It took me a few years to convince a reviews editor to trust me with a Manics album. In the summer of 2010, Matthew Bennett, recently installed in that position for Clash, gave me the green light to provide the magazine’s opinion on ‘Postcards From A Young Man’. This is the one that Nicky trailed as “one last shot at mass communication.” You know, the one with the extortionate shoebox deluxe edition that got heavily remaindered. I liked it a lot, still do, and finally getting the chance to write about a band who had meant so much to me since the age of thirteen was made just a little bit more magical when Wire tweeted from the band account: “Amazing review-Clash magazine-stunning totally gets the ideas of'postcards'xx.” I hadn’t gone fishing for it, obviously, but it was a neat moment.
Since then, I’ve reviewed each subsequent studio record and almost all of the anniversary reissues in one way or another. (Sample: ‘The Holy Bible’, ‘Know Your Enemy’, ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’.) There was an unsuccessful 33 1/3 pitch in there too - repurposed here - and it’s always a pleasure to spend time with their work. While we’re on the subject, I also put together a rapid-fire catalogue overview in 2014 too. Something about their work excites my writing instincts and long may it continue.
Most recently, my current Clash editor - long-serving legend Robin Murray - allowed me to take two-thousand words to consider the imminent ‘Lifeblood’ twentieth anniversary edition. Spoiler: it’s great.
You can read that piece now: CLASH - Letting Lifeblood Breathe
While I’m here, I’ll also draw your attention to the vinyl round up for March, just to make sure you hear the sublime Amelia Coburn album. It was the fiftieth edition, but we kept it suitably low key - CLASH - March Vinyl Column.
Back soon with some actually big news.
Hope all’s well with you. Speak soon.