Manic Street Preachers
Know Your Enemy
Epic UK

It’s funny thing that a band that can sell so many units in Europe and still remain relatively unknown in the States. Thus us the case with Wales’ Manic Street Preachers. After exploding on the scene in 1991 with minor MTV 120 Minutes success with the single "Stay Beautiful," the Manics released a series of great albums, culminating with the brilliant Holy Bible in 1994. Soon thereafter guitarist Richey James vanished mysteriously. The band carried on, shifting from their hooky and edgy rock sound to a more grandiose and ambitious sound that often included strings. With Know Your Enemy, they have come full-circle.

Their albums have always contained a bit of leftist protest in them Know Your Enemy is no exception. The sound on this album, however, is so varied that it’s hard to pin it down. The opening cut, "Found That Soul," is musically almost like a Stooges song. It’s a great way to kick the door in. Shift quickly to "Ocean Spray," a poignant little song that does the quiet to really freaking loud bit magnificently as it switches from chorus to verse. One of my favorite cuts is the terrific "Intravenous Agnostic." Some Goo-era Sonic Youth crops up here. It’s good too. This is a fierce cut. The first single released in the UK is, "So Why So Sad." It’s a weird mid-sixties flashback but it’s such a catchy song that it feels right. This album has so many good singles on it it’s amazing. The previous album, 1988’s This is My Truth, Tell Me Yours was more of a cohesive album but it didn’t offer so many great singles.

"Let Robeson Sing" is as good a protest song as I’ve heard in a while. This whole album hits targets like the CIA, the INS, capitalism and the like. One of my favorite lines is from "Dead Martyrs"--"Dead Martyrs take it further." Classic. The second half of the album has a more decidedly protest feel to it with gems such as "My Guernica," and "Baby Elian." Throughout, production is crisp and full. Know Your Enemy is not the grandiose exercise that created the lovely Everything Must Go, but rather a combination of the lush sound with the sharp singles.

A trip to Cuba to play, an audience with Castro, plus the song "Baby Elian," have together probably guaranteed the Manics won’t be entering the US anytime soon. Especially in light of current Sino-American relations and the ever-vocal Right wing in control. So since it is unlikely the Manic Street Preachers will be granted work permits (I do hope I’m wrong) to tour here. This multi-faceted album will have to suffice. Pick it up. It’s a quality piece of work that has a few good singles on it that work into and album framework. It’s good pop with a bit of an edge here and there.

--Chadbo

Track Listing:

1. Found That Soul
2. Ocean Spray
3. Intravenous Agnostic
4. So Why So Sad
5. Let Robeson Sing
6. The Year of Purification
7. Wattsville
8. Miss Europa Disco Dancer
9. Dead Martyrs
10. His Last Painting
11. My Guernica
12. The Convale Scent
13. Royal Correspondent
14. Epicentre
15. Baby Elian
16. Freedom of Speech Won’t Feed My Child