h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The Manic Street Preachers are either the fourth or third worst band of all time (I can't decide whether they're in front of or behind Matchbox 20). They are lazy, predictable and fat.

The manic Street Preachers are one of the few bands tody who have maintained some degree of artistic integrity (admittedly they may have lost direction slightly with 'this is my truth...'). However, their new album is neither predictable nor the sell-out that their previous offering was accused of being. To find a band that actually wants to write about issues that matter and not just produce mindless pap is both unusual and refreshing.

Madmaz.

I like them them I could name hundreds of bands which I think the world could do without,

there are two main reasons why I like music either because it sounds good, you either you want to dance to it or sing/play along with it or that it means something
if its got both then so much the better

The manics are probably the only band who still write about things that matter and not just mindless love songs. I would much rather listen to the Manics than any other band who have entered the UK charts in the last few years (with one notable exception)

I really like the Manic's but I wouldn't say they were the only good band currently around. Their earlier stuff is a lot better than what they are currently releasing but the new stuff is still better than the general trend of s**t pop music.
I have to ask (even though you probably purposefully left a teaser just to get a reply), who is the exception?
Radiohead? REM? Nirvana? Rage against the machine? The Eels? The Pixies? Placebo?
These are all bands I consider to deserve their success (if not much more.) but I do admit that there are few quality bands left around.

Yeah, I'll go with that. Although I am seriously impressed by their new album. I wasn't expecting to be, since their last one was a disappointment. There are some songs on there which, for me, are almost as good as some of the better stuff on Generation Terrorists and the Holy Bible. I particularly liked 'Let Robeson sing' and their cover of 'We Are All Bourgeois Now'- but maybe that's just me... Can anyone write a protest song?

Oops. I forgot to mention Ocean Spray... An excellent song if ever I heard one. What confuses me is that, to my mind, they released two of the worse songs on the album as singles. Is this an example of them 'selling out' or do I just have weird taste in songs?

My problem is I became a Manics fan in early March and between now and April I have bought all the albums apart from Everything Must Go. I havent memorised the tracks off This Is My Truth or Know Your Enemy yet but I think Ocean Spray is just amazing, and I'm surprised it only got to number 15. I actually like Found That Soul, but I think they should release Baby Elian, or Epicentre

Funnily enough I havent come across a Manics song I dont like yet, even though on a first listen I didnt like Miss Europa Disco Dancer, but I like it now

I became a fan not long after everything must go, and I love em, still yet to get their earlier stuff though

Everything must Go is IMHumbleHO a great album, but not as great as Holy Bible at all at all, get their early stuff now or yesterday.

Does anyone here remember if they released their "suicide is painless" cover as a single/b side anywhere? My friend had a recording of it someplace, but I have no idea how he got it, and havent seen him in about 2 years ;-/.

dammit why dont we have a winking but confused ; - / smiley, somewhere between and ? I would use it all the time..

They released Suicide Is Painless as a single, but it wasnt on an album, arrrgh! I cant believe it, I havent heard it and my mum has!!!

"Dont want to see your face, dont want to hear your words, why dont you just, puck off."

Well, Nickys a hockey fan and the bbc arent too keen on the "f word"

i didnt know nicky was keen on golf...its funny cos i saw a video of glastonbury 1999 the other day and he skips at the end...which is quite funny actually

and i have heard suicide is painless now, woopeee!!

Well I am very happy for you then

marylin mansons version is also pretty good

marilyn manson did a suicide is painless cover?

Did indeed - I downloaded it I have to say its great - very dark.

What, worse than New Kids on the Block, Westlife, Boyzone, Hear'say, Spice Girls, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Boney M, The Corrs and 99.9% of anything else in the charts at the moment? Ay Caramba! They must be very bad indeed!

You probably know this by now but anyway here goes: 'Suicide is Painless' was released on the NME's charity album 'Ruby Trax' and also as a single, and became the Manics first top 10 hit. I got it on MP3 before Napster went south...can't find it anywhere now...sorry I can't be of any more help. Though (whisper it quietly) there may be a 'greatest hits' compilation coming out soon...I'd expect it to be on there...

Wasnt aware of the NME album, thanks...

I have multiple versions of suicide is painless now, all downloaded using morpheus or audiogalaxy - great song

Although as theme tunes go, the A-Team is better

vp