Know Your Enemy
by Manic Street Preachers
  • Record Label: Virgin
  • Release Date: Apr 24, 2001
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Dot Music
    70
    A bit of judicious pruning to remove the filler tracks would have resulted in a cohesive, dynamic album that would have easily been their best release to date.
  2. HOB.com
    70
    Know Your Enemy loses all its momentum when Manic Street Preachers decide that they have something to say.
  3. Launch.com
    70
    While the group's last two records have been majestic, pretentious, and overly polished, this one is more urgent and inviting, running the gamut from Beach Boys whimsy to Jesus And Mary Chain bluster.
  5. Mojo
    70
    The record is such a sprawling, unwieldy beast that the instrumental hooks take time to emerge.
  6. Pitchfork
    75
    Know Your Enemy finds the Manics attempting to write a protest song in just about every genre. This project, stretched out over 16 tracks and 75 minutes, quickly reaches epic proportions, with an ambition approached only by the magnitude of its flaws.

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Most Discussed Album of 2001

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 26
  3. Negative: 2 out of 26
  1. Frasoric
    Mar 8, 2023
    7
    Know Your Enemy never felt like a album, instead it always felt like three EPs merged together which was spread across the seventy-five minuteKnow Your Enemy never felt like a album, instead it always felt like three EPs merged together which was spread across the seventy-five minute runtime. This isn't a bad thing, but in terms of the album there are some songs that are lacking which brings down the overall listen. There's a lot of punk, acoustic and electronic influences which feels like an attempt to blend the earlier Manics sound into the 21st century. Despite the album falling short in some areas, it's still worth the listen with a lot of great songs that helped build the band's career.… Full Review »
  2. SerenityX1
    Sep 28, 2020
    3
    Dismal effort that is devoid of everything that long-time fans of MSP enjoy.
  3. JuliaA
    Sep 15, 2006
    8
    there's nothing wrong with this album, but the thing that made it sounds bad was people are still in such a mood of 'This Is My there's nothing wrong with this album, but the thing that made it sounds bad was people are still in such a mood of 'This Is My Truth...'...you know...TIMTTMY was not a quick-paced music,so when they're back with the rocky KYE,it was a bit of 'shock therapy' for people (the critiques).this is an alright album with superb contents. but still...I gave it 8 because eventhough I'm an avid fan of every single MSP album, I can't get myself to enjoy 'Wattsville Blues' (Nicky must be drunk when he sings,it's so out of tunes) and 'So Why So Sad' (it must be the intro.that 'parapa-parapa-parapa' chants made it sounded,well,cheesy).those two songs just don't fit there.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »