{"product_id":"5099750955123-forever-delayed","title":"Forever Delayed","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePRODUCT DESCRIPTION \u003cbr\u003e Forever Delayed CD Sony, 5099512, 2002, 20 Track \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e REVIEW \u003cbr\u003e Manics fans are more likely than most to morosely ask, \"What's the point?\" Over two decades they have looked to Manics albums for answers, or at least refinements on the question. Now, a Best Of compilation and the question is turned upon the release itself. Just what is the point?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwo possible motivations: to spread the music and message of six albums to a wider audience; to exploit commercial profitability.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe integrity of the first motivation appears shaky. You see, Forever Delayed is dominated by the Manics most popular, already well known, MOR output. But the Manics have political consciousness! Surely cash cow milking can't be their motive? Yes, it always seems to jar that anti-capitalist posturing can sell so well.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe album's keystones are the hits of the Everything Must Go and This My Truth. era ('A Design For Life', 'Australia', 'Kevin Carter', 'If You Tolerate This'.). The complementary free new tracks, 'There By The Grace Of God' and 'Door To The River', continue in the Manics Lite vein. Soft rock anthemic guitar epics from the early albums ('La Tristesse Durera', 'From Despair To Where', 'Little Baby Nothing') and a couple of upbeat punky numbers ('You Love Us', 'Motown Junk') complete the palette.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll safe stuff. Only one track, 'Faster', is taken from the stark, harrowing The Holy Bible - the only Manics album to truly stretch the rock paradigm. That said, anyone who has witnessed the pub-emptying impact of songs with the bleak solemnity of The Holy Bible's 'The Intense Humming Of Evil' will perhaps understand, if not forgive, this compilation's timidity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere is nothing here for the archetypal Manics fan, except perhaps the excellent, rare, and poignant, cover of 'Suicide Is Painless'. For others, if you like to get your rock soft and your political protestations abstract or mute, you'll find Forever Delayed quite painless too. --Daniel Pike\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFind more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32630845931617,"sku":"5099750955123","price":5.35,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_202230_974516.jpg?v=1718047011","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/5099750955123-forever-delayed","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}