Futurology
by Manic Street Preachers
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Jul 7, 2014
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 29
  3. Negative: 2 out of 29
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  1. Screamager
    Jul 22, 2017
    9
    The film has been rewound, but now it's time to look at the future.

    From the start it is obvious that this is the Manic's most positive and forward thinking album; the opening title track is the biggest indicator of this, with its proclamation that "We'll come back someday, we never really went away." Don't let the album cover, with its cold, desolate landscape visual, be an indicator    The film has been rewound, but now it's time to look at the future.

    From the start it is obvious that this is the Manic's most positive and forward thinking album; the opening title track is the biggest indicator of this, with its proclamation that "We'll come back someday, we never really went away." Don't let the album cover, with its cold, desolate landscape visual, be an indicator of the music within, for it is far from bleak and lifeless.

    The Manic's, for all intents purposes, never left us - at least not in the physical sense. But one can certainly feel that ever since the pinnacle of success they've not been as memorable, that is not to say that the band has been bad but it has lost focus. With its latter day albums reflecting on the past (culminating with 2013's Rewind the Film) Futurology comes as a fresh start to a new phase that embraces tomorrow whilst paying homage to the band's influences.

    Its difficult to produce an album where every track is a killer, but the Manic's have done just that, and the result is what I consider to be their second best album (only the monumental The Holy Bible can top it). With the music, the group employs their usual anthemic style, but on some songs the result is an almost dance-rock style clearly inspired by 70s and 80s krautrock, and with this newfound focus the album is more consistent than previous works which had tried too hard to be diverse. As for the lyrics, they are the most positive that Wire and co. have written in their history - again, still employing their trademark political and historical, but unlike previous records where the songs were attacks on "Futurology" the songs are statements, statements with huge sing-along choruses (my personal favourite of these is "Misguided Missile", which happily proclaims "I am the sturm and drang/I am the schadenfreude" but also comforting us with the knowledge that the band "can still fill your void").

    In all, the Manic's have produced their best album in many years, if not the best of their entire career. They haven't sounded so optimistic since 1996. It's time to move forward.    … Collapse
  2. jakewhiteok
    Jul 23, 2014
    10
    Futurology is amongst this band's best work. They've made some great albums (1994's The Holy Bible and 1996's Everything Must Go), but like many bands, they've had their moments where they've made a not-so-good album (2001's Know Your Enemy, for instance, although I enjoyed this album and 1993's Gold Against the Soul).

    Their last few albums haven't been bad, but I've not enjoyed them so    Futurology is amongst this band's best work. They've made some great albums (1994's The Holy Bible and 1996's Everything Must Go), but like many bands, they've had their moments where they've made a not-so-good album (2001's Know Your Enemy, for instance, although I enjoyed this album and 1993's Gold Against the Soul).

    Their last few albums haven't been bad, but I've not enjoyed them so much. I liked the immediate predecessor, 2013's 'Rewind the Film' more than some fans did. But unlike them, I didn't like 2010's 'Postcards from a Young Man' and 2007's 'Send Away the Tigers' so much, although they had some really good highlights. This shows that everyone has different opinions on albums, and in general, anything really.

    I had high expectations for this album, following my first listen to single 'Walk Me to the Bridge', and further track 'Europa Geht Durch Mich', which was released before the album. And well, you've probably seen what score I've given to the album already, and yes, it bloody well lived up to those high expectations!

    I received my copy of the album on it's release date, it was one of the signed copies from the band's website which came with a T-shirt with the cover image printed on. From first listen to now, I love it. And there's many great, great tracks on the album. It's my favourite album by the band since 2004's much opinion dividing, commercial flop 'Lifeblood'. I don't tend to count 'Journal for Plague Lovers', although I strongly like that album.

    Highlights (Yes, there's lots, so what?): The singles (Walk Me to the Bridge, Europa Geht Durch Mich). As well as the title track, 'Let's Go to War', 'Divine Youth', 'Sex, Power, Love and Money', 'Misguided Missile' and 'Mayakovsky'.

    Several guest vocalists appear on the album, similar to that of 'Rewind the Film', which featured Richard Hawley and Cate Le Bon on tracks each. Georgia Ruth, Cian Ciaran from Super Furry Animals and Green Gartside all feature on a track each. This isn't a bad thing having guests, it worked when Nina Persson from The Cardigans featured on Your Love Alone is Not Enough and became a big hit in the UK singles chart (It reached number 2, being held off by Beyonce and Shakira's Beautiful Liar)

    All in all, Futurology is the band's best album for almost a decade, barring 2009's 'Journals'. I am very pleased to hear it reached number 2 in the album chart in the UK (beaten by Ed Sheeran's X which spent it's 3rd week at the top), although I'd have liked it if it became their second number 1 album, which is something fans have been waiting for, for a very long time (They only ever topped the album chart in 1998.    … Expand
  3. mangouris
    Jul 23, 2014
    10
    A masterpiece !!! A group that deserves our respect .Great songs , a Berlin atmosphere , the spirit of Krautrock , fresh and genious . I love that album
  4. Pietercritical
    Jul 11, 2014
    9
    After rewinding, Manics Streat Preachers are now fast forwarding the film to the future. This realy sounds new and also different from what they did before. Realy didn't expect that they would make such a lively and modern album. Rewind the film was fantastic, but this even exceeds it. Normally instrumental songs on an album are eyebrow raisers, but the two on this album are better thenAfter rewinding, Manics Streat Preachers are now fast forwarding the film to the future. This realy sounds new and also different from what they did before. Realy didn't expect that they would make such a lively and modern album. Rewind the film was fantastic, but this even exceeds it. Normally instrumental songs on an album are eyebrow raisers, but the two on this album are better then the rest? How is that possible?… Expand
  5. ArionXenos
    Jul 11, 2014
    9
    After the subdued and melancholic 'Rewind The Film' from last year, the Manic Street Preachers have released a carer re-defining album called 'Futurology'. The aesthetic of the album is evident upon looking at the cover and the album title; a definite feeling of grandeur is shown by the photo looking up at a woman dressed in all white, slightly elevated from the ground in front of a whiteAfter the subdued and melancholic 'Rewind The Film' from last year, the Manic Street Preachers have released a carer re-defining album called 'Futurology'. The aesthetic of the album is evident upon looking at the cover and the album title; a definite feeling of grandeur is shown by the photo looking up at a woman dressed in all white, slightly elevated from the ground in front of a white and snowy backdrop.

    The album itself continues this very well. 'Futurology' is packed with massive soundscapes and sonic surprises that will make any listener think differently of the band.
    Driving rhythms and heavily reverbed effects contrast with each other to create a new -yet familiar- sound for the Manics; it seems to draw on the presence of the Holy Bible and Lifeblood as parts of their back catalogue, two looming presences from opposite peaks of their career, as if the differences between these albums have been compromised and brought together to create a shudderingly up to date and current sounding record.

    'Futurology' delivers a lyrical and musical sense of war, nostalgia and ambition; with the lyrics and music in songs like 'Let's Go To War' almost emulating a battle march and 'Europe Geht Durch Mich' sounding like nothing that this band has done before.
    This record both looks to the past and into the future, drawing influence from what the Manics know best to push them forward in a totally new direction. If you're a listener looking for this band producing a classic sounding album, you probably won't find it here, but you won't be disappointed, it's their best yet for some time.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

58
#58 Best Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Classic Rock Magazine
    Dec 18, 2014
    90
    Futurology isn't just the best album the Manic Street Preachers have made this century, it's arguably the best album of the year. [Aug 2014, p. 206]
  2. Under The Radar
    Aug 21, 2014
    75
    With their twelfth album and one of their best in years, Manic Street Preachers display a stylistic freedom that one might call reinvention if it didn't still sound just like the Manics.
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  3. PopMatters
    Aug 15, 2014
    80
    Futurology can just about stand toe-to-toe with any of their past albums. Even if it doesn’t surpass any of their “classics” (pick one), it’s comes close enough that you won’t really care.
    Read full review
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