STACK NZ March 2017 Issue 82

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34 MARCH 2017
visit MUSIC REVIEWS
Psychocandy (1983)
The impressive debut (with Bobby Gillespie, later of
Primal Scream, on drums) wherein Scotland's Reid
brothers Jim and William introduced their brand of loud,
discordant, feedback-infused guitars to classic pop
structures. They drew as much fromThe Beach Boys
and Phil Spector's girl groups as the Velvet Underground. UK shoegaze
was invented here, and so was the sound of JAMC… which they would
subsequently refine.
Darklands (1987)
Here the melodies went up many notches (the soaring
Happy When It Rains ), searing guitars occasionally
came down (the title track), and a tastefully-used drum
machine came in after Gillespie's departure. Influences
were more from Lou Reed's VU and solo ballads (Deep
One Perfect Morning , Nine Million Rainy Days), but behind the indie rock
bluster JAMC were essentially a dark power pop-rock band (April Skies ).
Critics were unimpressed but they were wrong: Darklands is essential if
you enjoy shameless, fist-pumping indie rock.
Honey's Dead (1992)
Critics were right to dismiss third album Automatic
(1989) which might have been retitled Autopilot, even
if fans loved it and Americans finally got it. The Yanks
might have recoiled at the opener on this next album.
Reverence offers “I wanna die like Jesus Christ,” and
the album divided critics and loyalists. Yes, the whispered menace and
feedback returned, but at its best this slewed straight into screamadelic
grunge. However it was great fun… and that was a rare commodity at the
time. It stands up.
The Power of Negative Thinking; B-Sides
and Rarities (2008)
In this four-CD set, sources are displayed on the covers
(Bo Diddley, The Beach Boys, Motown, Howling Wolf,
Elvis); it's comprised of unexpected oddities (Prince's
Alphabet Street?) alongside acoustic demos of their classic singles,
B-sides not on albums, and so much more. In fact, you could start here
and work back.
THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN
And also... You can score the first five JAMC studio albums at JB
Hi-Fi in the budget-priced Rhino Original Album Series, which includes all
the first three above, plus Stoned and Dethroned from 1994 (with guests
Shane MacGowan of the Pogues and Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star).
Shoegaze sometimes but, given the right ingredients, JAMC were always
skygaze too. Words Graham Reid
The most unexpected thing about The Jesus and
Mary Chain's debut album was that they made it at
all.When they first started playing, their sets barely
broke the double-figures minute mark. In part that was
because they'd sometimes take the stage claiming to
be the support band, and get on and off before anyone
twigged. But albums they did make; half a dozen
between the mid '80s and late '90s, and now comes
Damage and Joy this month, their first in 18 years. So
how to buy JAMC?
Alison Krauss
Windy City
Alison Krauss is an outstanding
fiddle player and singer, known
for awakening America’s love
of bluegrass. It's been 18 years
since her last solo project, and
this time she has teamed up with
renowned Nashville producer
Buddy Cannon (Willie Nelson).
Together they handpicked a
collection of heartbreaking
classic country songs, previously
released by Brenda Lee, The
Osborne Brothers, Willie Nelson
and Jimmie Rodgers amongst
others. A voice that is so sweet,
delicate and powerful reliving
songs from years gone by - a
perfect way to make a solo
revival. Denise Hylands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Damage And Joy
The Jesus and Mary Chain imploded
following the recording of Munki ,
their last long player, 19 years ago.
Reuniting in 2007 essentially as a
touring outfit, tempestuous brothers
Jim and William Reid have finally
recorded a new album. The Mary
Chain’s signature distorted grit and
texture is omnipresent, but Damage
and Joy plays with a lighter heart,
the tone decidedly more positive,
and lacking the anger and venom
of Munki. Produced by Youth (who
also laid down bass on the album),
Damage And Joy expands on the
band’s unique sound and vocal style
without significantly changing the
formula. War On Peace , All Things
Pass and Song For A Secret are
standouts here, but any world with
a new Mary Chain album in it isn’t a
bad place to be. Paul Jones
Paul McCartney
Flowers in the Dirt: Archive Edition
After the excellent Band on the Run (1973),
McCartney enjoyed considerable commercial
success (notably the triple live set Wings Over
America in 1976 which topped the US charts)
but then there were diminishing artistic returns
until the late 80s with this return to form. Some
suggested the three songs co-written with Elvis Costello (among them
the hit My Brave Face, and the raw duet on You Want Her Too ) forced
him to up his game, but his own songs were strong whether they be
sentimental (Put It There, the discreetly orchestrated Distractions), quirky
(Rough Ride) or rocking (Figure of Eight ). Other co-writes with Costello
would appear on their separate albums, but Flowers – an important solo
McCartney album – marked a turning point. The most expansive Archive
Edition reissue offers four discs which includes nine demos of Costello
co-writes (acoustic and with the band), videos and 16 download-only
songs if you shell out big bucks. There are more fiscally manageable
double vinyl and double CD editions too. Graham Reid