Manic Street Preachers are unimpressed with the current state of British music.

Bassist Nicky Wire has directed criticism at a number of British bands, but has made his dislike for Franz Ferdinand especially clear, with their lyrics the driving force behind his opinion.

"They committed the worst ever lyrical crime (on 'Do You Want To?'): 'Here we are at the transmission party/I love your friends, they're all so arty'. Crap!"

He added that he was even tempted to back US troupes such as My Chemical Romance ahead of certain domestic artists: "My Chemical Romance? I'd rather my daughter got into them than some of these British bands."