Man, I love Manics/Kent fandom cross-polination! I've noticed it on foreverdelayed.org.uk (the foremost Manics fan forum) as well, and in a lot of my friends. In fact, I would consider it very hard not to like one, if you like the other. Both are bands with sprawling back-catalogues, that form entire worlds of their own. Worlds, that accompany and somehow even "protect" their listener, much akin to what it's like to be a sci-fi or fantasy nerd. Both have a knack for writing killer pop tunes, with complicated and myth-forming lyrics and sometimes darker (without going goth) subcurrents. Neither shy away from epics, and are very LP-oriented. Both are very aesthetically pleasing, in their album art, iconography, and themes. Albums appear to be colour-coded. Both employ varied, and at times sublime production techniques. Both are slightly (but not too) undervalued in the larger, global music-geek discourse. Meaning they don't have the baggage bands like Radiohead have. Their worlds are easier to make "your own", since they don't belong to the whole world at large.
Also, both are in a way socialist, or have at least a complicated and interesting relationship with socialism. (Both are from countries with a history of socialism, - Swedish social democracy and Welsh communism)
At the same time, they don't have too many overlapping elements in their respective "worlds". They don't compete, eclipse each other. Though there are funny little coincidences. For example, I read somewhere (kent's english wiki page?) that Joakim Berg decided to become a musician (or was convinced to write songs, I don't remember exactly) after hearing a little known track "Red Sleeping Beauty" by a short lived band called McCarty. The Manics have covered this song. And have been influenced.
It's a great Thatcher era protest song, with nice abstract on somehow even ominous lyrics. There's a slight aesthetic connection with the album title "Röd" in there as well, if you squint your eyes enough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QArjnj6Dvms
I think the closest straight link between them is The Cardigans, Nina Person on the Manics single "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough". Also, James Dean Bradfield has said his favorite guitarist of all time is the guitarist of The Cardigans. We all know kent and The Cardigans are pretty close, having toured and all.
I wonder what these bands think of each other's work? I'm pretty sure they admire it, or
would admire it greatly, if they would give it a deeper listen. Both are bands that award careful, associative listening, delving into The Myth. Though the mythology of Manic Street Preachers, I have to admit, is a bit grander and darker thanks to the whole Richey thing. (Their troubled and extremely talented lyricist/guitarist disappeard in 1995).
All and all I would have to say I like kent a tad bit more, since they epitomise, for me, what a truly grand pop-culture narrative could be, aesthetically.
Also. Both bands have a truly admirable work ethic. Enough can't be said about their commitment to craft. It is truly awe-inspiring how they (both) continue producing masterpiece after masterpiece, after all these years. When other bands have, by that time, long since devolved into laziness, complacency, and even self-pity. (It's so haaard to make an LP...) The Manics are masters of comeback. I was not expecting "Rewind The Film" to be that stark of a return to glory. While kent, of course, have never had the need to return from anything. They appear to be impervious to mistakes. Nearly god-like in their persistant quality. I call them the Miracle Machine. And I don't even envy them, as an artist. One should strive to learn from them. Hard work. And a healthy mix of self-criticism, mixed with pride and belief in your own abilities. That is all that is required. No "genius", none of that eugenic bullshit.
Pardon the long rant, but yeah. Kent and the Manics. They get me talking.
Ursprungligen postat av m@rco
Fortunately they have more good songs, including a Bowie-ashes to ashes cover.jag tycker om sån't som får mitt nyfikna jag att skratta.
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