Manic Street Preachers have dropped their new album, “Critical Thinking”, the fifteenth studio effort of the Welsh band. It’s not a reinvention of their sound, but rather a distillation of what they do best: energetic rock with melancholic, personal undertones, and lyrics that make you stop and think.
The music on the album is lively and full of energy, broadly reminiscent of the Britpop style, but it’s more than that. The Manics have always been more intense than their contemporaries like Oasis, with deeply introspective lyrics tackling themes like the passage of time, modern society, and the band’s own history. They are, and remain, the intellectuals of Britpop.
The songs on the album are really well-crafted. It’s clear that after over 40 years in the game, the band knows exactly how to write a tune: there are great melodies everywhere, layered over punchy rock, with that melancholic vibe typical of many Britpop-inspired acts.
The production is rock-solid. All the instruments and vocals come through crisp and clear, letting you fully appreciate the band’s music. There’s no doubt we’re living in a golden age of high-definition sound.
Here are some tracks that stood out to me as the most interesting:
“Critical Thinking”: the title track marches along with a bold, powerful rhythm and serious intensity. It feels distinct from the rest of the album’s sound. Over this, the lyrics question our ability to think for ourselves.
“Decline and Fall”: a killer single, easily one of the album’s best. It’s about time slipping by, and its gorgeous music perfectly captures the vibe of this collection.
“Dear Stephen”: a bittersweet nod to Morrissey (former frontman of The Smiths). The band shows their admiration but mixes it with disappointment over comments from the singer that many have found controversial.
All in all, “Critical Thinking” has been generally well-received by fans, though I think it can feel repetitive at times, with all the songs sticking to a pretty similar lane, offering little we haven’t heard before. It even sounds a bit uninspired in places. Still, while it doesn’t break new ground, it shows that the Manics, even in a limited way, still have some interesting music and ideas to bring to the table.
