Gold Against the Soul is the second album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers released on June 14, 1993. All lyrics were written by Nicky Wire and Richey James Edwards, all music was written by James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore.
[edit] Album overview
The lyrics of the album are considerably less political than their previous album Generation Terrorists and the album was more reflective of the despair and melancholy of their later work like The Holy Bible, though The Holy Bible was itself highly politicised at times. An exception is the title track ("Gold Against The Soul") which contains lyrics like "Close the pits sanctify Roy Lynk an OBE" and "White liberal hates slavery/Needs Thai labour to clean his home."
"La Tristesse Durera" (literally "the sadness will go on") is the title of a biography of Vincent van Gogh, although the song is not about him, but about a war veteran.
The band themselves have described this as their least favourite album and the most unfocused period of their career, with Bradfield saying "All we wanted to do was go under the corporate wing. We thought we could ignore it but you do get affected." Bradfield has said that they were being encouraged to write more "radio conscious" songs and this is evident, especially in the stadium rock style anthems "Life Becoming a Landslide" and "From Despair to Where". Nevertheless, these tracks have become classics among fans. Incidentally, the band's image had changed to a more mainstream rock band look.[original research?]
[edit] Track listing
All tracks written by Bradfield/Moore (music) and Edwards/Wire (lyrics).
[edit] Personnel
- James Dean Bradfield - vocals, lead guitar, backing vocals
- Sean Moore - drums, percussion, drum programming (tracks 8, 10), backing vocals
- Richey Edwards - rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lyrics
- Nicky Wire - bass guitar, backing vocals, lyrics
[edit] Additional personnel
- Dave Eringa, Ian Kewley - piano, organ
- Nick Ingham - string arrangements
- Shovel - percussion
[edit] References
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| Studio albums |
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| Compilation albums |
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| EPs |
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| Singles |
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| Box sets |
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| Video Albums |
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| Other appearances |
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