Track Listing

1. Everlasting
2. If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next
3. You Stole The Sun From My Heart
4. Ready For Drowning
5. Tsunami
6. My Little Empire
7. I'm Not Working
8. You're Tender And You're Tired
9. Born A Girl
10. Be Natural
11. Black Dog On My Shoulder
12. Nobody Loved You
13. SYMM

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7722 in Music
• Released on: 1998-09-01
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
The first album the Manics wrote entirely as a three piece was the first to gain a large portion of criticism, both from the press and their own fans, seen by many as veering dangerously towards MOR territory. Certainly, the lyrics "The world is full of refugees / They're just like you and just like me" from "The Everlasting" is a bit Phil Collins, and "S.Y.M.M". (about the Hillsborough disaster), while an important subject, comes across as something Nicky Wire wanted to approach but had no idea how to. Still, "Tsunami" about the two infamous silent Welsh twins locked up for petty crime, is majestic and sweeping, while "Ready For Drowning" takes on Wire's feelings for his birthplace, Wales, and "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next", taking it's cue from Orwell's Homage To Catalonia discusses the Spanish Civil War with beautiful melancholy. It may be the Manics' least brilliant album, but it's still better than most of its contemporaries. -Emma Johnston

CD Description
At the time of its release in 1998, THIS IS MY TRUTH TELL ME YOURS was the Manics' most commercially successful album to date. It included the singles "Tsunami", the brilliantly unwieldy "If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next", and the soaring "You Stole the Sun From My Heart".
Despite its success, this album remains true to the anarcho-punk socialist ethic, as the song titles "If You Toleratea" and "I'm Not Working" indicate. Combining trademark social critique and despair with an equally typical high quality of songwriting, there is plenty here to occupy the discerning listener, and though "mature" can often denote a kind of mixedpraise, this album could be described as such, in only the most positive way. Songs are more varied and melodic than those of previous albums, making THIS IS MY TRUTH TELL ME YOURS more accessible, but without sacrificing any of the band'ssearing intelligence and passion. One can only be thankful that the Manics did not keep their promise to do just one album and then disappear.

Customer Reviews

manics take a reflective view on life
(I bought this album a long time ago, when it first came out with the limited edition embossed CD case -woohoo!)

Please ignore the overly negative 1 star reviews here, they are not in my opinion very balanced.

Okay, the manics started off as a brilliant young band, with the usual youthful nihilistic vision and associated political agenda. (Yes I thought Generation Terrorists was great, and still do!).

But this album sees the manics getting, alas older. The lyrics here are more reflective and there is a loss of innocence vibe pervasive in tracks like the Everlasting.

For me this is a pretty well balanced album, with a nice variety of tracks and tempo. From memory this album was recorded in the South of France, and there is a very french feel on some of the instrumentation on tracks like Born a Girl. For me very pleasing has a whole.

So please ignore the negative reviews here, all bands inevitably grow up, cannot remain young punks forever!! The important thing is that in maturing as people they continue to make great innovative music, rather than reverting to compromised dad-rock (like U2 for example!!!). This is definitely an innovative album both lyrically and musically.

So please just give it a fair audience and make up your own mind.

Class of 1998
Contrary to popular opinion, the Manics' most successful album is also one of their finest and a very worthy addition to their canon. It saw the band building on Everything Must Go with a more diverse selection of songs incorporating string sections, piano, organ, cello and sitar, among various other instruments. Overfamiliarity may now burden singles such as 'If you Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next' and 'You Stole the Sun from my Heart', but there are many more gems to unearth such as 'My Little Empire', which is as dark and disturbing as anything on The Holy Bible in terms of lyrical content, albeit in a palatable form. 'Black Dog on my Shoulder' and 'Ready for Drowning' are two stunningly observed compositions whose lyrics take on dual meanings, soundtracked by some of the most accomplished music the band produced. After this musical pinnacle, it is understandable that the band went in the opposite direction for 2001's raw follow up Know Your Enemy.

Despite its reputation as being too radio-friendly for its own good, this is an album layered with thoughtful introspection and a depressive, morbid air. A theme that cuts through the album is 'the void', a phrase that Nicky Wire uses on a number of songs, and the three remaining Manics filled the void left by missing member Richey Edwards with their most dignified and mature work, which in turn remained as passionate as anything that went before it.

Too often remembered as a time of bloated arena/stadium shows and multiple Brit awards, this album is the cause not the effect.

Definitely Underrated!
OK, most people think that this is one of the Manic Street Preachers worst offerings, that it was a sign that the band had grown older, more tedious and passive. The new raison d'etre was to pick up as many Brit awards as possible and go along nicely nicely. Many saw "This Is MY Truth.." as proof of "selling out" on the band's principles and the fanatical Manics fans.

So in theory I shouldn't like this

But for some reason the album grew on me and wouldn't let go...

The first five tracks are most excellent, unfortunately the album falls away somewhat after this. However, "Nobody Loved You" is quite frankly amazing, "Black Dog..." is good. Okay, I can see at least four tracks which definitely let the album down, though they keep the melancholia alive. I think the plus points definitely outweigh the minus ones

I would give it five stars, though it dropped one because "Be Natural" is utterly annoying and there must have been wax in the boyos ears to let that one escape the musical dustbin.

Listening to the Holy Bible, you can hear how the songs fit together to create a work. This doesn't happen with "This Is My Truth" unless you skip tracks. You shouldn't have to do this with a good band! But - the high points alone justify buying this album.

Everyone raves about "Everything Must Go", but I prefer this album! (Know Your Enemy? Oh pleeeeeeze...) If you appreciate your sadness like a fine wine, i recommend its purchase.