The Jesus Mary and Chain are one of those forgotten alternative indie 80s bands. Highly influential and ahead of their time the Jesus Mary and Chain combined punk, pop, sludge, noise, and walls of feedback to create some of the most inspiring music to come out of the early indie scene. It is like the old saying about the Velvet Underground. Yes they were influential but everyone who heard them started a band and became even bigger than their influences.
"Automatic" was TJMC's third album, and can be considered the dreaded "mature" album. At this point in the band's career they were veering away from the 1-2 minute punk tunes and trying to assert themselves as musicians who had a love for creating beautifully chaotic perfect pop songs.
The album opens with the droning "Here comes Alice". A song filled with a screeching feedback and the Reid brother's thought provoking lyrics like, "Don't let your life be the butt of a joke." "Blues from a Gun", is a depressing psychotic miserable tune equipped with the usual wash of feedback and distortion, but yet makes you want to sing and dance.
What makes TJMC so great is that they sang songs about sad, depressing themes, but yet played them with a pop sensibility. This is most prevalent in "Halfway to Crazy". With lyrics like "Crazy, I'm halfway to crazy/Suicide could save me." A little shocking at first, but you will find yourself singing along with the bouncing guitars sooner than later.
The album's most well known song, and probably the band's as well is the highlight of the record. "Head On", made famous by the Pixies who covered the song on 1991's "Trompe Le Monde". "Head On" is the a perfect pop song. Its about falling in love, and how it feels to be so much in love, but the contradiction between the lyrics and how the brothers Reid sing make it genius.
The Jesus Mary and Chain sound is what would happen if the Velvet Underground got into a fight with the Beach Boys. Classically chaotic pop songs that pummel the listener. The Jesus Mary and Chain crafted catchy pop tunes and disfigured them beautifully with feedback and distortion. |