Track Listing

1. Elvis Impersonator Blackpool Pier
2. A Design For Life
3. Kevin Carter
4. Enola/Alone
5. Everything Must Go
6. Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky
7. The Girl Who Wanted To Be God
8. Removables
9. Australia
10. Interiors (Song for Willem De Kooning)
11. Further Away
12. No Surface All Feeling

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6100 in Music
• Released on: 1996-05-01
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
In coming back after the disappearance of guitarist Richey Edwards, Everything Must Go had to be special. Thankfully, the album shows extreme dignity in the face of adversity, with its big, Phil Spector-ish production and the pure lyrical perfection of "A Design For Life" (the least patronising, most spot on discussion of the working class ever to reach number two in the charts). Richey Edward's influence is still evident, as "Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky" is a pit of despair, but it is much more subtle than anything on "The Holy Bible", delicately comprised of James' vocals and a harp. Their love of art and literature continues, referencing Sylvia Plath ("The Girl Who Wanted To Be God"), war photographer Kevin Carter, and artist Willem De Kooning (on "Interiors", surely one of Nicky Wire's best bass parts since "La Tristesse Durera"). It's little surprise that this was the album to finally shove the Manics into the mainstream. --Emma Johnston

CD Description
The cathartic album title perfectly reflected not only its contents but the band itself: following the traumatic breakdown and disappearance of Richey Edwards, the other Manics were left to pick up the pieces--it was an extraordinary and unexpected recovery. Perhaps most striking was their new sober image--the make-up, military garb and much of the bravado were gone--and their characteristic disaffection seemed morepertinent and controlled. Despite losing a member, the bandhad discovered a new voice, delivering a collection of powerful and socially aware songs. Poignantly, Edwards' lyrics graced songs including "Kevin Carter" and "Small Black Flowers . . . ", all delivered in James Dean Bradfield's emotionaltones.

Customer Reviews

They want to live, no matter how miserable it is
The first word that comes into your mind when listening to this is "Dignity". How a band could lose such an integral member (let's face it, Richey was slightly more important than just rhythm "guitarist"/lyricist) and not fall down on their arses under the weight of rumour, gossip and despair is truly remarkable. This album would be remarkable if it were made at any point in time but it just takes on so many layers of poignancy if you look at their history.

There is a gorgeous mixture of introspection and life-affirming tunes on this album. The most crucial line comes on the best song, Enola/Alone: "All I wanna do is live, no matter how miserable it is". Amidst the beautiful minor chord crunch that accompanies it, it's easy to get swept away in the emotion that you feel Nicky must have felt during the abyss of '95. No Surface All Feeling is in a similar vein with very calming vocals and it's a great sign-off, thought-provoking, sad, hopeful - even though it was written pre-disappearance. Also, the two understated and lovely acoustic numbers, Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky and Removables, are sparse and delicate gems. Two fantastic Richey lyrics accompanied first by a harp driven and morose melody and then a more cynical Nirvana Unplugged-style acoustic strum.

I would be hard pushed to point out any weak moments. Australia is the only song that lacks the mellow, bittersweet alter-ego of all Manics' songs with a lot of light but a disappointing amount of shade. Everything Must Go treads a thin line between epic and emotionless but just comes out on the right side.

This is the sound of a heart beating, despite tragedy, despite disaster and amazed and grateful to be alive despite all the odds.

Outstanding
This is quite simply an outstanding album! And possibly the only album I own which doesn't have a single bad track! Even the Beatles "Sergeant Pepper..." and other classics have one or two less succesful songs - not so "Everything must go". "Design for Life" and "No surface all feeling" are classics. Though, to be fair, every track is a classic in it's own way. The lyrics may be dark - but they are to the point and oh-so-powerful. eg. "I look to the future, it makes me cry." The album as a whole, however, really is not depressing. It's an exhibition of pure rock genius! Simply superb.

The last great Manics album
You know how it is. The key member of a band leaves/dies and either the band splits up or they carry on together and completely ruin the bands name. Only that's not how it is with the Manic Street Preachers fourth album, the first since the disappearance of lyricist, visionary and terrible guitarist Richey Edwards. On the contrary, it's quite good. Actually, it's the best thing they've ever done! It could have all gone so wrong but somehow everything slotted into place. Of course, the Cult of Richey will all tell you that the Manics just aren't any good without Edwards or that the only good songs on this album are the ones made from leftover lyrics left over by him. But despite their claims, praise needs to go to James Dean-Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore for creating such an incredible album amongst such sadness with the loss of a friend.

Where the despair of 'The Holy Bible' was tainted with anger and hatred, meaning you only got to appreciate its full beauty occasionally, when at your most strong minded, the despair of 'Everything Must Go' is so pure that it could break the heart of the most stone cold person there is. As James Dean-Bradfield cries out the the title during 'Design For Life' you get such an incredible look at the emptiness and confusion they are feeling that Richey Edwards' hatred and anger seem child-like in comparison.

But 'Design For Life' isn't the only triumph on the album. 'Enola/Alone', 'Small Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky' and the title track are all amazing tracks. In fact, the title track is this albums equivalent of 'This is Yesterday' from the previous album as a look into exactly how the band are feeling at the time. In this song they address the problem I mentioned earlier, where bands continue after a disaster and either lose their ability, or else the fans turn against them. They address the Cult of Richey who they know will hate them for daring to carry on without the missing guitarist with the beautiful lyrics 'freed from our memory, escape from our history, and I just hope that you can forgive us, but everything must go'. They know that people will see this album as a betrayal of Richey but they also know that its what he would have wanted, so they bite the bullet and make that unpopular decision.

Some might call this album an MOR flop, a shot at commercial success after the financial failures of 'Gold Against the Soul' and 'The Holy Bible'. However, it is so much more than that. Yes, the songs are accessible and most people you met on the street would be perfectly content to listen to this album. But the songs are still breathtakingly good and retain a dignity that MOR bands like Travis and Stereophonics simply don't have. Admittedly the Manics lost this dignity on the following two albums and have since become as dull and dreary as the bands they once shouted hatred upon, but that doesn't take away from this brilliant album that displays the minds of a band coming to terms with tragic loss and overwhelming despair.

Think of other bands that were popular at the time. Would they have survived without their most popular members? Radiohead without Thom Yorke or Jonny Greenwood? Pulp without Jarvis Cocker? Oasis without the Gallagher brothers? Only the Manic Street Preachers could pull it off. Forget Richey, 'The Holy Bible' was great, but this is better.