Manic Street Preachers has released a new album called Critical Thinking. The album’s lead single, “Decline and Fall“, was released in advance of the full album and is available for streaming.
The album’s title track, “Critical Thinking“, is a politically charged song that aims consumerism and social media. The song’s lyrics include the lines “Critical thinking / It’s overrated” and “I’m a consumer / I’m a product“. The song’s music video features images of people shopping and using social media.
The album also includes a song called “Dear Stephen“, which is about Morrissey. Manic Street Preachers bassist Nicky Wire has said that the song is not a “moral judgement” on the singer. Instead, he says that the song is about his relationship with the past, and how the years between 12 and 18 have had a lasting impact on his aesthetic appreciation of music.
In an interview with NME, Wire said: “The only thing I attack on this record is myself. ‘Dear Stephen’ is not a moral judgement on Morrissey. It’s more about my relationship with the past, and how those years between 12 and 18 have such a profound effect on your aesthetic appreciation of music, literature, film – all those things.”
Wire went on to say that he still loves Morrissey’s music, but that he is also “conflicted” about him. “I still love his music,” Wire said. “But I’m also conflicted about him. I think a lot of people are.”
Wire’s comments about “Dear Stephen” have been met with mixed reactions. Some people have praised him for being honest about his feelings about Morrissey, while others have criticized him for not taking a stronger stance against him.