Sign In to rate and review
Critic Reviews
40
Taken for what it is, Manscape is edgy, brainy dance music, but taken as part of the largely brilliant Wire oeuvre, it's a disappointment.
10y
20
The drum-machine-driven Manscape just plain sucks.
10mo
Was catching up on some of Wire's discography today, and when I got to this album I was prepared for it to be a dated mess. And well, it definitely is dated, BUT a lot of it is esoteric enough that I still found it pretty entertaining.
I think it took a few tracks to really get going, but the combo of Torch It, with Graham Lewis approaching early 80s Nick Cave levels of lunacy, followed by the comedown of Morning Bell (omg they covered Radiohead?!?!) was real nice. I remember the closing track ... read more
Wire’s Manscape is weird, but not in the cool good way. It tried too hard to be out of the ordinary and fails miserably at being enjoyable. There are a couple good songs that one might be able to get themselves attached to, but I can’t imagine listening to this full album with purpose; it’s just so boring a lot of the time. The good songs aren’t that bad at all though and it’s certainly not horrificly unlistenable, just boring.
It doesn't all work but some of it is fantastic and Wire are never less than interesting. My favourites might be 'Where's The Deputation', 'Torch It' and 'What Do You See'. In retrospect the album is not as fresh and 'new soundscapes sounding' as some of Wire's recordings 86-91. It actually sounds a little conventional in places (as conventional as industrial art rock electronica gets). I love 'Torch It' but it reminds me of Fatima Mansions excellent "Blues For Ceaucescu" which came ... read more
![Агата Кристи [Agata Kristi] - Опиум [Opium]](https://cdn2.albumoftheyear.org/200x0/album/276994-.jpg)
Become a Subscriber
Subscriber badge, no ads + more benefits.
Subscriber badge, no ads + more benefits.
Advertisement
Track List
| 1 | Life in the Manscape 3:28 | |
| 2 | Stampede 4:35 | |
| 3 | Patterns of Behaviour 4:33 | |
| 4 | Other Moments 3:50 | |
| 5 | Small Black Reptile 3:14 | 75 |
| 6 | Torch It! 7:31 | |
| 7 | Morning Bell 4:22 | |
| 8 | Where's the Deputation? 3:51 | 84 |
| 9 | What Do You See? 6:47 | |
| 10 | Goodbye Ploy 3:50 | |
| 11 | Sixth Sense 4:19 | 80 |
| 12 | Children of Groceries 3:03 | 83 |
| 13 | You Hung Your Lights in the Trees / A Craftsman's Touch 10:03 |
Total Length: 1 hour, 3 minutes
