Welsh rocker James Dean Bradfield took a sabbatical from his day job as the singer in the Manic Street Preachers and finally released his solo debut full-length, THE GREAT WESTERN, in 2006--15 years after the release of the Manics' debut. Displaying the influence of fellow Welshman John Cale, and, more surprisingly, Belgian crooner Jacques Brel, THE GREAT WESTERN was a personal and more reflective collection of songs that still maintained the trademark energy of his day-job outfit, as well as his always notable songwriting skills.