Journal For Plague Lovers (2CD Deluxe Edition)

Amazing. That is all I have to write. This deluxe edition is well worth the extra money as it is beautifully presented and any fan would be extremely happy with it. Would make an excellent present as well.

What can I say!? A great release and follow up the fantastic Send Away The Tigers. The songs on this album could be from a mixture of previous albums. You get the raw sound of All Is Vanity and Bag Lady (hidden track), which is Holy Bible esque, Jackie Collins Existential Question Time which could have been on S.A.T.T. , Me and Steven Hawking- def a Everything Must Go sound to it, Virginia State Epilpetic Colony which could have been on Know your Enemy then to the softer side like This Joke Sport Severed which has a Lifeblood sound to it.
Fantastic Album and something for everybody.

Being a big Manic's fan, i was of course excited for this album. A new Manic album is always a treat but one lyrically written by Richey is a dream come true. Lyrically its of course the best thing they have done since the last album Richey almost exclusively wrote the lyrics; The Holy Bible, around 15 years ago. Musically James and Sean occupy many musical styles to fit Richey's lyrics, from the punk fever of 'Peeled Apples' and 'Me and Stephen Hawkins', to the deep and beautiful 'The Joke Sport Severed' and 'Facing Page: Top Left', ending with a fitting goodbye in 'William's Last Words' sung by his best friend Nicky. The album is emotional, involving, beautiful, funny and rocking, but most of all I think the band can finally lay the ghost of the genius that is Richey Edwards to bed. Album 9/10

On the special edition the pack is stunning with a beautiful box and brilliant copy of the book the lyrics came from, as well as a collection of demos of all tracks. The main criticism is the absence of Bag Lady which is a secret track on the normal version of the album.

Lyrically and musically one of the best albums the band have released. Only Richey Edwards can write lyrics as intense as this and they really bring out the best in James' music.

Peeled Apples is a vicious rock song that puts the Manics back into their Gold Against The Soul/The Holy Bible style.

Jackie Collins Existential Question Time is a classic as far as the Manics go. It's reminescient of Autumn Song at first but then kicks into a fast and heavy outro.

Me And Steven Hawking is perhaps the most easy listening song on the album, with the classic line "we missed the sex revolution when we failed the physical".

This Joke Sport Severed is initially a beautiful acoustic but then it kicks into a beautiful electric classic with gorgeous strings.

Journal For Plague Lovers is another easy listening track with some awesome drum work and vocals.

She Bathed Herself In A Bath Of Bleach is an upbeat rock song with an evil edge.

Facing Page: Top Left is probably my favourite track. A beautiful acoustic and really shows of JDB's vocal.

Marlon J.D is another classic. With a catchy chorus and awesome guitar solo theres something here for everyone

Doors Closing Slowly is probably the slowest song on the album but great lyrics with classic lines such as "crucifix is the easy life".

All Is Vanity is probably the one song that sounds least like a Manics record, musically it sounds more like the Artic Monkeys... Once again JDB's vocals shine in the chorus.

Pretension/Repulsion is a reasonally slow song but eventually kickes into a rocker.

Virginia State Epileptic Colony is a very catchy and the song could have came of Know Your Enemy

William's Last Words has Nicky Wire taking on the vocals, even though he's not the best vocalist in the world his crowky voice deffinitely adds something that James Dean Bradfield's voice couldn't. Musically it tends to have the effect of uplifting you but lyrically it's rather difficult, this song could be taken as Richey's suicide note.

Bag Lady is the bonus track and is a great rock track and a strange selection to put as bonus track.

Really this album is great but if you love pop then this may not be your cup of tea...

The best the Manics have come up with for years.

This really is a good album and the band have made good use of the lyrics left by Richy Edwards. The production on this album is excellent and this record holds together more as an album from start to finish than the last record - Send away the tigers (which I also enjoyed). The Manics then artistically and musically on top form, with the bite of what makes them so great as a band. There are plenty of highlights and something different on each track which makes it interesting. Buy it!!

This album is simply one of Manic's best albums in years!
I'm a huge fan of all of their previous work, but this new album encompasses everything from the Holy Bible to Generation Terrorists to Send Away The Tigers. Catchy songs, great riffs, drums and vocals, and with Richey Edwards lyrics... well this is one of the best albums in a long time. Certainly the best of 2009.

HIghly recommended, if you liek MSP you'll know what to expect (and you'll be amazed at the quality of this work, it's astounding) and if you don't. Well, take a chance and I guarantee you'll like it.

From Peeled Apples to Bag Lady every track is amazing. Jackie Collins is definately set to be a hit this year, along with a few others I imagine, like the Journal for Plague Lovers song and All is Vanity!

Must buy! Do not miss out on this album!

This is a huge track!!!!
Jackie collins existential question time!!!
Delicate intro of gold against the soul then bursts with the venom of the holy bible.
Short but incredibly sweet.