Roses In The Hospital

Manic Street Preachers: "Roses In The Hospital" (Sony)

The generic stadium rockers it's OK to leek return with yet another overbearing anthem, which gives the lie to their oft-repeated claim that "All rock 'n' roll is homosexual." Its power chords and axe solos are so masculine that there is testosterone dribbling from my speakers. And James Dean Bradfield's throaty hollering doesn't help, taking away as it does from an intelligent, thought-provoking lyric.

Were I a school teacher, I'd remark "Must try less hard" and give them a C minus.