Generic Ratings: 1: Crap. 2: Okay. 3: Good. 4: Great
If any fans were put off by the experimental, electronic sounds of Lifeblood, then the opening track of Send Away The Tigers should see those fans sighing in relief. They play a little trick with a false organ start, but the opening guitar attack sets the tone for the album – a more streamlined, old fashioned rock sound with guitars, drums, bass, and vocals all unhindered by studio jiggerypokery. It’s a terrific opening riff, and the melodies and musical strength shines through the three and a half minutes, not allowing any spare seconds for additional nonsense – the point is made, and we can leave it at that. Lyrically, Wire seems to be on better form, and although the old themes of regret and nostalgia are prevalent there is a freshness to proceedings after the sleepy nature of the last album which makes you sit up and listen – and that chorus is bound to stay in your head for hours.
Send Away The Tigers: 3/Good (Patrick Jones video)
Misheard Lyrics:
- There’s no hope in the counties
- Faces on whores
- Same noise death and destroy
- Look at me I’m modest and free
Actual Lyrics:
- There’s no hope in the colonies
- Fixing some holes
- Same noise left to destroy
- Look at me I’m honest and free
The Spac Hole 
“Faces on whores” would have been a great lyric!
I quite like both Lifeblood and Send Away the Tigers. There is no shortage of hooks and great melodies on those two, as far as I am concerned.
I’m a big fan of Send Away The Tigers. I love most Manics output but that one felt special after Lifeblood (which wasn’t for me but I could see what they were reaching for). I’d put it up there with Gold Against The Soul & Everything Must Go.
I go back and forth between those two – I think there are individual songs on Lifeblood that I like more, but it has a couple I don’t like much and tend to skip. Send Away The Tigers felt like streamlining and getting back to basics before they worked out what to do next.