Gold Against the Soul [Extra tracks] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
The British alternative rocker's 1993 & second album with three remixes of 'Roses In The Hospital' added as bonus tracks: O.G. Psychovocal Mix, 51 Funk Salute Mix and ECG Mix. 13 tracks total. An Epic Records release.

Tracks:

Free Your Mind
Battle Cry
Everyday
Interview Skit
Shake The Spot
Let's Go Baby
In A Race Against Time
Sunrise Skit
Make The Sunrise
Daily Prayers
Phone Sex Skit
Change Your Mind
Military Minds
Murder Makes A House Call
Hollywood Skit
Come Inside (Radio Mix)
Come Inside (Street Mix)
Attack Formation
In The Land Of The Lost
Raw Raps Skit
Raw Raps

Average customer rating:

Have to right some wrongs here
4.5 stars actually
Better then EMG, almost as good as BIble
Middle of the classics
One of the Holy Trinity

Gold Against the Soul
Manic Street Preachers
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Britpop | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Generation Terrorists
Lifeblood
The Holy Bible
Everything Must Go
Generation Terrorists

ASIN: B000025KKX
Release Date: 1999-02-09

Tracks:

Sleepflower
From Despair To Where
Tritesse Durera (Scream T
Yourself
Life Becoming A Landslide
Drug Drug Druggy
Roses In The Hospital
Nostalgic Pushead
Symphony Of Tourette
Gold Against The Soul

Album Description

Aussie version of the Welsh alternative rock act's sophomore album originally released in 1993 and currently out of print in the U.S.. Featuring the singles, 'Roses In The Hospital', 'From Despair To Where' & 'La Tritesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh)'. Standard Jewelcase.

Album Description

Customer Reviews:

Have to right some wrongs here.......2006-06-20

I would have given this four stars but I hope my five drags this out of the 3.5 level. I like this album and offer this personal review.

This is not the best Manics album, it is however the one album from their back catalogue that I can listen to why is this...

well, Generation Terrorists is raw and Motorcycle Emptiness apart often too aggressive for passive listening.

Holy bible is far too painfull, this is beauty but in a way its like when you were dumped by your first girlfriend, the pictures of you as a couple are like knives through your corneas.

I overplayed Everything must go and TIMTTMY, and it will be years before I can buzz to it.

Gold is musically very good, Sleepflower is impressive, Life becoming a landslide has major hooks, La Tristesta Deurera, is another impressively produced rock song, however my favourite starts with "...I write this alone in my bed, I poisoned every room in the house..." odd how such obvious words sum up those blue times, sometimes you walk around and just don't what room to walk into, what room you want to go to, or where you will be next. You realise the poverty of your thoughts, but just don't know how to put them right....

This album does not have the pure pain of the Holy bible, but in this it sums up the angst of the modern life, not depression, just angst... in fact the movement from this second album to the Holy bible is a saluatory warning that unchecked simple rage against perceived injustice to you can become self harm.

Suicide is not painless.

4.5 stars actually.......2005-03-30

The Manics' second album is always the "forgotten one". However, I think it's actually better than their debut, where every track tended to sound the same after while (and it's a looooooooooooong album!). Gold Against the Soul is tighter, harder, and overall, more enjoyable. It also contains some great songs: Sleepflower is one of their best ever, and Tristesse Durrera, Nostalgic Pushead, Drug Drug Druggy, Roses in the Hospital, and From Despair to Where are great songs. Check this one out.

Better then EMG, almost as good as BIble.......2004-06-22

i'd like to know what everyones problem with this album is. i think it's one of the best in the bands whole catalouge. Sure they had alot to follow with terrorists, but still, this album is great. while their debut effort featured very politcally inspired lyrics, gold against the soul seems like its richey slowly crumbling inside. while bible featured richey's last batch of bleak lyrics, which are some of the bleakest in history, this album also has some amazing lyrics. and by the way, the music on this album is great too. heres a track by track rundown and review:
Sleepflower-5/5:amazing opening song , with a great riff to back it. the songs on this album don't speak for themselves like they do on the holy bible, so i don't know what half of the songs on this album are about.
From Despair to Where- 4/5: The music on this song sounds a little too poppy for my tastes, but it features one of my favorite lyrics on the whole album (There's nothing nice in my head/the adult world took it all away)
La Tristesta Deurera- 3.5/5: Alright song, i really like nicky's bass in this one, but not too crazy about the lyrics
Yourself-2/5: maybe my least favorite song on the album. the guitar at the beginning sounds really awful, so that part always kind of drags me away from the song.
Life Becoming a Landslide: 5/5: one of my favorite manic songs. music is great, lyrics are wonderful, and it has possibly one of the best lines in the bands entire catalouge(My idea of love comes from/ a childhood glimpse of pornography)
Drug Drug Druggy- 4/5: I like th guitar in this song, and i really like the lyrics
Roses in the Hospital- 5/5: I'd ive it better odds if i could. Maybe the best street preachers song ever, but i know thats probably not true. some very heartbreaking lyrics, that you know are exatly related to richey(roses in the hospital/stub cigarettes out on my arm) and (roses in the hospital/heroin is just too trendy) the forever delayed part at the end sold me to this song.
Nostalgic pushhead- 1/5: maybe the worst song the manics ever wrote. rubbish.
symphony of tourettes- 3.5/5: the second half of this album is nothing compared to the first, but this is a real good song. great riff by the way.
gold against teh soul- 4/5: good song, good closer, very solid lyrics. way to go.
in other words, this album is no bible, but its better than emg. get the holy bible if you can find it, then come to this one.

Middle of the classics.......2003-10-27

I waited a lot for this album because Manic Street Preacher's first album Generation Terrorists was so brilliant. After the listing Gold Against the Soul, I have to say something. I am really disappointed because there are only three fine songs a beautiful Sleepflower, a fine From Despair to Where and an excelent Life Becoming a Landslide. Rest of the album songs are booring and bad ones. This is not a punk alnum anymore! Gold Against Soul is the album middle of the two classic albums! In my opinion, you shouldn't buy this one1

One of the Holy Trinity.......2002-11-05

I wouldn't agree that this is the Manics' "pop"piest album. I'd look to This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours for that. I believe another reviewer already pointed out that there are bootlegs of these songs that pack the punch that the studio recording does not. It is very true. I still enjoy it as a good listen and as a sort of MSP time capsule.

1. Sleepflower: At first I quite liked this, but it gets tired after a bit.

2. From Despair to Where: Yes, there is a sing-along chorus, but it simply feels good to sing it. Maybe it's just me, but it beats singing "Y-M-C-A" at a loud volume.

3. La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh): Most beloved of early Manics singles by the so-called die-hards...it is well-crafted, yes. It is catchy, yes...but after a while it becomes slightly annoying. Favorite lyric: when JDB screams "I sold my metal/It paid a bill/It sells in market stalls/Parades Milan catwalks..."

4. Yourself: "You look at ads all day/Everyone is perfect and you're so lame". Insecurity central. Remember that the Manics were about fashion before they were about the music.

5. Life Becoming a Landslide: Just the line "My idea of love comes from/A childhood glimpse of pornography/Though there is no true love/Just a finely-tuned jealousy". This isn't winning the Pulitzer Prize, but it still gets a point across; one or a succession of those days where everything just seems to fall on you, and you are clawing your way out.

6. Drug Drug Druggy: Catchy. That's all I can say about it. It doesn't quite stand out for me. I prefer the "live" version from Glastonbury '94.

7. Roses in the Hospital: Ditto about the "live" version. The Clash reference at the end gives some lift.

8. Nostalgic Pushead: Kay-tel Records commercial; commentary on the wave of nostalgic wallowing that has gripped us since hopefully-buried decades decided to come back. Can you imagine nostalgia for the '90s? Rico Suave a classic? *shudder* Another one of those catchy chorus-things...

9. Symphony of Tourette: "Children can be cruel she said/So I smashed her in the f*ckin' head/Sorry dear that's the nature of Tourette". Great track, but needed a little more of the sense of unpredictability that is a hallmark of the syndrome.

10. Gold Against the Soul: We wish rock 'n' roll did have a conscience. Musically, not bad. I love the slide towards the higher notes on lead guitar as a suitable backing for JDB's voice. Nice harmony.

Tracks:

Sleepflower
From Despair to Where
Tristesse Durera
Yourself
Life Becoming a Landslide
Drug Drug Druggy
Roses in the Hospital
Nostalgic Pushhead
Symphony of Tourette
Gold Against the Soul
Roses in the Hospital
Roses in the Hospital
Roses in the Hospital

Album Description

The British alternative rocker's 1993 & second album with three remixes of 'Roses In The Hospital' added as bonus tracks: O.G. Psychovocal Mix, 51 Funk Salute Mix and ECG Mix. 13 tracks total. An Epic Records release.

Album Details

Japanese Version Reissued with Bonus Tracks.

Customer Reviews:

OK but not great.......2004-06-02

Don't get me wrong, I love them but this is average compared to the 3 great albums which followed it. Only 4 stand out tracks for me : La Tristesse,Sleep flower,Life landslide, and 'From despair'. For some reason I cringe at 'Roses', why do so many like it ? The album often sounds amateurish to my ears. Buy Bible instead.

Powerful and Passionate.......2004-01-06

The Manics are nothing if not passionate...that much at least everyone can agree on regarding the controversial Welsh rockers. Beyond that they have been described as being everything from brilliant to worthless. On "Gold Against the Soul", they will do nothing to dispel the notions of those in the latter camp. However, to the fans who have discovered the tremendous talent and emotion of this band, GATS is the epitome of Manics albums.

Loud, beautiful, melodic, confrontational...all words could be used to describe this album. From the gradiose, open country feel of opener "Sleepflower", to the psuedo-metal/funk closing title track, the Manics, still with since-missing guitarist/lyricist Richey James, pull out all of the stops. Again, the operative keyword here is *passionate*. When vocalist James Dean Bradfield screams "Gold destroys the soul...destroys the soul...", you KNOW that he means it. Whether you agree with their politics or not (and many don't), the Manics deserve points for their brutal honesty in their songwriting. The songs touch on a broad wave of topics, from international politics, personal relationships, James's ever-increasing inner turmoil and self-loathing (which would go on to be the focal point of 1994's bleak "The Holy Bible"), and even a diatribe about Tourrete's Syndrome. James and his partner in controvserial-songwriting crime, bassist Nicky Wire, tune down the raw outbursts which were evident on "generation terrorists", but the message is as unabashed as ever.

If the political rhetoric has remained on par, then the musical output of the band has grown increasingly refined. The Manics dispatch any remaining semblance of their punk band past, and instead embrace a melodic, yet forceful, brand of guitar rock. Bradfield and drummer Sean Moore, the musical "directors" of the band, show their keen sense of melody and arrangement throughout GATS. "La Tristesse Durera" is a funk/guitar-driven melodic sing-along, "Roses in the Hospital" is a shimmering, groove-based anthem, and "Life Becoming a Landslide" is simply beautiful. "Symphony of Tourrete's" is a break from the formula, with the band showing that although they don't turn out Clash-inspired punk like they used too, they can still crank it up.

Notions that GATS represents a "sophomore slump" for the band are groundless assertions. Rather, GATS ranks among the band's finest work, and represents a final ray of sunlight before Richey James drove the band down the dark, disturbing path which led to the aformentioned "Holy Bible". No Manics fan should be without this, and those who are curious about the group would be wise to pick it up.

Good stuff.......2000-06-19

The fact that my review is the only one submitted by an American is a testament to how unknown this group is in the US. Unfortunately, anyone who lives here knows how pathetic the current state of American music has become- the backstreet boys and britney spears have completely consumed the music industry. With options such as these at home, one is forced to look across the Atlantic. From what I could tell, MSP are very popular in the UK, so I decided to give them a chance. I must confess that my initial listen was made possible through Napster, but I was so impressed that I immediately purchased this CD, and soon after, ALL their others. MSP had a much harder sound at this stage in their career, they seem to have become more pop-sounding with their two most recent albums, but this is in no way a bad thing. On playing the CD, the first thing you will hear is the raw guitar at the beginning of "Sleepflower." Its like a shot of caffeine that immediately gives your pulse and heart rate a boost! To me, the only other group who can really achieve this effect is Metallica. In any case, give this album (and their others) a chance, as I did, and you will not be disappointed. Unless you like the backstreet boys, that is!

Do not miss out!.......2000-06-11

The Manics are unbelievably underrated, but take no notice of it! The whole CD is a great compilation of meaningful, original music. For me, the highlight of the album is 'La Tristesse Duera (Scream To A Sigh)'- Amazing. But then again, maybe 'Roses in the hospital', or 'From Despair To Where', or maybe 'Drug Drug Druggy'.....(who knows? who cares? it's all soo good!)

manics are the best!.......1999-08-15

hi, i`m a great fan of the manics,but i love oasis to. i have read somethings that the manics greater are than oasis, but that is not true,i do`nt want to say a bad word of the manics. i think that oasis and the manics the best bands of the whole world are! greetings a big music fan!