Lifeblood
by Manic Street Preachers
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Nov 1, 2004
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. AllMusic
    60
    Lifeblood is a pleasant listen, but once you peel away the keyboards, sensitively strummed guitars and tasteful harmonies and concentrate on Bradfield's nakedly open voice and Wire's terminally collegiate lyrics, it's hard to escape the unintentional pathos that winds up defining the album and, conceivably, the band's latter-day career.
  2. cokemachineglow
    74
    Infinitely better than their last album, and proof that The Manics are now capable of writing pop music that’s neither dull nor pandering.
  3. Dot Music
    60
    An often mediocre record, with a few peaks and an awful lot of troughs.
  5. Drowned In Sound
    90
    This is an album that can (and I think will) transcend musical taste and age range... 'Lifeblood' may well live forever as one of the best commercial albums of the bands career.
  6. Mojo
    80
    An album that nails its subtle-but-tenacious hooks with dignity and maturity. [Nov 2004, p.94]
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  7. PopMatters
    70
    While far from a smashing return to form on par with Everything Must Go (their career high-water mark), Lifeblood should reassure the public that the Manics are not yet artistically bankrupt.
  8. Q Magazine
    30
    Miserable and insipid. [Dec 2004, p.130]
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  9. The Guardian
    70
    The lay-off germinated the usual clutter of ideas gleaned from books and films and their best tunes in years.
  10. Uncut
    70
    Lifeblood seems closest in tone to Everything Must Go, although the sound is lighter, less bombastic, more soothing. [Dec 2004, p.148]
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Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Most Shared Album of 2004

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 40 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 40
  3. Negative: 3 out of 40
  1. Frasoric
    Mar 8, 2023
    7
    The bands most electronic based album to date, Lifeblood brought a new sound to the band while still following the bands traditional lyricalThe bands most electronic based album to date, Lifeblood brought a new sound to the band while still following the bands traditional lyrical themes such as politics and despair. The albums strongest section is the beginning with songs such as 1985 based on the Berlin Wall and Empty Souls being a song about the bands reaction to 9/11. With saying that there are some weak parts on the album with songs like Always/Never which feels like track filler and brings nothing to the record. The album is worth a listen for modern Manic fans, but veteran's might find the new sound direction troublesome.… Full Review »
  2. Transistorhero
    Sep 22, 2014
    0
    Utterly Utterly awful, genuinely made me question whether I should ever buy any of their records again. Preceded by the worst single they'veUtterly Utterly awful, genuinely made me question whether I should ever buy any of their records again. Preceded by the worst single they've ever released (Stiff competition considering that Let Robeson Sing was released as a single), lyrically poor, rambling and incoherent at times, mundane artwork that Nicky appears to have tossed off in ten minutes (isn't it cool how blood looks when its so white? and blood is life, and white is pure!!! That's enough, where's my hoover?). It's very flat, musically directionless and about as inspiring as a beige coat hanger.… Full Review »
  3. IbanL
    Oct 5, 2006
    6
    A nice album, but not much more. Each and every track is nice, with hygienic and pretty melodies that seem to clean your ears. There are no A nice album, but not much more. Each and every track is nice, with hygienic and pretty melodies that seem to clean your ears. There are no big highlights but it is worth getting this album.… Full Review »
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