Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless)

AMG Review of Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless)

Tim DiGravina
All Music Guide

Manic Street Preachers's Theme From M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) EP doesn't quite stand the test of time. The dated rock histrionics of the sometimes amazing band seem a bit misguided here. "Theme From M.A.S.H (Suicide Is Painless)" is catchy enough to be successful, but it's that same familiarity of the television show's theme song that brings the track down a notch. At least James Dean Bradfield's vocals are impassioned. The song works best before it picks up steam and gets harsh with a 30-second guitar solo. Luckily, the band reels everything in and finishes up strong. The guitar solo and the screaming that close the song turn a touching, ballady number into something too bombastic and over-produced for its own good. The track echoes, in a small way, the band's early masterpiece "Motorcyle Emptiness," as does the very next track. "Never Want Again" might be the EP's best song. Bradfield has hints of both sadness and anger in his voice, singing "I get told I should be happy/I got no rights on how I feel/I lost my language easily." Like the title track, the song becomes overly bombastic, but there's hints of the Smiths and the band's future pop punk of The Holy Bible. "Dead Yankee Drawl" has some fantastically catchy moments, especially the hook which sees Bradfield singing "turning one dollar into another and another." The song is one of those political statements from the band that's more awkward than powerful, with the most ridiculous lyric being "Cos reality is TV is Disney not King, Rodney." It's hard to imagine any band being able to make the lyrics work, but the music is melodic enough and the band's enthusiasm is a bit addictive, so it's a mark in the win column. "Ain't Goin' Down" isn't as touching as the band intended. Musically, there's not much interesting going on; just a slow beat, jangling guitars that don't go anywhere, and Bradfield and company attempting harmonies. The song is more awkward and boring than pretty. Theme From M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless is best left for Manic Street Preachers completists only -- and maybe fans of M.A.S.H.