In a society constructed on misinformation and anti-intellectualism, the album title ‘Critical Thinking’ reeks of irony, but Manic Street Preachers are as genuine as ever. So while Welshman Nicky Wire queries “What happened to your critical thinking?” throughout the beating titular track, underneath is a genuine glimmer of hope amongst the madness of the modern-day world. There is also plenty of hope in the rousing ‘Decline & Fall’ – “I know our time has come and gone / At least we blazed a trail and shone” chirps James Dean Bradfield over the perky tune, and it’s hard not to feel compelled to join in.
But amongst the hope, the criticism of the post-truth world continues on ‘People Ruin Paintings’, as Bradfield delicately puts “People ruin paintings, faces spoil the review, people destroy the truth”. While the album reflects the outside world; there is also plenty of emotional introspection to delve into, ‘Hiding In Plain Sight’ sees Wire grappling painfully with the passing of time, and the desire to show love to our past self.
This consistent conflict between inner soul searching and wider questions for the outside world throughout much of Critical Thinking is what helps to make this album so angry yet gorgeous. For every moment of anger, there is a contrary moment of joy, it’s the reality of modern life.
‘Late Day Peaks’ feels vintage Manics’, a gentle protest at the decaying of the creative industry; “So move indoors, be happy to hide, avert your gaze as the cinemas die”. But not each album prescribes to the war waged on our deceitful world. ‘Being Baptised’ is a glimpse into a day that Bradfield spent in the company with Allen Toussaint, while ‘Dear Stephen’ is a long-awaited response to a postcard Wire was sent by Morrissey for being unable to make it to a show The Smiths were playing when he was a teenager.
The concluding track ‘OneManMilitia’ is a final call to action from the Manics, and a true internal view of their disposition towards society, summed up best by the quip ‘I don’t know what I am for, but I know I am against’.
The lack of commitment to any overarching narrative in this collection of songs is perhaps this sense of freedom that ultimately grants the band and this album true liberty. Although to be expected for an album so steeped in its criticism of the death of truthfulness, Critical Thinking has a sense of genuineness so rare across much of modern-day music, and its sonic delivery manages to balance the past and the contemporary that helps to ensure its listening experience is both refreshing yet nostalgic.
