Lifeblood is the seventh album released by the
Manic Street Preachers, following a
greatest hits record,
Forever Delayed, and a
b-sides album,
Lipstick Traces. The
conclusive nature of the previous two releases caused
rumors to fly about the future of the band, and according to interviews, they themselves were wondering what they could do next.
In contrast to the
anger and edginess of
Know Your Enemy,
Lifeblood is a
rubber-band snap back, both musically and lyrically. The entire record has a
retro feel and is reminiscent of
80s pop, while lyrically, almost every song has a reference to former guitarist
Richey Edwards. According to the band, their goal was to make an '
elegaic pop record' and go in directions people wouldn't normally associate with them.
Although each song is quite
simple, as well as
short (nothing runs over four minutes), every
melody is strong - there are virtually no '
lulls' in the album. The tone is
sweet and
sad, but in a different way than
This is My Truth Tell Me Yours, which sprawls like a
Shakespearean
tragedy.
Lifeblood seems to create more of an
acceptance. A
comfort.
Pleasant stillness.
1.
1985
2.
The Love of Richard Nixon
3.
Empty Souls
4.
A Song for Departure
5.
I Live to Fall Asleep
6.
To Repel Ghosts
7.
Emily
8.
Glasnost
9.
Always/Never
10.
Solitude Sometimes Is
11.
Fragments
12.
Cardiff Afterlife