James ranks the 12 albums!!!!!

[Routine Builder]

http://noisey.vice.com/blog/rank-you...oiseytwitterus

Screw you James,stop bullying Lifeblood...

[Takk]

Grr. I feel like you could generate their opinions on their albums from a computer program lol.

[Routine Builder]

Was a bit surprised to see Postcards so high in the list....

[Takk]

true, still trying to sell it? ha.

[Son of Stopped]

But invariably, which I didn’t realize until this conversation, is that the biggest influence on your new album is probably your last album.

Fucking seriously, you've only just noticed? Well I'm glad my acid trip in 1998 was all worth it for the band in other ways.

[Glyn]

Really interesting read but some crazy ranking going on there, can vaguely understand the KYE dissatisfaction within the band but always assumed they were (rightly) proud of Journal

[Colinzeal]

Mmm, not a fan of a lot of that. Send away the Tigers and Postcards for a young man should be a lot lower, Lifeblood and Know your enemy much higher.

I always feel the band are more bothered by the commercial/critical response to their albums than standing by their work. If Lifeblood was a success in those terms, I'm sure it would be a lot further up that list.

[Suicide_Riot_Junk]

Hmmm, interesting read. Not too sure about how low JFPL ranked, and obviously no surprises with the THB/EMG rankings. But still, interesting nonetheless to hear JBDs insight into each individual record, and loved the story about him & Richey listening to Small Black Flowers... & loving it before he disappeared (although I'm sure I've hear that before..!)

[Bryter Layter]

EMG better than THB? Whatever, James. Whatever!

Anyone know what he means by "we had the ask the children" in reference to whether Richey would like the music on JFPL?

Oh and speaking of JFPL...I'm surprised it wasn't higher on his list! I think it's their second best album personally. It's a freakshow which is what makes it brilliant!

[Dac X Lee]

I remember a long long time ago, when Know Your Enemy was the last album and Lifeblood wasn't to be released yet. At the Sony official site of the Manics, there was some kind of short profile-like intervew-worth questions and answers from the band members, "like your favourite this and that" pieces of information.
Amongst them, there was something like "the album you're the proudest of", and if my memory doesn't betray me, James' answer was "The Holy Bible and Everything Must Go". Which was cute, as my puberty/adolescent self though at that time, like "haha, the last and the first albums".
So, this isn't that surprising of a rating afterall. Especially for those who follow interviews, I guess.

[Dancing Kirby]

We can't help them if they're not prepared to help themselves.

[Porco]

I'm glad JDB agrees with me on EMG.

I disagree hugely about Lifeblood, but I think I understand his position a bit, from his point of view. If he/they just don't feel it's an album that feels like it's 'them' I can understand him not liking it as much. After all, he was a very big part of making the thing, he should know the intent and the motivation and how it turned out in relation to that, like no fan ever could.

What I find harder to understand is anyone else rating it the worst (removed from the creators' process that only they can ever be privy to).

[allisvanity]

Was quite surprised that JFPL: was so low down. But they haven't played much of it since the tour, so perhaps it shouldn't be too much of a shock.

[gamehenge]

Originally Posted by Bryter Layter

Anyone know what he means by "we had the ask the children" in reference to whether Richey would like the music on JFPL?

Great read, but wondered this myself?

[River Boy]

Was expecting to join in the booing about Lifeblood, but it's actually a pretty good explanation he gives.

Great comments! Did he really give these over the phone or did he pour over the interview like a fine piece of prose?