About this album
Where they were
Released on October 28, 2011, 'National Treasures – The Complete Singles' compiles the Manic Street Preachers' iconic singles spanning nearly two decades. By this point in their career, the band had experienced significant commercial success following their 1996 album 'Everything Must Go', and were celebrating their legacy while also introducing newer audiences to their influential music.
Why it matters
This compilation not only showcases the band's extensive catalog but also highlights their impact on the Britpop and alternative rock scenes. The album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, reaffirming the band's status and appeal long after their initial breakthrough in the early 90s.
Essential tracks
- "A Design for Life" — This track epitomizes the band's ability to blend political commentary with anthemic melodies, capturing the spirit of a generation.
- "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" — With its powerful lyrics addressing political apathy, this song became a defining anthem of the late 90s and solidified their place in music history.
- "Motorcycle Emptiness" — A haunting exploration of emptiness and desire, this track showcases the band's lyrical depth and musical innovation.
- "You Stole the Sun From My Heart" — This song's infectious melody and introspective lyrics reflect a maturation in sound while remaining quintessentially Manics.
Release Date
October 28, 2011
Artist Origin
United Kingdom
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Motown Junk 3:59
- 2 Stay Beautiful 3:10
- 3 Love’s Sweet Exile 3:06
- 4 You Love Us 4:18
- 5 Slash ’n’ Burn 3:59
- 6 Motorcycle Emptiness 6:07
- 7 Theme From M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) 3:42
- 8 Little Baby Nothing 4:40
- 9 From Despair to Where 3:37
- 10 La tristesse durera (Scream to a Sigh) 4:14
- 11 Roses in the Hospital 5:03
- 12 Life Becoming a Landslide 4:14
- 13 Faster 3:55
- 14 Revol 3:05
- 15 She Is Suffering 4:44
- 16 A Design for Life 4:21
- 17 Everything Must Go 3:42
- 18 Kevin Carter 3:25
- 19 Australia 4:04
Disc 2
- 1 If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next 4:51
- 2 The Everlasting 6:07
- 3 You Stole the Sun From My Heart 4:22
- 4 Tsunami 3:49
- 5 The Masses Against the Classes 3:23
- 6 So Why So Sad 4:02
- 7 Found That Soul 3:07
- 8 Ocean Spray 4:13
- 9 Let Robeson Sing 3:46
- 10 There by the Grace of God 3:48
- 11 The Love of Richard Nixon 3:39
- 12 Empty Souls 4:05
- 13 Your Love Alone Is Not Enough 3:55
- 14 Autumnsong 3:41
- 15 Indian Summer 3:55
- 16 (It’s Not War) Just the End of Love 3:28
- 17 Some Kind of Nothingness 3:48
- 18 Postcards From a Young Man 3:35
- 19 This Is the Day 3:38