Things are building up nicely for the new Manics album (though it is still six weeks away).
The 2-Disc deluxe edition has been confirmed as featuring demo recordings as well as lyrics, artwork and photographs by Richey Edwards in a book package.
The official site has just had a makeover, and you can listen to the beautiful, beautiful track Jackie Collin’s Existential Question Time without having to work through an interview with James (as you did in the XFM stream). There is a rather lovely review of the album from John Niven, which reveals a few more of those ever-so tantalising lyrics (one of which seems to come from the 2005 download-only track Picturesque, though I’m not sure whether that means it is on the album as a secret track or – perhaps more likely - the lyrics have been merged into another song). http://www.manicstreetpreachers.com/global/frontpage
Also, as seems to be the norm, the Japanese release of the album will feature bonus tracks – Alien Orders/Invisible Armies and Primitive Painters. There are also Japanese deluxe two-disc re-releases of the first eight studio albums, and a DVD release for Live video ‘Everything’. Check them out at CD Japan here:
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=SICP-2224
…well, assuming you are prepared to pay the import fees anyway.
Regards,
Marwood.
