Gold Against the Soul

Infobox Album | Name = Gold Against the Soul
Type = Studio album
Artist = Manic Street Preachers

Released = June 21, 1993
Recorded = Outside Studios, Checkendon, England January-March, 1993
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 42:58
Label = Columbia 47406492 (CD)
Producer = Dave Eringa
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Akq7ibkk9hakm link]
*"Q" Rating|2|5 [http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music.review.redirect&fixture_review=122357&resource=122357&fixture_artist=145875 link]
Last album = "Generation Terrorists"
(1992)
This album = "Gold Against the Soul"
(1993)
Next album = "The Holy Bible"
(1994)
|

"Gold Against the Soul" is the second album by Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers released on June 20 1993.All lyrics were written by Nicky Wire and Richey James, all music was written by James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore.

The lyrics of the album are considerably less political than their previous album "Generation Terrorists" and the album was more reflective of the despair and melancholy of their later work like "The Holy Bible", though "The Holy Bible" was itself highly politicised at times. An exception is the title track ("Gold Against The Soul") which contains lyrics like "Close the pits sanctify Roy Lynk an OBE" and "White liberal hates slavery/Needs Thai labour to clean his home."

"La Tristesse Durera" (literally "the sadness goes on") is the title of a biography of Vincent van Gogh, although the song is not about him, but about a war veteran.

The band themselves have described this as their least favourite album and the most unfocused period of their career, with Bradfield saying "All we wanted to do was go under the corporate wing. We thought we could ignore it but you do get affected." Bradfield has said that they were being encouraged to write more "radio conscious" songs and this is evident, especially in the stadium rock style anthems "Life Becoming A Landslide" and "From Despair To Where". Nevertheless, these tracks have become classics among fans.Incidentally, the band's image had changed to a more mainstream rock band look.

Just prior to the release of "Gold Against The Soul", Edwards stated "We want to piss on the floor of Seattle", a reference to the domination of Grunge music at the time. Ironically, many reviews noted a more grungy sound on this album than the Guns N' Roses style metal of "Generation Terrorists".

Track listing

#"Sleepflower" – 4:51
#"From Despair To Where" – 3:34
#"La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)" – 4:13
#"Yourself" – 4:11
#"Life Becoming A Landslide" – 4:14
#"Drug Drug Druggy" – 3:26
#"Roses in the Hospital" – 5:02
#"Nostalgic Pushead" – 4:14
#"Symphony Of Tourette" – 3:31
#"Gold Against The Soul" – 5:34

Personnel

*James Dean Bradfield - vocals, guitars, backing vocals
*Sean Moore - drums, percussion, drum programming (tracks 8, 10), backing vocals
*Richey James - guitar, backing vocals
*Nicky Wire - bass, backing vocals

Additional personnel

*Dave Eringa, Ian Kewley - piano, organ
*Nick Ingham - string arrangements
*Shovel - percussion