The Great Western
The Great Western | ||||
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Studio album by James Dean Bradfield | ||||
Released | 24 July 2006 | |||
Recorded | 2005 | |||
Genre |
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Length | 37:19 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Dave Eringa, Guy Massey, Alex Silva, Greg Haver | |||
James Dean Bradfield chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Great Western | ||||
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The Great Western is the debut solo studio album by the Manic Street Preachers vocalist-guitarist James Dean Bradfield, released on 24 July 2006 by Columbia Records.
Content
The majority of the lyrics are written by Bradfield, who had previously only contributed lyrics to the Manic Street Preachers songs "Ocean Spray" and "Firefight". Bradfield's lyrics feature a theme of looking to the past and are largely personal rather than political.[3] Manics bass guitarist-lyricist Nicky Wire contributes lyrics to the song "Bad Boys and Painkillers", and two songs feature lyrics co-written with writer John Niven.[4] Also included is a cover of Jacques Brel's "To See a Friend in Tears". The album features the drummer Dafydd Ieuan from the fellow Welsh band Super Furry Animals on "Run Romeo Run".
The title refers to the Great Western Railway, which is reflected in the album's artwork. Much of the album was written on the train journey between Cardiff and Paddington. Bradfield uses the train journey as a metaphor for soul-searching while away from home.[5] He refers to his journeys between his home in South Wales to London on the GWR in the song "Émigré".
Track listing
All tracks are written by James Dean Bradfield, except as noted
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
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1. | "That's No Way to Tell a Lie" | 3:05 | ||
2. | "An English Gentleman" | 3:05 | ||
3. | "Bad Boys and Painkillers" | Nicky Wire | 3:49 | |
4. | "On Saturday Morning We Will Rule the World" | 3:17 | ||
5. | "Run Romeo Run" | 3:24 | ||
6. | "Still a Long Way to Go" | Bradfield, John Niven | 3:50 | |
7. | "Émigré" | Bradfield, Niven | 3:29 | |
8. | "To See a Friend in Tears" | Jacques Brel | Brel | 3:38 |
9. | "Say Hello to the Pope" | 3:24 | ||
10. | "The Wrong Beginning" | 3:15 | ||
11. | "Which Way to Kyffin" | 2:57 |
Release
The album spent two weeks in the UK Album Chart, peaking at #22.[6]
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
BBC Music | generally favourable[2] |
The Observer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
musicOMH | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | 8/10[11] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Great Western was generally well received by critics.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic opined that the album is the sound of "a sensitive, vulnerable Bradfield, something that hasn't been captured on Manics albums even when they strayed toward colorless mature-pop." The website further described, "Sonically, this album isn't far removed from This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours—it's anthemic yet soft, dramatic yet hushed—but unlike on the Manics albums since, it doesn't sound labored."[7] Q magazine echoed similar sentiments, opining that the album is "even stronger than either of the last two Manics albums [Know Your Enemy and Lifeblood]".[12]
Personnel
- James Dean Bradfield – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, bass guitar, drums
- Alex Silva – bass guitar
- Nick Nasmyth – keyboards
- Nick Dewey – drums
- Dafydd Ieuan – drums
- Alistair Hamer (Sweet Billy Pilgrim) – drums
- Greg Haver – drums, keyboards
- Dave Eringa – keyboards
- Padlock McKiernan – tin whistle, kazoo
References
- ^ Mason, Stewart. "James Dean Bradfield". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- ^ a b White, Chris (18 July 2006). "BBC – Music – Review of James Dean Bradfield – The Great Western". BBC Music. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- ^ "Preacher man takes pilgrimage of his own". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ^ Morris, Sophie (17 February 2008). "How We Met: John Niven & James Dean Bradfield". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- ^ Bateman, Steve (20 October 2006). "An Interview: Live @ Oxford Zodiac". REPEAT fanzine.
- ^ "JAMES DEAN BRADFIELD full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Great Western – James Dean Bradfield | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- ^ Boden, Sarah (16 July 2006). "CD: James Dean Bradfield, The Great Western". The Observer. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- ^ "The Great Western review". Mojo: 86. August 2006.
- ^ Murphy, John (24 July 2006). "James Dean Bradfield – The Great Western". musicOMH. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- ^ "The Great Western review". NME: 31. 22 July 2006.
- ^ a b "The Great Western review". Q: 116. August 2006.
- ^ "The Great Western review". Uncut: 86. August 2006.
External links
- The Great Western at Discogs (list of releases)
- v
- t
- e
- James Dean Bradfield
- Sean Moore
- Nicky Wire
- Generation Terrorists
- Gold Against the Soul
- The Holy Bible
- Everything Must Go
- This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours
- Know Your Enemy
- Lifeblood
- Send Away the Tigers
- Journal for Plague Lovers
- Postcards from a Young Man
- Rewind the Film
- Futurology
- Resistance Is Futile
- The Ultra Vivid Lament
- "Suicide Alley"
- "Motown Junk"
- "You Love Us (Heavenly Version)"
- "Stay Beautiful"
- "Love's Sweet Exile"/"Repeat"
- "You Love Us"
- "Slash 'n' Burn"
- "Motorcycle Emptiness"
- "Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless)"
- "Little Baby Nothing"
- "From Despair to Where"
- "La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)"
- "Roses in the Hospital"
- "Faster"
- "Revol"
- "She Is Suffering"
- "A Design for Life"
- "Everything Must Go"
- "Kevin Carter"
- "Australia"
- "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next"
- "The Everlasting"
- "You Stole the Sun from My Heart"
- "Tsunami"
- "The Masses Against the Classes"
- "So Why So Sad"
- "Found That Soul"
- "Ocean Spray"
- "Let Robeson Sing"
- "There by the Grace of God"
- "The Love of Richard Nixon"
- "Empty Souls"
- "Underdogs"
- "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough"
- "Autumnsong"
- "Indian Summer"
- "(It's Not War) Just the End of Love"
- "Some Kind of Nothingness"
- "Postcards from a Young Man"
- "This Is the Day"
- "Show Me the Wonder"
- "Anthem for a Lost Cause"
- "Walk Me to the Bridge"
- "Futurology"
- "Together Stronger (C'mon Wales)"
- "International Blue"
- "Distant Colours"
- "Dylan & Caitlin"
- "Liverpool Revisited"
- "Hold Me Like a Heaven"
- "People Give In"
- "Orwellian"
- "The Secret He Had Missed"
- "Rosebud"
- "4st 7lb"
- "Peeled Apples"
- Everything Live
- Leaving the 20th Century
- Louder Than War
- Forever Delayed
- The Great Western
- I Killed the Zeitgeist
- Even in Exile
- Intimism