Rating: NN
It might seem petty to question the conviction of revolutionary Welsh hams Manic Street Preachers, but you really have to wish the trio would put as much thought into their music as they do planning media bonanzas like launching their album in Havana. Know Your Enemy name-checks Paul Robeson, Guernica, the Dalai Lama and Elian Gonzalez, shouting down America and the Beastie Boys’ hip Tibetan fixation over disco pop and strident power chords. The sentiment is right-on, as is the potential for a massive band to get their impressionable fans thinking about politics. Unlike someone like OutKast, though, what the Manics don’t understand is that a potent message deserves an equally kick-ass beat. It’s fine to shout Freedom Of Speech Won’t Feed My Children, but, sadly, crap songs won’t either.
