I have put off writing a review on this album simply because I don't think anything I could write would do it justice. This is one of the greatest releases of the 90s, and were it not for a couple of so-so tracks, I would put on the 'All-Time" list. Perhaps on the strength of the other songs this *is* and "All-Time greatest" album. No matter, though, because the Manics really outdid themselves on this one.

This was the first album by the Manics I ever purchased. Living in the States, I was not at all familiar with their music, and had only read a couple of (positive) reviews about them. The moment I heard the stirring strings and emotional chorus of opening track "The Everlasting", I was hooked.

"Everlasting", penned by bassist Nick Wire (as would all tracks on this album), is an autobiographical look of sorts at the history of the band. However, as it is written in the similar style to most Manics songs (metaphorically and full of grandiose statements), it can be viewed by the listener as look back at life, to see where we came from, and how we got here. Though the band now slag the song off and are hesitant to play it live, one gets the feeling that it is because the song hits a little too close to home, and exposes a bit more than they'd like. It certainly ha snothing to do with the quality of the song itself.

Moving on, the album only picks up steam with the next few tracks. "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" is a rousing anthem akin to "Design for Life", the standout track from the Manics previous (and equally stunning) album. A song (strangely) about the Spanish Civil War, "If you..." features an impassioned performance, musically and lyrically, by the band, culminating in the line in the bridge when vocalist james Dean Bradfield sings "And on the streets tonight an old man plays with newspaper cuttings fo his glory days".

Other standouts on the album include the rocking "You Stole the Sun From My Heart", the string-laden ballad "Black Dog On My Shoulder", the rousing "tsunami", with its sitar (!) and washes of keyboards, and the soaring "Nobody loved You", an emotional tribute to missing lyricist/guitarist Richey Edwards.

Musically, the production runs from the grandiose and luxurious (Everlasting, If You Tolerate...etc.) to the quiet and reflective (Born a Girl, My Little Empire, etc.) Guitarist and principal songwriter James Bradfield, along with drummer Sean Moore, create a vast canvas of music that runs the gamut of styles. Always intriguing, never boring, the duo (and Bradfield, in particular), show that they are among the greatest arrangers of their generation.

Speaking of Bradfield, his vocals on this album are nothing short of spectacular. I'm not sure which album the Amazon.com reviewer was listening to for the above review, but contrary to what he wrote, Bradfield's range seems only to improve with age, and his performance on songs such as The Everlasting and If You Tolerate This...really showcase his natural singing ability. Even on the earlier, louder, Manics albums, Bradfield always "sung" more than "screamed", but it has only been recently that his true talent in that area really shines through. Everyone already knew he was an excellent guitarist (his work here does nothing to dispel that notion).

Lyrically, Nicky Wire has produced another interesting, thought-provoking, occasionally-annoying series of songs for Bradfield to croon. As with any Wire product, some lines are simply brilliant ("No vendettas, just a cherry blossom tree") to annoying ("But it's really not the kind of thing that people want to hear us sing") to the downright bad ("Delirium on helium"--ouch). Still, it is obvious Nicky writes form his heart, and the honesty comes across clearly in the context of the music.

one more beef to point out: the Manics have this habit of hanging on for a song or two too long on albums, and "This IS My truth" is no exception. "I'm not working" plods on for over 6 minutes and really doesn't do much, whilst "SYMM", though captivating musically, suffers from a very substandard lyrical composition from Wire.

Beyond those minor greivances, though, lies a tremendous album. I have owned the album for over five years now, and each time I listen to it it sounds as fresh an invigorating as the first time I put it in. This certainly ranks up there with "Everything Must Go" among the best of the Manics' very fine career.

Obviously it's a difficult choice between all of the Manics' albums, but I think this one has to be in with a shout as the very worst album of all time.

It's leaden and witless sixth-form poetry of the most dreadful kind ("If I can shoot rabbits then I can shoot fascists" indeed - why don't you just shoot yourself and do us all a favour).

The closest I will probably ever come to heaven is by popping this CD in a microwave.

Although this is not your usual Manic Street Preachers album, it is still as honest and thought-provocking as any of their others, apart from maybe The Holy Bible. On this album the Manics are on top anthemic form with songs like 'The Everlasting', 'Ready For Drowning' and 'Nobody Loved You'. The only low point of this album that I can think of is the controvercial 'South Yorkshire Mass Murder' which is maybe a slight let-down musically, but not lyrically. This is an album that you really should own, and is also an album that puts all the Amercan acts such as Korn, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot and Blink 182 into shameful perspective.

I already gave out a review on the import but I think you all deserve to read it on the real thing. I won't copy here my original one because I feel different about the album now. First I thought it's great, now I think it's EXCELLENT. It's amazing how songs like "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" or "You Stole The Sun From My Heart" feels like it was written about me while they were written about things that happened even before my parents were born. And on other tracks, like "You're Tender And You're Tired", "Nobody Loved You" and also "The Everlasting" before radio killed it I feel like I simply want to cry for the honest misery that comes out of those songs. Not a track here is dissapointing and it's a shame that America gets it only now when it actually came out eight months ago. I'm a musician myself and I can honestly say that the Manics inspires me in an unbelieveable way. Almost everytime after I hear one of their albums I feel like I want to write a new song. "Everything Must Go" is also good, even better ("Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky" is the most beautiful song EVER written) so maybe you should start with it before this one, but overall "This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours" is highly recommended. The Manics' music touches me in a way no other band had.

Every song is compelling. The tracks are chock full of good melodies, harmonic richness and intrigue, some good hooks, a bit of politics and a bit of lyrical weirdness, punk attitude, melancholy, love, anger, and overall musical lushness. This is one of the best largely unheralded bands (they come from Wales and came to prominence in the 1990's with some alternative radio airplay); they would appeal to a much wider audience if given the chance. This particular recording is their best one overall, in my opinion, and certainly their most accessible. The earlier albums are even more political, edgy, raw, punky, and gritty but still just
as oddly compelling and melodically and harmonically rich.