Know Your Enemy

One of the beautiful things about this sixth album is the sense that, unlike with the albums that preceded and followed it, the band are really following their own muse. The album kicks off with great tracks like "Found That Soul" and "Ocean Spray". "Miss Europa Disco Dancer," is a very nice attempt at a dance song, with a great bass line softened by minor-key synth tones. "My Guernica" is an excellent rock song with a load of cool Mary Chain-style noise over the top, "The Convalescent" is a brilliantly arranged pop song with keyboards, guitars and vocal parts meshing nice together. "Epicentre" has a slightly folkish edge to begin with, until you reach the bridge and chorus, which are pure Manics, and gloriously catchy.