How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Advantages:
Genius !
Disadvantages:
None whatsoever
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Write some songs about a stripping transvestite vicar and someone called Mavis? Surely it’ll never catch on, you must be mad! Well, that’s what a quartet from Chester decided to do, unleashing their debut album into the British music scene, four years ago now. And it still seems like yesterday. Woo hoo Mansun, you knocked Blur off the number one spot in the album charts with this gem! And on with album...
For those who don’t know who Mansun are, they’ve been lumped in the indie category. Not strictly true, as they don’t exactly stick to the indie style and certainly don’t give a damn when it comes to competing with their peers. They just do what the hell they want to do and why not? You’ve got scruffy bearded Andy on drums, the oddly named Stove on bass, floppy haired and scary teeth Chad on guitar, piano and anything he can get his hands on. Finally, there’s Paul (drool) Draper on vocals, guitars and anything he can nick off Chad. Voila.
#My desperate icon# - The Chad Who Loved Me Eerie is one way I’d describe this, for want of a better word. First your ears are subjected to a sweet sounding string section, deliberately similar to the Bond theme ‘The Man With the Golden Gun’ (I think?). Anyway, then the rest of the music comes easing into the song, with pretty dark lyrics sung with a distorted effect. Quite a bitter sounding tune, very thoughtful and not at all indie!
#The centre of the universe is up for sale# - Mansun’s Only Love Song I’m a bit undecided on this tune, it’s pretty mellow but just doesn’t do much for me. Perhaps pleasant is an appropriate description. All the instruments seemed to have been toned down, a very soft sound with typically high whispery vocals. Then you hear a bizarre ending as this song merges into the next. I’m not entirely sure what it is, kind of sounds like a distorted cry. Who knows!
#Who’d you nick your cliche off# - Taxloss A-ha! Now the album really kicks in and speeds up the tempo a bit. Taxloss is an amazing tune. You haven’t heard it? Sham on you, it was released as a single! The offbeat rhythm and title of this song point to the Beatles in a sarcastic way. Not directly aimed at the Beatles, but the various acts over the years (Oasis anyone?) who have blatantly ripped off the fab fours music. Yikes that Paul Draper can hit some high notes, it’s frightening. Great vocals that turn to screams, top-notch harmonies and an energetic sound make up a top tune.
#I wish I could be you# - You, Who Do You Hate? Back to the bitterness, this sounds regretful and angry. A bit schizophrenic with the sound too, alternating between soft and whispery to fast and loud. Basically, the song conveys the message ‘I wish I could be you’ backed by a more basic sound than most of the album, heavily focussed on drums. Pretty emotional.
#Something quite bizarre I cannot see# - Wide Open Space Ooh! THE classic Mansun track, the most well known and deservedly so, it oozes mass appeal with its pop roots and indie rock add-ons. Originally, this song was ridiculed by the critics as a naff tune that had no place in the music scene. Yet the fans loved it and still do, often claiming it to be their favourite Mansun tune. Energetic all the way through, fantastic lyrics, unlike anything else you’ve heard. Possibly the best track on the album.
#They’ll call him plastic scouser# - Stripper Vicar Well, this does the carry on films proud in its campness and jokey style. Written about a strange fictional vicar who is a closet transvestite who strips in his spare time, the lyrics are penned in letter style, written to the strippers daughter, Mavis. As you do! Perfect timing for this one, amongst the darkness it’s a welcome piece of light-hearted fun and just makes you want to bop.
#You’re so full of venom# - Disgusting That’s enough flippancy for now, lets gets serious again and slow things down. The bitterness is back as well, you can guess from the title, written about someone who is less than a pleasant person. Reminds me of my ex, but that’s another story!
#Bring her on down from heaven# - She Makes My Nose Bleed The final release (I think) from Grey Lantern, this is rumoured to be about S and M, whether it is or not I’m not sure of. Standard indie on the music front but the lyrics are far from familiar. Lyrics such as ‘Bring her on down by the soles of her feet’ or ‘I vow to my God I’d give it all up’ are hard to imagine being sung by the likes of Travis or Coldplay. Yet again, the vocals go from low and sultry to almost screaming. Strange as it is, this is very listenable.
#Stick or twist# - Naked Twister Hmm. This seems cryptic to me, can’t quite grasp what the purpose of this song is. The music is outstanding though, the echoed guitars strengthen the song.
#See you in hell, I’ll go shopping instead# - Egg Shaped Fred Another strange character this time called Fred. My least favourite on the album, Fred seems to love his shopping and wants to get in people’s pants. Confused? I still am. Not to be taken seriously this one, for me it serves as an upbeat contrast to the previous track.
#Do not disturb me as I shine# - Dark Mavis The tune to end the album, this sweeps along in epic proportions. It’s just simply fantastic. The most memorable for its lyrics also, especially: ‘and if you should see me passing by, do not disturb me as I shine, though I am far away, this is where I’ll be.’ A perfect example of what this band is capable of. The song drifts along to a crescendo of ‘la la la’ merging into the same orchestral strings that introduce you to the album.
There is one of those hidden tracks at the end of Dark Mavis, a sweet piano accompanied melody conveying that ‘the lyrics aren’t supposed to mean that much’, showing the band in a favourable light; they never take themselves seriously, they do it for the fun of it.
All in all, a unique album that set Mansun on the musical map, grabbing the listeners attention and ultimately making them my favourite band. A little strange a times but I think this album has a wider appeal. The album forms a story of strange characters, each song seamlessly blending into the next. Yet on their own, each track stand up for themselves as decent British music.
My descriptions are a little woolly, so there’s a link to the official site below which has a huge list of audio files so you can hear for yourself!
www.mansun.net
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How does it rate alongside the competition
Outstanding
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Good
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but whose lead singer most people would be hard-pressed to name--are impossible to figure out; one gets the impression they prefer things that way. In successive ph...
but whose lead singer most people would be hard-pressed to name--are impossible to figure out; one gets the impression they prefer things that way. In successive ph...
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