Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
As the voice and face of Manic Street Preachers, James Dean Bradfield is a deceptively placid presence, presenting Nicky Wire's platitudes with a humble, plainspoken delivery -- something that helped sell the more strident politics and also helped bring the band firmly within the coffeehouse territory, crossing over with Everything Must Go. He may front the band but he doesn't write the words, an odd situation for a group so charged and personal as this, but that does mean Bradfield is the ideal choice for a solo album, since it would promise to reveal a side of him thus far unheard on record. His 2006 solo debut, The Great Western, does indeed fill that bill, presenting a sensitive, vulnerable Bradfield, something that hasn't been captured on Manics albums even when they strayed toward colorless mature-pop. Sonically, this album isn't far removed from This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours -- it's anthemic yet soft, dramatic yet hushed -- but unlike on the Manics albums since, it doesn't sound labored. The Great Western sounds rather effortless both in its music and lyrics, as Bradfield unhurriedly tells intimate stories that are quite affecting partially because they are so modest. This small sense of scale is frankly a relief after the mock grandeur of Know Your Enemy and Lifeblood, and there's a genuine warmth to this record that makes it Bradfield's most endearing, enduring music since This Is My Truth, which bodes well for the next Manics LP.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From kr133.33/month
Tony Hoffer, Mixing Engineer - Greg Haver, Drums - Guy Massey, Producer - Guy Massey, Engineer - Guy Massey, Mixing Engineer - Nick Nasmyth, Keyboards - Mike Grimley, 2nd Engineer - James Dean Bradfield, Performer - James Dean Bradfield, Vocal - James Dean Bradfield, Guitar - James Dean Bradfield, Acoustic Bass - James Dean Bradfield, Co-Producer - James Dean Bradfield, Composer - James Dean Bradfield, Lyricist - Ian Dowling, Misc. Prod.
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Greg Haver, Drums - Guy Massey, Producer - Guy Massey, Engineer - Dave Eringa, Keyboards - Dave Eringa, Mixing Engineer - Nick Nasmyth, Keyboards - Mike Grimley, 2nd Engineer - James Dean Bradfield, Performer - James Dean Bradfield, Guitar - James Dean Bradfield, Acoustic Bass - James Dean Bradfield, Vocal - James Dean Bradfield, Co-Producer - James Dean Bradfield, Composer - James Dean Bradfield, Lyricist - Ian Dowling, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Greg Haver, Drums - Nick Jones, Lyricist - Dave Eringa, Keyboards - Dave Eringa, Producer - Dave Eringa, Engineer - Dave Eringa, Mixing Engineer - Nick Nasmyth, Keyboards - James Dean Bradfield, Performer - James Dean Bradfield, Guitar - James Dean Bradfield, Acoustic Bass - James Dean Bradfield, Vocal - James Dean Bradfield, Co-Producer - James Dean Bradfield, Composer - Loz Williams, Engineer - Ian Dowling, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Greg Haver, Drums - Dave Eringa, Producer - Dave Eringa, Engineer - Dave Eringa, Mixing Engineer - Nick Nasmyth, Keyboards - James Dean Bradfield, Performer - James Dean Bradfield, Guitar - James Dean Bradfield, Acoustic Bass - James Dean Bradfield, Vocal - James Dean Bradfield, Co-Producer - James Dean Bradfield, Composer - James Dean Bradfield, Lyricist - Loz Williams, Engineer - Ian Dowling, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Dafydd Ieuan, Drums - Dave Eringa, Producer - Dave Eringa, Engineer - Dave Eringa, Mixing Engineer - Nick Nasmyth, Keyboards - James Dean Bradfield, Performer - James Dean Bradfield, Vocal - James Dean Bradfield, Guitar - James Dean Bradfield, Acoustic Bass - James Dean Bradfield, Co-Producer - James Dean Bradfield, Composer - James Dean Bradfield, Lyricist - Loz Williams, Engineer - Ian Dowling, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Greg Haver, Drums - John Smith, Engineer - Dave Eringa, Mixing Engineer - Alex Silva, Producer - Alex Silva, Engineer - John Niven, Lyricist - James Dean Bradfield, Performer - James Dean Bradfield, Guitar - James Dean Bradfield, Acoustic Bass - James Dean Bradfield, Vocal - James Dean Bradfield, Drums - James Dean Bradfield, Co-Producer - James Dean Bradfield, Composer - James Dean Bradfield, Lyricist - Loz Williams, Engineer - Ian Dowling, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Greg Haver, Drums - John Smith, Engineer - Dave Eringa, Mixing Engineer - Alex Silva, Acoustic Bass - Alex Silva, Producer - Alex Silva, Engineer - John Niven, Lyricist - James Dean Bradfield, Performer - James Dean Bradfield, Guitar - James Dean Bradfield, Vocal - James Dean Bradfield, Co-Producer - James Dean Bradfield, Composer - James Dean Bradfield, Lyricist - Loz Williams, Engineer - Ian Dowling, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Greg Haver, Keyboards - Greg Haver, Producer - Greg Haver, Engineer - Guy Massey, Mixing Engineer - Jacques Brel, Composer - Jacques Brel, Lyricist - James Dean Bradfield, Performer - James Dean Bradfield, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - James Dean Bradfield, Vocal - James Dean Bradfield, Co-Producer - Loz Williams, Engineer - Ian Dowling, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Greg Haver, Drums - Dave Eringa, Producer - Dave Eringa, Engineer - Dave Eringa, Mixing Engineer - Nick Nasmyth, Keyboards - James Dean Bradfield, Performer - James Dean Bradfield, Guitar - James Dean Bradfield, Acoustic Bass - James Dean Bradfield, Vocal - James Dean Bradfield, Co-Producer - James Dean Bradfield, Composer - James Dean Bradfield, Lyricist - Loz Williams, Engineer - Ian Dowling, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Guy Massey, Mixing Engineer - John Smith, Engineer - Renewed, Performer - Alex Silva, Acoustic Bass - Alex Silva, Producer - Alex Silva, Engineer - Al Hamer, Drums - James Dean Bradfield, Performer - James Dean Bradfield, Guitar - James Dean Bradfield, Vocal - James Dean Bradfield, Co-Producer - James Dean Bradfield, Composer - James Dean Bradfield, Lyricist - Loz Williams, Engineer - Ian Dowling, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Nick Dewey, Drums - Guy Massey, Producer - Guy Massey, Engineer - Dave Eringa, Mixing Engineer - Mike Grimley, 2nd Engineer - James Dean Bradfield, Performer - James Dean Bradfield, Guitar - James Dean Bradfield, Acoustic Bass - James Dean Bradfield, Keyboards - James Dean Bradfield, Vocal - James Dean Bradfield, Co-Producer - James Dean Bradfield, Composer - James Dean Bradfield, Lyricist - Ian Dowling, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Album review
As the voice and face of Manic Street Preachers, James Dean Bradfield is a deceptively placid presence, presenting Nicky Wire's platitudes with a humble, plainspoken delivery -- something that helped sell the more strident politics and also helped bring the band firmly within the coffeehouse territory, crossing over with Everything Must Go. He may front the band but he doesn't write the words, an odd situation for a group so charged and personal as this, but that does mean Bradfield is the ideal choice for a solo album, since it would promise to reveal a side of him thus far unheard on record. His 2006 solo debut, The Great Western, does indeed fill that bill, presenting a sensitive, vulnerable Bradfield, something that hasn't been captured on Manics albums even when they strayed toward colorless mature-pop. Sonically, this album isn't far removed from This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours -- it's anthemic yet soft, dramatic yet hushed -- but unlike on the Manics albums since, it doesn't sound labored. The Great Western sounds rather effortless both in its music and lyrics, as Bradfield unhurriedly tells intimate stories that are quite affecting partially because they are so modest. This small sense of scale is frankly a relief after the mock grandeur of Know Your Enemy and Lifeblood, and there's a genuine warmth to this record that makes it Bradfield's most endearing, enduring music since This Is My Truth, which bodes well for the next Manics LP.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:37:13
- Main artists: James Dean Bradfield
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia
- Genre: Pop/Rock
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.