was in Select magazine in 94 when he was promoting Vauxhall. Morrissey said something along the lines that the BNP only resorted to violence because they were being gagged and that they should be given a television platform. I can't find a link to it anywhere, but the musician Momus refers to it here:

https://imomus.com/index60.html

A good example of Moz saying something totally reasonable - in fact just being an old fashioned liberal on the topic of censorship - and then the NME twisting what he said to be 'far right'. 30 years ago. And what has changed?

 

[marred]

I've been a fan of the Manics for years but their last album was just awful and the new single Decline and Fall sounds like more of the same soft pap. I'm not sure why they've gone in this direction because Resistance Is Futile from 2018 was a great album.

Journal For Plague Lovers from 2009 was probably their last really great album. They've pretty much gone soft since then.

 

[gashonthenail]

I've been a fan of the Manics for years but their last album was just awful and the new single Decline and Fall sounds like more of the same soft pap. I'm not sure why they've gone in this direction because Resistance Is Futile from 2018 was a great album. Journal For Plague Lovers from 2009 was probably their last really great album. They've pretty much gone soft since then.

Their upcoming album is on NME's list of most anticipated albums for 2025. What, no Bonfire of Teenagers?

NME’s most anticipated album releases of 2025

2025 brings new album releases from FKA Twigs, The Weeknd, Sam Fender, Lana Del Rey, Japanese Breakfast and more – read on for the full list

www.nme.com

 

[marred]

Their upcoming album is on NME's list of most anticipated albums for 2025. What, no Bonfire of Teenagers?

NME’s most anticipated album releases of 2025

2025 brings new album releases from FKA Twigs, The Weeknd, Sam Fender, Lana Del Rey, Japanese Breakfast and more – read on for the full list

www.nme.com

NME wouldn't know how to anticipate good weather.

 

[Who Rattled Your Cage]

The song 1985, from the album Lifeblood, in which the band mention Morrissey and Marr. Video is made by Nicky Wire's poet brother Patrick.

 

[marred]

The song 1985, from the album Lifeblood, in which the band mention Morrissey and Marr. Video is made by Nicky Wire's poet brother Patrick.

Lifeblood didn't really get much notice when it came out but compared to their recent stuff it's a damn masterpiece. I've always loved this song.

 

[marred]

The last time they thrashed it out was the Journal For Plague Lovers album where most of the lyrics were long lost words from Richey Edwards who disappeared in 1994. This song Jackie Collins Existential Question Time is one of my faves from the album.

 

[Who Rattled Your Cage]

The last time they thrashed it out was the Journal For Plague Lovers album where most of the lyrics were long lost words from Richey Edwards who disappeared in 1994. This song Jackie Collins Existential Question Time is one of my faves from the album.

Great, funny song. Great album, too.

 

[marred]

And they did a great cover of The The's This Is The Day.

 

[Famous when dead]

From Mojo (March, 2025):

 

[Andy W]

From Reddit, Moz discussion in Manics subreddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/manics/s/YuE7VN2M8s

 

[gashonthenail]

The album is released in Feb so presumably we'll get full lyrics soon after. There is a live version on YT but hard to make the lyrics out. It's clearly a plaintive love letter of sorts. Something about 'I'm still a prisoner to you and Larkin'. Something about 'it takes guts to be kind'. And a chorus of - 'Dear Steven, please come back to us'. There is an echo perhaps of a certain song - we've lost our boy? All rather sweet.

 

[gashonthenail]

Manic Street Preachers: "Muzzling young people only leads to bitterness" - Dork

Three decades in, and Wales' most vital band return with 'Critical Thinking', an album that turns their legendary scrutiny inward

readdork.com

 

[Famous when dead]

Album gets 4.5/5 in Classic Pop this month - Morrissey-themed song mentioned above.
FWD.

 

[mabuk]

Dear Stephen sees Morrissey as a guilty pleasure, someone who needs fixing, this is all sprinkled with clunky Smiths quotes. Also, very jangly.

 

[gashonthenail]

Dear Stephen

You're still my bad habit
My dark little secret
My illicit unseen drug
My secret hidden love

Dear, Stephen, please come back to us
I believe in repentance and forgiveness
It's so easy to hate, it takes guts to be kind
To paraphrase one of your heartbreak lines

I'm still ill
I'm cursed to stay
Under your spell for all my days
I'm still a prisoner to you and Larkin
Even as your history darkens

Dear, Stephen, please come back to us
I believe in repentance and forgiveness
It's so easy to hate, it takes guts to be kind
To paraphrase one of your heartbreak lines

I've been the boy with the thorn in his side
I want you vivid in your prime

Dear, Stephen, please come back to us
I believe in repentance and forgiveness
It's so easy to hate, it takes guts to be kind
To paraphrase one of your heartbreak lines


AZLyrics Manic Street Preachers Lyrics
album: "Critical Thinking" (2025)
Manic Street Preachers - Critical Thinking

AZLyrics - request for access

 

[gashonthenail]

You can't help but wonder if Nicky Wire spelt the name wrong on purpose?

Manic Street Preachers – 'Critical Thinking' review: former generation terrorists shoot hope through doubt

Read NME's review of Manic Street Preachers' 15th album, 'Critical Thinking' – where '80s indie and arena euphoria shoot hope through doubt

www.nme.com

 

[Thewlis]

Dear Stephen

You're still my bad habit
My dark little secret
My illicit unseen drug
My secret hidden love

Dear, Stephen, please come back to us
I believe in repentance and forgiveness
It's so easy to hate, it takes guts to be kind
To paraphrase one of your heartbreak lines

I'm still ill
I'm cursed to stay
Under your spell for all my days
I'm still a prisoner to you and Larkin
Even as your history darkens

Dear, Stephen, please come back to us
I believe in repentance and forgiveness
It's so easy to hate, it takes guts to be kind
To paraphrase one of your heartbreak lines

I've been the boy with the thorn in his side
I want you vivid in your prime

Dear, Stephen, please come back to us
I believe in repentance and forgiveness
It's so easy to hate, it takes guts to be kind
To paraphrase one of your heartbreak lines


AZLyrics Manic Street Preachers Lyrics
album: "Critical Thinking" (2025)
Manic Street Preachers - Critical Thinking

AZLyrics - request for access

That’s a bad line.

 

[gashonthenail]

That’s a bad line.

It's the history of these islands that is darkening. Nicky clearly is an old left Labour voter, from a working class background, who hasn't realised that the modern left hate the working class. They want to stick the working class in prison. He needs to take those shades off and open his eyes. I do have to say though - I like the song. Quite sweet really.

 

[Thewlis]

It's the history of these islands that is darkening. Nicky clearly is an old left Labour voter, from a working class background, who hasn't realised that the modern left hate the working class. They want to stick the working class in prison. He needs to take those shades off and open his eyes. I do have to say though - I like the song. Quite sweet really.

Haven’t listened to it yet, will in the morning.
Quite like the lyrics, apart from that line.