CD-Charts Position 161
Average Rating:

This Is Not the '80s: A Nu-Wave Electro Compilation

Search: Starlight
by: Various Artists

Release Date August 20, 2002
This is an amazing album...my first taste of electroclash, and all I can say is that it is like listening to your favourite albums from the 80s, except that you're hearing all the songs for the first time. Can't really call it nostalgia, 'cuz all the songs are new, but it feels like my youth, when friends were electric and video had just killed the radio star...

CD-Charts Position 162
Average Rating:

This Is Not the '80s: A Nu-Wave Electro Compilation

Search: Starlight
by: Various Artists

Release Date August 13, 2002
This is an amazing album...my first taste of electroclash, and all I can say is that it is like listening to your favourite albums from the 80s, except that you're hearing all the songs for the first time. Can't really call it nostalgia, 'cuz all the songs are new, but it feels like my youth, when friends were electric and video had just killed the radio star...

CD-Charts Position 163
Average Rating:

Lipstick Traces: A Secret History Of

Search: Starlight
by: Manic Street Preachers

Release Date August 19, 2003
This is an amazing album...my first taste of electroclash, and all I can say is that it is like listening to your favourite albums from the 80s, except that you're hearing all the songs for the first time. Can't really call it nostalgia, 'cuz all the songs are new, but it feels like my youth, when friends were electric and video had just killed the radio star...

CD-Charts Position 164
Average Rating:

Lipstick Traces: A Secret History Of

Search: Starlight
by: Manic Street Preachers

Release Date September 23, 2003
Here's my take on it after a few listens:

Disc 1: 3.5/5
None of the songs are super great (except for Prologue to History maybe), but all in all, they make a very solid album together.
Great Tracks: 1, 4-6, 10, 16-19
Could Have Left Off: 12, 13, 20

Disc 2: 1.5/5
There are only 4-5 good songs on the covers CD. Most of the songs just aren't very good. But I'm sure the Manics play them better than the original bands did.
Good Tracks: 1, 2, 7, 13
Could Have Left Off: All the others. 6 isn't bad.

Total: 5/10
If you're like me, you'll find yourself listening to Disc 1 much more often than Disc 2. But for a B-Sides album, its really quite good.

CD-Charts Position 165
Average Rating:

Lipstick Traces: A Secret History Of

Search: Starlight
by: Manic Street Preachers

Release Date July 29, 2003
The Manics, while producing some great music, have always struggled for quality control, with The Holy Bible being their only truly consistent effort which sustains top-drawer songwriting throughout. So it's pretty unsurprising that their B-sides and rarities album would be somewhat patchy. There's some good stuff here: notably the two 'new' tracks: '4 Ever Delayed' blends driving synths with an Everything Must Go-era anthemic quality to good effect, while 'Judge Yr'self' is simultaneously intense and accessible, like a bubblegum version of The Holy Bible, which is better than it sounds, and makes for an awesomely savage track. Of the B-sides, highlights would be the would-be single 'Prologue To History', a catchy, driving, piano-led rocker and 'Just ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 166
Average Rating:

Lipstick Traces: A Secret History Of

Search: Starlight
by: Manic Street Preachers

Release Date August 01, 2005
The Manics, while producing some great music, have always struggled for quality control, with The Holy Bible being their only truly consistent effort which sustains top-drawer songwriting throughout. So it's pretty unsurprising that their B-sides and rarities album would be somewhat patchy. There's some good stuff here: notably the two 'new' tracks: '4 Ever Delayed' blends driving synths with an Everything Must Go-era anthemic quality to good effect, while 'Judge Yr'self' is simultaneously intense and accessible, like a bubblegum version of The Holy Bible, which is better than it sounds, and makes for an awesomely savage track. Of the B-sides, highlights would be the would-be single 'Prologue To History', a catchy, driving, piano-led rocker and 'Just ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 167
Average Rating:

Lipstick Traces: A Secret History Of

Search: Starlight
by: Manic Street Preachers

Release Date August 02, 2005
The Manics, while producing some great music, have always struggled for quality control, with The Holy Bible being their only truly consistent effort which sustains top-drawer songwriting throughout. So it's pretty unsurprising that their B-sides and rarities album would be somewhat patchy. There's some good stuff here: notably the two 'new' tracks: '4 Ever Delayed' blends driving synths with an Everything Must Go-era anthemic quality to good effect, while 'Judge Yr'self' is simultaneously intense and accessible, like a bubblegum version of The Holy Bible, which is better than it sounds, and makes for an awesomely savage track. Of the B-sides, highlights would be the would-be single 'Prologue To History', a catchy, driving, piano-led rocker and 'Just ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 168
Average Rating:

Everything Must Go

Search: Starlight
by: Manic Street Preachers

Release Date November 13, 2006
This is the definitive edition of one of the best albums of the 90's. It's exhaustive: 2 CD's containing the original album, original demos, live cuts, plus a DVD with a documentary, live footage, videos, etc. The documentary on the making of the album is very insightful (one of the better docs of this type i've seen). If you're in the US, check as the DVD will likely be PAL and won't play on US players but if you have an all-region/all-format player you should be OK. If you've never heard this album, you really owe it to yourself - start to finish, it is loaded with melodic tunes and fantastic orchestration on a couple of songs, with anthemic material like "A Design for Life" -- a landmark of 90's UK rock. If you are a fan of the original album, this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 169
Average Rating:

Everything Must Go

Search: Starlight
by: Manic Street Preachers

Release Date October 17, 2006
This is the definitive edition of one of the best albums of the 90's. It's exhaustive: 2 CD's containing the original album, original demos, live cuts, plus a DVD with a documentary, live footage, videos, etc. The documentary on the making of the album is very insightful (one of the better docs of this type i've seen). If you're in the US, check as the DVD will likely be PAL and won't play on US players but if you have an all-region/all-format player you should be OK. If you've never heard this album, you really owe it to yourself - start to finish, it is loaded with melodic tunes and fantastic orchestration on a couple of songs, with anthemic material like "A Design for Life" -- a landmark of 90's UK rock. If you are a fan of the original album, this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 170
Average Rating:

Lipstick Traces: A Secret History Of

Search: Starlight
by: Manic Street Preachers

Release Date July 22, 2003
The Manics, while producing some great music, have always struggled for quality control, with The Holy Bible being their only truly consistent effort which sustains top-drawer songwriting throughout. So it's pretty unsurprising that their B-sides and rarities album would be somewhat patchy. There's some good stuff here: notably the two 'new' tracks: '4 Ever Delayed' blends driving synths with an Everything Must Go-era anthemic quality to good effect, while 'Judge Yr'self' is simultaneously intense and accessible, like a bubblegum version of The Holy Bible, which is better than it sounds, and makes for an awesomely savage track. Of the B-sides, highlights would be the would-be single 'Prologue To History', a catchy, driving, piano-led rocker and 'Just A Kid', ... Read More: