The first solo effort of James Dean Bradfield, frontman of Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers, is an intimate, autobiographical work.
The title, The Great Western, refers to the railway line built in the 19th century, which links London with South Wales.
The 11 tracks are like the milestones of this talented singer-songwriter and guitarist's life journey. They document the crucial moments and people who have shaped his artistic and personal life. They include Manic guitarist Richey James, who disappeared in 1995.
The grief Bradfield felt after losing James is expressed in Bad Boys and Painkillers, written by the band's bassist and lyricist Nicky Wire, and The Wrong Beginning.
An English Gentleman pays tribute to the band's late mentor and publicist Philip Hall, who helped guide their career and nurture their unique style.
Other highlights include To See a Friend in Tears, a soft track that mourns the need for war, and Which Way to Kyffin, which celebrates a Welsh landscape painter.