On May 18, 2009, “Columbia” label released “Journal for Plague Lovers”, the ninth Manic Street Preachers studio album. It was recorded October 2008 – February 2009, at “Rockfield Studios” in Monmouth,Wales, and was produced by Steve Albini and Dave Eringa.

Personnel:

• James Dean Bradfield– lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
• Nicky Wire– lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, piano
• Sean Moore– drums, percussion
• Andy Walters – string arrangements, strings
• Katherine Thomas – harp
• Joanna Parkhurst – strings
• Bernard Kane – strings
• Nathan Stone – strings
• Steve Albini– recording, mixing
• Dave Eringa– mixing
• Loz Williams – recording, engineer
• Steve Davis – recording
• Greg Norman – engineer
• Ben Cunningham – engineer assistant
• Jenny Saville– front cover artwork
• Steve Stacey – design
• Mitch Ikeda – photography

Track listing:

All lyrics by Richey Edwards, all music by Manic Street Preachers (James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore, Nicky Wire).

1. Peeled Apples
2. Jackie Collins Existential Question Time
3. Me and Stephen Hawking
4. This Joke Sport Severed
5. Journal for Plague Lovers
6. She Bathed Herself in a Bath of Bleach
7. Facing Page: Top Left
8. Marlon J.D
9. Doors Closing Slowly
10. All Is Vanity
11. Pretension/Repulsion
12. Virginia State Epileptic Colony
13. William’s Last Words