Resistance Is Futile

Manic Street Preachers - Resistance Is Futile
Critic Score
Based on 26 reviews
2018 Ratings: #618 / 890
User Score
Based on 78 ratings
2018 Rank: #703
Liked by 1 person
Sign In to rate and review

CRITIC REVIEWS

80
The Independent

Resistance Is Futile isn’t the Manics exploring particularly new territory; if anything, as they note themselves at points on the album, sometimes it seems as though little has changed and they’ve found themselves reiterating messages they first sent over 20 years ago. They’re still fighting the same battles, but really, it’s incredibly comforting to know they’re on your side, and to be assured that they’ll keep on fighting.

80
Clash
After the uncharted territory of 2013’s pastoral ‘Rewind The Film’ and 2014’s angular ‘Futurology’, the Manics’ 13th studio album is a sprightly waltz across the catalogue.
80
musicOMH

For those who thought that the life of Manic Street Preachers was winding down to a conclusion (and, given the rather lacklustre nature of their most recent albums, you’d be forgiven for thinking that), Resistance Is Futile is a fine riposte. While there are a couple of misfires ... this is generally a fine return to form from one of the country’s most treasured bands.

80
NME
Manics are kicking against the pricks just as hard as ever. In their existence alone they continue to fight the good fight – but the sheer scale, pop-pomp and balls on show here render their survival an absolute victory. Resistance may be futile, but the Manics continue to advance.
75
A.V. Club

Resistance Is Futile, the band’s thirteenth studio album, distills the Manics’ pomp and melancholy into buoyant pop songs with biting electric guitars, sugary synths, and majestic strings.

70
Loud and Quiet

Here, they sound invigorated; driven by the venom that gave the protest anger of those ‘Generation Terrorists’ years a politicized bite but softened with the big, orchestral bluster that characterized ‘Everything Must Go’.

70
AllMusic

First, it comes on strong-all sharp edges and gleam-but once the blare fades, the melodies and their accompanying sweetness lingers, leaving a lasting impression behind.

65
Under the Radar

Situationist stances aside it is clear that on Resistance Is Futile, a little of the classic Manics fire is lacking—those creative juices spread a touch thinly across the 12 uneven tracks on offer.

60
Sputnikmusic

With Resistance is Futile, they’ve finally caught up with their own reality and decided to produce the one album they never made; a serviceable rock album.

60
The Observer

With their tragic history and dizzying intelligence, the Manics could never be just another band. Although sometimes that’s exactly how they sound. And even worse, that other band is Stereophonics.

60
DIY

Even though the likes of ‘Dylan And Caitlin’ or the poignant nostalgia of ‘In Eternity’ ... are thematically complex, they’re coated in unabashedly big hooks.

60
God Is in the TV

Resistance… is not the sound of a band cannibalizing itself, but its lack of a defined identity is something of a misnomer in the band’s recent output. What it does have going for it is its relentless melodiousness, and it’s definitely a much more successful, urgent sounding stab at mass communication than Postcards From A Young Man. Undoubtedly, if this record was released in 1998 it would have produced a string of bona fide hit singles.

60
Drowned in Sound

Resistance is Futile is another curious chapter in the story of a band whose imperfection is one of their most endearing features.

60
The Guardian

Their willingness to turn an ever-critical eye on themselves as well as on a changing world is what makes Resistance Is Futile so emotionally engaging, and more than enough to justify the future of their future.

60
The Line of Best Fit

Overall Resistance is Futile is an interesting nexus of the Manics’ twin ambitions towards populism and complexity - and an encouraging sign that they are still progressing after over 30 years.

60
The Skinny

Resistance is Futile is another attempt to connect with as big an audience as possible ... and brings both the pluses and problems that that ambition acts as a catalyst for.

everythingafter
61

Resistance Is Futile starts out strong, but the momentum of the first three tracks isn't sustained, and it has quite a few less-than-memorable songs in the interior and near the end. I know record deals don't always allow for this, but bands really should hold off until they have 10-12 really good songs before putting out a record rather than putting forth just a slightly above mediocre effort like this. Of course, four years passed between this album and the last one, presumably long enough ... read more

Doofy
NR

The cover of 'Resistance is Futile' (...we will inflict this damage to your ears whether you like it or not!) makes me think of the Tom Cruise flop 'The Last (and littlest) Samurai' - because it's also a disaster, and I can hardly believe I'm having to say this, but this is their very worst album.

Please, just stop chaps.

DiegoPaim01
66

Até q é interessante. A banda traz um rock grandioso, rico instrumentalmente, uma sonoridade bem densa e limpa, e isso traz momentos bem legais pra curtir neste disco. Gosto de como eles articularam um pouco um rock sinfonico de instrumentais bem elaborados com belas melodias com a forte influencia do hard rock dos anos 70/80. A banda ainda soa mto ativa e com mta energia, com algo a trazer e fazer, e isso é ótimo pra uma banda com mais de 20 anos de carreira. ... read more

Purchasing Resistance Is Futile from Amazon helps support Album of the Year. Or consider a donation?


Added on: November 17, 2017