- Nicky Wire gave me THAT SMILE before the 9/24 SF show. Twice!
- And he laughed at the seriously cheesy and somewhat impertinent joke I told.
- AND looked our way hella times during the concert despite our being on the opposite side.
- Also, he's way foxier in person than I ever expected. Not gonna lie, I'm at least as much of a Nicky!wife as I am a James!wife now, if not more.
- I'm still a James!wife because he stood RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME for parts of the first and last songs. Um, is that me saying I love my good luck? Oh, well. You're awesome, James!
- Sean could probably fit in my pocket.
- I love an epic stadium experience as much as the next girl, but they don't need all that to put on the best gig ever.
- Nicky's weirdly adorable stomping.
- Come to think of it, James' kicky-spinny moves are pretty sweet, too. Wait, I think I've said this. BUT SEEING IT LIVE, THAT'S ANOTHER STORY!
- "Tsunami."
- The instrumental break of same.
- Especially the segue back into the chorus. It's one of the most beautiful, magical moments in music.
- Futurology is one of the best albums in their entire career. They're still bringing it 4REAL.
- 3/4 of the band have been extremely hot at various points in time. LOL SHALLOW
- This can't be stated enough: manics_lolz. At least, back in the day.
- JAMES. DEAN. BRADFIELD. I am such a James!wife, it isn't even funny.
- James's guitar skillz.
- How good Nicky and Richey have looked in makeup at various points in time. Again, LOL MOAST SHALLOW
- IT'S. A. STAMP.
- Nicky's speaking voice. JUST DON'T SING, OKAY?
- Actually, his failtastic singing is endearing. So go right ahead!
- DRUNKEN!NICKY!
- He STILL looks good in short skirts, too. I don't care what you say!
- The "You Love Us" video.
- Specifically a couple of shots...
- Of a hot, HOT Richey...
- Making out with himself...
- And the oyster bit.
- The "Love's Sweet Exile" video.
- Nicky and Richey practically making out in said video.
- CHAVPANTIES!
- Wanking to same as a joke.
- How absolutely dorky James is on stage. It's loldorable.
- Except when he's not. Then it's om nom NOM.
- "Stay Beautiful."
- "Don't wanna see your face, don't wanna hear your words, WHY DON'T YOU JUST..."
- "Everything Must Go" (the song).
- Everything Must Go (the album). It's my favorite.
- "I look to the future, it makes me cry/But it seems too real to tell you why"
- This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours.
- Listen to it on a sleepless night when you can't shut your brain off and you'll realize why it used to be my favorite.
- The Holy Bible.
- Lifeblood. It's my second or third favorite album of theirs, and I'm not ashamed to say so.
- Lifeblood's cover art, and all the art associated with that era.
- Are we sure James isn't really singing "I bronze my thighs easily"? I'm convinced he's just messing with us, and I love him for it.
- While we're at it, his voice, oh my actual God. It's a wonder he can still sing that awesomely.
- I'm not CoR, but Richey really did write some mindblowing lyrics.
- And he was absolutely gorgeous. I'll admit he was my favorite for a while. LOL MOAST SHALLOWEST.
- And the main reason I'm still frequently LOL MOAST SHALLOWEST: Those lips. I could write sonnets about them if I were the sonnet-writing type. Count yourself lucky I'm not.
- But the thing that turned me into a James!wife, other than the talent: I can't ever say no to a pair of puppydog eyes.
- "I am purity, they call me perverted"
- How they manage to hit both the intellectual and visceral vibe...
- Yet somehow, their lyrics are among the easiest to work into inside jokes.
- They make me feel like it's okay to be smart and to let my freak flag fly.
- The nonsense poetry that is "Intravenous Agnostic."
- "Your love alooone IS NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOOOOoooough!"
- Singing that song in front of people, and then getting it hopelessly stuck in their heads.
- Duetting with Nina Persson, whom I love.
- They validate my lifelong love of leopard print.
- I can identify with wanting to hit out against small-town dullness and mediocrity.
- The band's secret weapon: Sean.
- That doesn't stop any of us making endless fun of him, though.
- "Miss Europa Disco Dancer." Even if you don't like it, you have to admit the end is lulz.
- To wit: "Braindead motherfuckers, braindead motherfuckers, braindead motherfuckers, braindead motherfuckers..."
- The middle 8 in Sleepflower.
- Being such a James!wife, I have a not so secret soft spot for the much-maligned GATS era just because he was delicious in it.
- I even think he made a fetching blond.
- More so when it started growing out, though. OM NOM NOM. It might be a douchey look but it worked.
- But I still wouldn't have said no to Nicky up until around 1999 or so, if he weren't married. (Addendum: Current Nicky as well!) That's me and my lifelong love of walking sticks.
- "WE FUCK EACH OTHER!" Imagine that's huge, scrolling, and blinky.
- All the speculation that quote, among other things, spawned
- No other guys have ever worn COATS WITH THE FUR quite like they did in the early '90s.
- "Interiors (Song for Willem De Kooning)."
- Yeah, okay, I haven't given Nicky enough love here.
- I think I already implied he's got the best legs in rock'n'roll, so um. People don't give him enough credit as a musician.
- He's also got the best nose in the world. Check that profile.
- I even love how much of a failbot he can be. If nothing else, it's good for lulz.
- Also, if you're a daft asshole complaining about the dumbest things, he has no qualms calling you out. Go, Nicky!
- Besides, he's so eminently quotable.
- They inspired me to start getting back into reading again.
- And playing guitar, though I know I'll never be as good as James.
- "The Girl Who Wanted To Be God."
- Being able to shout-sing "This one's for the FREAKS!" with my friends while we all point to as many people as possible.
- The pure sarcasm of "You Love Us."
- Everything about Journal For Plague Lovers.
- The ridiculous song titles on same.
- And the touches of humor throughout.
- The way James sings "Oh Mummy, what's a Sex Pistol?"
- "All Is Vanity," which I think is my favorite. I'm still not sure.
- Then again, it might be "Marlon JD." The Manics learned how to use their drum machine!
- I even love Nicky singing "William's Last Words." It's just perfect.
- The fact that they decided to tour the US for the first time in 10 years, fairly soon after I became a hardcore fan.
- "Hazelton Avenue."
- "Some Kind Of Nothingness."
- In particular, "...There's beauty doing nothing at all."
- "Postcards From A Young Man" (the song).
- "The Future Has Been Here 4 Ever."
- "This Sullen Welsh Heart."
dec 17 2008 ∞
nov 17 2015 +