The Jesus & Mary Chain - Psychocandy (Psychocandy - Jesus & Mary Chain)

Member Name: mo79

Product:	Psychocandy - Jesus & Mary Chain
Date:	14/01/01 (115 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A landmark 80's indie punk pop band, with many classic gems on this album as a whole

Disadvantages: The production can be non ear-friendly at times

I'm currently listening to this album as I write this review. It's been quite a while since I last dug it out, and just put it on as I felt like playing something that hadn't graced my ears too recently. It's the first time I've listened and reviewed an album at the same time; it's quite an experience...Okay, it's no big feat! I love to waffle.
Anyway, for those of you not too familiar with TJ&MC, all you really need to know is that this is their legendary debut album which started and closed an era of music all within one record, or it's what I'd like and have been led to believe. The shows and legends that co-incide with this release are said to have been monumental - riotous.
You may remember opening song 'Just Like Honey' appearing not too long ago on a Guinness ad. People argue whether they're a punk or indie band or both, but they're basically a heavy pop band, and in fact that's probably how they want to be remembered aswell (the band called it quits about 1 or 2 years ago).
TJ&MC on this record is the fluffy haired Reid brothers (Jim and William - check the album artwork) sharing guitars and vocals, with one Douglas Hart on bass, and some bloke called Bobby Gillespie on drums who left soon after to form some other band with him on vocals, um what's their name again?...
Future electronica producer names Flood and Alan Moulder (Depeche Mody, Moby, Nine Inch Nails etc.) lend their engineering talents here with John Loder; the record is self produced. It sounds like it was recorded on a battered budget hand-me-down second rate tape recorder, maybe it was, who cares. It gives the record it's trademark buzzing, distorted, radio-like and psychotic edge. Whether this was a conscious or accidental effort, we'll never know; but it sure does rawk well! Probably one of the best records out in '85, I can't think of many.
The 15 track album is basically a collection of brillian
tly written beautiful pop songs, of either the heavy, moderate or ballad variety; and all are encased in some degree of smashed machine production workings. It gives the album an overriding theme over the angsty vocals, buzzing guitars and simple but catchy rhythms.
Apart from the lush 'Just Like Honey' (and it's sequel like 'Sowing Seeds'), other favourites of mine include the sublime guitar classics 'Some Candy Talking' and 'Cut Dead', the broken 'Taste Of Cindy' and 'You Trip Me Up', and the aborted surfer-rock of 'Never Understand', and both the last two buzzy sounding classics 'Something's Wrong' and 'It's So Hard'.
I apologise for my following lack of reverence in explaining as I usually do on the intricacies of many of the songs in other album reviews, but this album is a body. Just like a severed arm is nothing without it's body, the same goes for the songs in this album; it's a cohesive collection. Yes there are song differences, otherwise it would be one long song, but trust me when I say the feel is consistent, this record is about the feel very much so. It's basically simple to sum up, yet no amount of words show suitable justice. It's just a great indie pop rock album with a harsh gritty arty edge. It's just a bunch of ace songwriting gems with pure emotion and great delivery, even in it's simplicity. If there is any gripe it's that maybe the production can be a bit painful on the ears at times; like when you tune into a radio station but are still lingering between another frequency. If you can tolerate that and appreciate the overall art and quality of the songwriting and delivery you will find that you'll be glad you bought this classic and pretty much legendary album. There are 1/2 personal duds on there, but not very many, and if I must, along with the non-traditional production, I'll give it 4/5 stars rather than 5, but o
nly just.
The band and this album injected some well needed passion into the pasty mid-80's UK chart pop world, and thank goodness for it. TJ&MC I salute you, your (good) work is done; you may rest in peace!

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