Manic Street Preachers "Jackie Collins Existential Question Time"

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Coming out earlier this year in the UK, Journal for Plague Lovers continues on the same path as the Manics' previous effort: a late career call to arms reminding fans why the band has always been vital, and washing away the band taste that Know Your Enemy left in everyone's mouths.

While I was in England on the album's release date (on my 30th birthday, no less), other Stateside fans will get the opportunity to buy the new album at non-import prices this Tueaday when it official hits stores. Alternately, buying it here from the band will net you a ten song remix compilation as well. While the band's remixes have never been spectacular, this time around folks like Saint Etienne, Four Tet, and Patrick Wolf had their chance to do a reworking, so this one may be worth checking out.

Additionally, for the first time in a decade, the band will be touring the US, starting in Seattle. Dates below:

September
Mon-21: Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
Tue-22: Vancouver, Canada @ The Commodore Ballroom
Thu-24: San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Fri-25: Los Angeles, CA @ The Avalon
Mon-28: Denver, CO @ The Bluebird Theatre
Wed-30: Minneapolis, MN @ The Varsity Theatre

October
Thu-01: Chicago, IL @ The Metro
Fri-02: Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Theatre
Sun-04: Toronto, Canada @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre
Tue-06: Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live
Wed-07: New York City, NY @ Webster Hall
Thu-08: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club

The Answering Machine in Manchester

[Photo Credit: Emily Dennison]

Myspace // "Oklahoma" (Dutch Uncles remix) [Audio] // "Obviously Cold" [Video]

This Friday in Manchester (UK), favorite sons (and daughter) the Answering Machine will be playing a gig at Man City Stadium with Doves, Twisted Wheel, and the positively terrible Kid British. Although the band has only dipped their toes into the US, they've been blowing up in their home country, fresh off of a support tour with Manic Street Preachers.

The band's debut album is out now on Heist or Hit Records.

First person to e-mail me the name of their favorite Answering Machine tune gets a pair of tickets to this gig.

Flashback Thursday: Manic Street Preachers "Faster"

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Later this spring, the Manic Street Preachers will release their ninth studio album, tentatively titled Journal for Plague Lovers. Billed as sort of a follow-up to The Holy Bible, the album will only feature lyrics written by Richey Edwards, whose whereabouts are still unknown. The album is produced by Steve Albini.

To look back on The Holy Bible, the album most often cited by fans as the band's best, this is the video for the album's first single, "Faster." Famously, when the band performed the song on BBC's Top of the Pops, they were decked out in army/navy uniforms with James Dean Bradfield wearing a terrorist-style balaclava. They were told by the BBC that they had received the most complaints ever, especially because some thought they were supporting Irish paramilitary groups.