Know Your Enemy Review 02/04/01 by aoibheann
Firstly you have to remember that I haven�t reviewed a Manics album before because I got them all last year. But I am going to make a really really good attempt at reviewing this one.
The very first thing I noticed is that you can hear a lot more of Nicky singing in the choruses. And of course you can hear him in Wattsville Blues. As usual this album is completely different to the rest. It�s good in that way because I wouldn�t be able to sit and listen to them try and play Everything Must Go again.
Found That Soul: This was perfect to release as a single. People who don�t like the Manics aren�t going to appreciate the drums and guitars on this but it�s their loss. This got a lot less radio play than So Why So Sad but it could only be expected.
Ocean Spray: Everyone who I have played this song for loves it. My mum even likes it and she usually keeps to the likes of Oasis and David Grey. I love this song. The first time I heard it I thought of two little kids playing on a beach. It was a bit like a film or something. Then I went into a website and found out what the song was about and it wasn�t such a perfect film. It�s a beautiful song though.
Intravenous Agnostic: This is by far my favourite song on the album. It was the first song that actually caught my attention because I had heard the other songs before. This was the first one I put on repeat. The drums are just so excellent. It is perfect. I was reading the interview with Sean and Nicky in The Big Issue and it says that in another magazine they claimed Cosmetic/ polemic/ distinguished by relics/ destructive aesthetic/ intravenous agnostic was nonsensical. What is so bad about Nicky writing lyrics that express him? It�s the same old story.
So Why So Sad: I love the way the ba ba das and the Christmassy music distract you from the lyrics. Right now I am listening to it and I am typing at the same time. It is so weird. I am only listening to the chorus properly. It�s the ba ba das that distract me so much. I really have to concentrate on the lyrics to hear them. I think it�s really cool how they did that.
Let Robeson Sing: I love this song too. It reminds me of �Ready For Drowning� in a way. I don�t know why but it does. The lyrics are beautiful. The first time I heard it I thought it sounded like a country western song but then I listened to it properly.
The Year Of Purification: My second favourite song. I didn�t know what this one was going to be like. It is a lot better than I thought because I had a version on Napster but it wasn�t the right one. This one is way better than the Napster one. Well I suppose the real thing usually is.
Wattsville Blues: Why does everyone reckon Nicky can�t sing? I think he can but I�ve got pretty bad judgement of singing coz I reckon I can sing too. The drums were one of the things I first noticed on here. Then the chorus.
Miss Europa Disco Dancer: This is such a cool song. I absolutely love the bass on it. I was washing up the other day and I had that song on and I had to go upstairs to get the phone and when I came back the end of it was playing and my mum went mental and banned me from playing it in public. That didn�t stop me though�
Dead Martyrs: Not my favourite to be honest here. I didn�t like it at the start but then I actually listened to it and now it's ok. I don�t know it�s just the vocals or something. The drums are pretty good though.
His Last Painting: I�m not too sure about this one either but the lyrics are really nice. �I can�t see right from my wrong, I�ve loved so much that I can�t go on.� That line stood out for me. It�s a nice song but I wouldn�t be devastated if it wasn�t here.
My Guernica: I love this song as well. I played it in the car and my dad was nodding along which is strange coz my dad loves to hate the Manics. I love the guitars on this. They sound all rough and really electric-ey. The drums are really cool. And I love the end of it.
The Convalescent: Guess what I love this too. I knew it was about collages on Nicky�s wall but I heard it and I thought, �Has Nicky been in my room or something?� the very first line sums me up properly. �My bedroom wall recalls what�s in my head.� Definitely me. There are some lyrics at the bottom that he didn�t use. �Descend into hell and oblivion/force myself to leave my heaven.� They are perfect.
Royal Correspondent: I like this song but it gives me the impression that it�s the Manics version of �Mr Writer� even though they would never do that, the lyrics seem like that.
Epicentre: I like this song. I�m not mad about it but it is pretty good. The lyrics and guitars are really good. The keyboard is nice too. But what is going on with the end of it? Are they humming or singing or what? I find it really really annoying. The first time I heard it I thought it was the start to �Baby Elian�. It sounds like another song.
Baby Elian: The very first thing I thought about this song was �This sounds like �Ifwhiteamerica��� I know it doesn�t but that was the very first thought I had about this. I think it�s the opening riff. I really like this one too. The lyrics made me think about the whole Cuba - America thing that the song is about. I like the guitar, especially in the chorus.
Freedom Of Speech Won't Feed My Children: It�s James who plays the keyboard on this. I didn�t know that till now. I like it. It�s nice. I don�t really know what to say about it, just that I like it.
We Are All Bourgeois Now: it's a bit annoying coz when I listen to this at night I am usually asleep by the time this comes on and then it just wakes me up. Or if I�m doing homework or something it just gives me a fright coz I forget its there. But I do like it.
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