Attack Of The Grey Lantern (studio album) by Mansun

TBC...

Album Rating:

1.The Chad Who Loved Me 89
2.Mansun's Only Love Song 87
3.Taxloss
4.You, Who Do You Hate?
5.Wide Open Space
6.Stripper Vicar
7.Disgusting
8.She Makes My Nose Bleed
9.Naked Twister
10.Egg Shaped Fred
11.Dark Mavis
12.An Open Letter To The Lyrical Trainspotter [Hidden Track]

From latenighttv 06/10/2014 17:34

Solid all the way through but 'Wide Open Space' and 'Disgusting' are probably a step or two above the rest of the songs.

Not just a criminally good debut, a criminally good album. It's a real shame that artists like Paul Draper just do not seem to stand a chance in this world of mediocrity. Tisk, tisk.

Apparently this album was pretty much already done when Radiohead was only getting started in recording their most seminal stuff - which is pretty interesting stuff in my book.

" All that arty farty bollox about "interpret it as you will" is baloney from phonies. That just means they can't justify what they are writing. "

Well said and couldn't agree more. I do feel certain kinship to this fella for sure.

Mansun is a cosmic example in how a band that could very well have become one of the great ones is ruined largely because of lack of promotion (and general faith), bad management and having a band member who turns out to be somewhat of a sociopath who decides to steal the band's money.

Granted, it didn't exactly help to put out a record like "Six" quite so soon (if at all). Alienating your fans and more importantly potential fans by your own devices is pretty much the same as not really wanting to succeed in the music business.

Be that as it may, there's a Hollywood movie right there. Just saying.

I bet we haven't heard the last of Mr. Draper, though - not by a long shot.

Attack of the Grey Lantern? The attack of the Grey Lantern!? What is that? Am I alone imagining a small hooded figure walking the side of Ullswater in the dark early hours. Luring unexpecting souls off the path with her lantern before giving them a messy end at her hand with some shiny knives. So just what do we have hear anyway? A cult classic, now corroded in status, pushed the top of charts by over zealous fans? The missing link between Suede and Manic Street Preachers? Well you're almost half way there... not quite the 50% you were hoping I know. 'Taxloss' has the vibe of a hidden Stones Roses number... but doesn't really sound like a song by them. 'Stripper Vicar'... that title reminds me of 'Vicar In A Tutu'. So The Smiths maybe? Both it and Taxloss have an angst strain coupled with criticism of Her Majesties institutions. Morrissey can get behind that! And the guitars sound a little jangly. In some parts anyway... 'She Makes My Nose Bleed' has an icy bombast of drums while The Chad Who Loved Me has a dreamy wistful sound. That one is the musical equivalent to looking at cloudy lemonade. Sounds bad but it works. So a quiet Slowdive? A bit of Lush on the side? That singer sure sounds like he could sing for Placebo on 'Wide Open Space'. You know what? Forget all those bands, this is Mansun. There was little like these chaps and there won't be another anytime soon. You see, these guys are finished they split. Into the abyss of time. Pass them on in your legends along with the Grey Lantern. And while you're at it... give them a listen.