Know Your Enemy
Encyclopedia
Know Your Enemy is the sixth album
by the Manic Street Preachers
. It was released in March 2001 on Virgin Records
. The album has songs ranging from energetic lo-fi rock songs reminiscent of their earlier material to highly produced, more melodic pop songs as well as a disco
song ('Miss Europa Disco Dancer'). The album also features Nicky Wire
's debut as a lead vocalist ('Wattsville Blues') and James Dean Bradfield
's debut as a lyricist ('Ocean Spray'.)
's The Art of War
Part III, 'Act Of Strategum', the English
translation
being "So it is said that if you know others and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know others but know yourself, you win one and lose one; if you do not know others and do not know yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle". The working title
of this album was Fidel, after Cuban president Fidel Castro
.
The album reached the Top 20 in many countries including the UK, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Australia and Denmark.
"Epicentre" features around a minute-long snippet of a vocal part from the song "Masking Tape" as a hidden track after its ending. "Masking Tape" was eventually released as a B-side for "Let Robeson Sing".
On some versions of this album, there is a hidden track
recording of "We Are All Bourgeois Now" by McCarthy
. It is hidden after "Freedom of Speech Won't Feed My Children".
A version of "The Masses Against the Classes
" appeared on the Australian release, along with a remix of "So Why So Sad".
Additional personnel
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by the Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
. It was released in March 2001 on Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. The album has songs ranging from energetic lo-fi rock songs reminiscent of their earlier material to highly produced, more melodic pop songs as well as a disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
song ('Miss Europa Disco Dancer'). The album also features Nicky Wire
Nicky Wire
Nicholas Allen Jones, known as Nicky Wire, is the lyricist, bassist and occasional vocalist with the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.-Early life:...
's debut as a lead vocalist ('Wattsville Blues') and James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.- Early life :...
's debut as a lyricist ('Ocean Spray'.)
Background
The album derives its name from Sun TzuSun Tzu
Sun Wu , style name Changqing , better known as Sun Tzu or Sunzi , was an ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher who is traditionally believed, and who is most likely, to have authored The Art of War, an influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy...
's The Art of War
The Art of War
The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military treatise that is attributed to Sun Tzu , a high ranking military general and strategist during the late Spring and Autumn period...
Part III, 'Act Of Strategum', the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
being "So it is said that if you know others and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know others but know yourself, you win one and lose one; if you do not know others and do not know yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle". The working title
Working title
A working title, sometimes called a production title, is the temporary name of a product or project used during its development, usually used in filmmaking, television production, novel, video game, or music album.-Purpose:...
of this album was Fidel, after Cuban president Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
.
The album reached the Top 20 in many countries including the UK, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Australia and Denmark.
Tracklisting
All tracks written by Bradfield/Moore (music) and Wire (lyrics), unless otherwise noted."Epicentre" features around a minute-long snippet of a vocal part from the song "Masking Tape" as a hidden track after its ending. "Masking Tape" was eventually released as a B-side for "Let Robeson Sing".
On some versions of this album, there is a hidden track
Hidden track
In the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener...
recording of "We Are All Bourgeois Now" by McCarthy
McCarthy (band)
McCarthy were a British indie pop band, formed in Barking, Essex, England in 1984 by schoolmates Malcolm Eden and Tim Gane with John Williamson and Gary Baker...
. It is hidden after "Freedom of Speech Won't Feed My Children".
A version of "The Masses Against the Classes
The Masses Against The Classes
"The Masses Against the Classes" is a song by Manic Street Preachers, released as a limited-edition single in January 2000. It was a stand-alone single, not featured on any studio album, and was deleted on the day of release.The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 16...
" appeared on the Australian release, along with a remix of "So Why So Sad".
Personnel
Manic Street Preachers- James Dean BradfieldJames Dean BradfieldJames Dean Bradfield is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.- Early life :...
– lead vocals, guitar, keyboards on "Freedom of Speech Won't Feed My Children" - Sean MooreSean Moore (musician)Sean Anthony Moore is the writer, drummer/percussionist and sometime trumpet player of the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.-Early years:...
– drums, drum programming, trumpet - Nicky WireNicky WireNicholas Allen Jones, known as Nicky Wire, is the lyricist, bassist and occasional vocalist with the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.-Early life:...
– bass, lead vocals on "Wattsville Blues", acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Additional personnel
- Nick Nasmyth – keyboards, backing vocals
- Kevin Shields – Guitar on "Freedom Of Speech Won't Feed My Children"