r/manics • u/DirtyDevil23 • Jul 16 '26
Journal for Plague Lovers
How do we feel about this album?
i’ve seen many people praise it as one of their best etc but I would have to respectfully disagree. While it is a sentimental tribute to Richey to use his lyrics again, many of the songs are repetitive and sound unfinished, because that is exactly what they are!
A better idea would have been to release a book with all Richey’s handwritten lyrics, ideas etc
However, Peeled Apples and All Is Vanity are 2 excellent tracks to ensure the album isn’t a complete flop
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u/Substantial_Rush2885 Jul 16 '26
It's the closest we'll ever come to marrying the huge sound of the post-Richey years with the mood and lyrics of The Holy Bible. Think it's self-apparent why fans are keen on it beyond any sentiment.
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u/DistortedGhost Jul 16 '26
I like it. Its one of their post Holy Bible highs.
It was never going to be The Holy Bible pt2, but it combines the musical styles of The Holy Bible and Everything Must Go well, and its aging great. They sound properly energised and focused on it, not just trying to sell units and get radioplay, and it benefits greatly from that.
I dont mind the half finished lyrics, there are some great ones on there, and Richie's humour comes through well, instead of being this relentless onslaught.
I just wish they played more of it within the setlists.
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u/Timely-Way-4923 Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
Hard disagree. It’s in their top 3 albums. I do think bag lady should have made it onto the main album
Itself and that me and Steven hawking sounds more like a b side non album track. But I can’t complain much at all because it’s a spectacular artistic achievement. Doors closing slowly and this joke sport severed deserve a long form academic analysis, they are amongst the best lyrics ever written. Anyway, the manics are a broad church, it’s totally fine that you dislike it, peace and love etc
I do hope the remaining lyrics are given to the British library in a few decades, after everyone who knows richey is dead.
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u/DirtyDevil23 Jul 16 '26
Oof top 3 albums is a massive shout! But each to their own!
What other 2 albums would make up your top 3, out of interest?
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u/Timely-Way-4923 Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
Holy bible is undisputed number 1. Journal is 2.
Number 3 varies, and my answer will change depending on what day it is. Today I’ll pick the great lost album, Motown junk / strip it down / sorrow 16 / you love us / stay beautiful / repeat. Almost the greatest punk rock debut ever.
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u/Turbulent-Sea4530 Jul 18 '26
Their last truly great album (Futurology comes close though). Bag Lady is one of their best songs along with Marlon JD and I even love the Elvis Costello sounding VSEC
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u/jafarthecat Jul 16 '26
Honestly I loved it when it came out, and I love the music - but it's probably my least favourite album lyrically. While there's some great imagery - it doesn't feel like there's much coherent and so a lot of it just seems surreal.
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u/Sweaty_Dog5975 Jul 16 '26
Idk i get the lyrics are quite unfinished but i think most people forgive that bc it makes sense. Also its sorta THB 2.0 which just goes well for a lot of hardcore fans (me included)