Album Review: Manic Street Preachers – This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours (Remastered)
Manic Street Preachers – This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours
Words: Sammy Sadler
I’ve had a soft spot in my heart for Manic Street Preachers for a long time now. I think it started when I first heard ‘Your Love Alone Is Not Enough’ and ever since I’ve found myself dipping in and out of their discography sporadically.
With this being said, I was naturally really excited when the brand new, remastered version of ‘This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours’ landed in my post box – yes it was a physical copy, I still appreciate them!
Now, ‘This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours’ is twenty years old and something we are passionate about on Popped is featuring new music. So this is an album review with a difference.
Everyone knows that ‘This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours’ is a classic and it definitely doesn’t require a track-by-track review. So, I’m focussing on those tracks that are a bit different and breathe a new lease of life into the Manics. Amongst the whopping 41-tracks which features the remastered album in entirety, you’ll find B-sides, demos and some cracking remixes that I’ve had on repeat for a week now. Below are my top four standout tracks from the lovely collectors version, that are reason enough on their own to treat yourself this Christmas.
The home recording demo of ‘I’m Not Working’ is the first up on my top list due to its sheer rawness. Opening on exposed guitar patterns, I can’t help but be reminded of Radiohead and their signature experimental instrumentals. It’s almost like James Dean Bradfield (JDB) is singing into a tape recorder just for me and it sounds lush. With lyrics tackling personal issues such as unease and depression, I personally think this works much better than the previously released version of the track.
The alternative version of ‘Born A Girl’ also deserves a mention due to the fact it sounds so different to the original but at the same time, it sounds extremely similar? Let me explain. It’s not as dreamy as the original, it’s much grittier and at first I wasn’t sure what to think of it but now I’m sold. Eerie synths soar around JDB’s passionate vocals as guitars lead you through the track and the explosive drums we are so used to with Manics is non-existent.
It’s hard to believe that ‘Montana / Autumn / 78’ was a B-Side as it’s easily one of the Manics better tracks. Boasting an electro-fuelled rock intro, it’s not long before JDB’s familiar rasp is introduced and he screeches over piercing basslines and chaotic percussions.
The fourth and final track deserving a mention is another B-Side, ‘Valley Boy’. With anthemic lyrics, echoed vocals and an experimental soundscape, it’s easily one of the Manics most intriguing tracks. Definitely worth a listen.
