Manic Street Preachers "Everything Must Go"
Epic, 483930 2 (45 mins)
Dial a track code 1201
It's been well over a year since Richey James disappeared, leaving the three remaining members of Manic Street Preachers wondering whether they should mourn, hold out, hope, give up the ghost, or pick up the shattered pieces and carry on. Thankfully, they've decided on the latter course of action, and their fourth album, Everything Must Go, articulates the Welsh band's wounded optimism as they try to come to terms with their loss. While the Manics' last album, The Holy Bible, was immense and harrowing, this one is immense and heroic, replete with lush orchestration and even deeper shades of Motown in the soul. The remaining trio of James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore and Nicky Wire seems to have galvanised into a sharply focused sceptre, piercing directly to the heart where before they simply tore at the flesh. There's a clear vision at work in songs like A Design For Life, Australia and No Surface All Feelings, the band no longer blinded by the heat of full blooded rage. Richey's lyrics pop up in the desolate Elvis Impersonator.
Blackpool Pier, the freeze framed Kevin Carter and the caged animal compassion of Small Black Flowers That Grow I The Sky. The title track is a thundering tune which mixes the heated passion of River Deep, Mountain High with the gentle persuasion of Make It Easy On Yourself and Wire's lyrics bolster the band's brave new resolve "I hope you can forgive us, but everything must go". Sometimes you just gotta let go before you can go on.
Scheer "Infliction"
4AD, CAD 6006 CD (44 mins) Dial-a-track code 1311
If you are of a queasy disposition, you might want to avert your gaze from the cover of the Derry band's debut album. Unless you re a seasoned surgeon, or a member of the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow, then the graphic close ups of sutured scars and cauterised wounds might make you toss your cookies all over your Cranberries posters. However, don't turn a blind ear to the excellent songs contained within 10 lush, cathartic tunes which deal with afflictions of the emotional and spiritual kind.
Scheer emerged around the same time as the Limerick band named after a turkey dressing, and indeed they share some of the same influences and approaches, but a huge artistic chasm separates Scheer's intense, articulate rock from The Cranberries muddled, simplistic angst. Singer Audrey Gallagher eschews the quirky vocal tics for a keen, unpretentious delivery, and the blokes in the band avoid the lazy jangle and the easy distortion, putting all their passion and power into their playing, and colouring the sound with real, palpable textures. Just compare the opening track, Shea, with The Cranberries' Salvation, and you'll see what I mean. Other songs like Wish You Were Dead, Demon and Sad Loved Girl show a band which could go lash for lash with The Whipping Boy in a self flagellation contest and still come out bloodied but unbowed. Scheer have so far managed to avoid global fame, and judging by the cover, they're determined to discourage anybody from trying to sell their damaged souls to the MOR masses. No way will K-Mart stock this one, so Scheer are safe for now.
Various Artist's "Music from the motion picture Mission Impossible"
Mother, MUMCD9603 531682-2 (65 mins)
Dial-a-track code 1531
Your mission, Adam and Larry, should you decide to accept it, is to redo the theme from the Sixties TV spy series, thus having your first hit record without Bono and The Edge. The U2 rhythm section opens this, loose collection of spy oriented tunes, few of which actually feature in the Tom Cruise blockbuster. You've got Massive Attack doing Spying Glass, Pulp doing I Spy, Bjork doing Headphones (you know, for listening to things), and Skunk Anansie doing Weak (must be coz Mish Imposs was on every week). There are a few instrumental themes from top soundtrack man Danny Elfman, The Cranberries' Dreams (which does feature in the movie) and Gavin Friday's You, Me And World War III After the CD had finished, I waited well over five seconds, but it didn't self destruct. So much for new technology.
