Like the Velvet Underground, their most obvious influence, the chart success of the Jesus and Mary Chain was virtually nonexistent, but their artistic impact was incalculable; quite simply, the British group made the world safe for white noise, orchestrating a sound dense in squalling feedback which served as an inspiration to everyone from My Bloody Valentine to Dinosaur Jr. Though the supporting players drifted in and out of focus, the heart of the Mary Chain remained vocalists and guitarists William and Jim Reid, Scottish-born brothers heavily influenced not only by underground legends like the Velvets and the Stooges but also by the sonic grandeur and pop savvy of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson. In the Jesus and Mary Chain, which the Reids formed outside of Glasgow in 1984 with bassist Douglas Hart and drummer Murray Dalglish (quickly replaced by Bobby Gillespie), these two polarized aesthetics converged; equal parts bubblegum and formless guitar distortion, their sound both celebrated pop conventions and thoroughly subverted them.
In late 1984, the band issued its seminal debut single, "Upside Down," a remarkable blast of live wire feedback anchored by a caveman-like drumbeat; the record made the Mary Chain an overnight sensation in the U.K., as did their nascent live shows, 20-minute sets of confrontational noise (performed with the band's members' backs to the audience) which frequently ended in rioting. The follow-up, "You Trip Me Up," further perfected the formula, and led to their 1985 debut LP Psychocandy, which gift-wrapped sweet, simple pop songs in ribbons of droning guitar fuzz. After a two-year layoff (during which time Gillespie exited to form Primal Scream, and was replaced by John Moore), the Jesus and Mary Chain returned with Darklands, a dramatic shift in approach which stripped away the feedback to expose the skeletal guitar pop at the music's core. After a sprawling 1988 collection of singles, B-sides, and demos titled Barbed Wire Kisses, they emerged with Automatic, which introduced a more tightly coiled brand of feedback while jettisoning Moore's live drums in favor of synthesized beats.
After another long absence, the Mary Chain (minus Hart) resurfaced in 1992 with Honey's Dead, and earned greater U.S. visibility thanks to a spot on that summer's Lollapalooza lineup; the first single, "Reverence," also won them renewed notoriety at home when Top of the Pops banned the song because of its opening lines, "I wanna die just like Jesus Christ" and "I wanna die just like JFK." With 1994's gentle, largely acoustic Stoned & Dethroned, they even reached the U.S. pop charts thanks to the lovely single "Sometimes Always," a duet with Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval. Another collection of scattered sides, The Jesus and Mary Chain Hate Rock 'n' Roll, followed a year later, highlighted by the single "I Hate Rock 'n' Roll," a scabrous swipe which reclaimed the pure noise attack of their earliest work. Moving to Sub Pop, they returned with Munki in 1998. William Reid left the group during the subsequent tour, and in 1999, the Jesus and Mary Chain officially disbanded.
Sitting in silence we do no good. When things are as horrible as they are we need to stand up and demand and fight for other humans in need. We are one and all beautiful and worth being saved from despair.
Sitting in silence we do no good. When things are as horrible as they are we need to stand up and demand and fight for other humans in need. We are one and all beautiful and worth being saved from despair.
Im asking you all from the bottom of my heart... To PLEASE take the time to watch the movie Invisible Children. You can find it on YOUTUBE. These cihldren are killed and abducted everyday. If we the people scream and shout or voices will be heard and some of these precious children could be saved from a life of pure hell. I urge you to send this to anyone you know and to also write your government including Obama. Let your voice along with many many others be heard. It takes a second to write your concern and will help save hundreds of dieing children in Uganda. Look inside your hearts and see that we are all connected and all of us should be helping our brothers and sisters. Not just Americans but the world! And we can live in harmony if people would really care.
Hey, The NAMM Show was AMAZING! Did the artist endorsement thing at the Minarik booth this year (cameras, cameras, cameras). Had fun hangin' with Dave N., too. Hope to see you around next year!!!
Hi there , hope all's well in yer world and yer mind. Just droppin' by tae let ye know about the new STY at www.alienpig.co.uk It would be nice if ye could drop by and have a wee snuffle about. Stay forever free with love and good vibes from the STY. PIG X ;@) target="_blank"> alt="Photobucket">
Our new album "Herbarium" is
out now on CdBaby (MP3 so far, physical CD is on its way).
Diverse palette of styles (post-rock,
ambient, electronica, trip-hop, with elements of noise, dub,
neoclassic and free improvisation), united by cinematic, slightly
pensive mood.
«Herbarium» is called so
because of heterogeneity of «songs», which can be
compared to miscellaneous leaves in the album, still being belonged
to the family of trees. Trying to avoid non-alive metaphors here,
only thought of diversity and warm and innermost feeling that
herbarium is capable to conjure up. «... This leaf I picked up
in the park where I met her, and this - I sat by the river,
contemplating...». So tracks were created – one was captured
in some magic jam, another – recorded layer by layer and
meticulously mixed then, next – cut from previous sessions and so
on.
All compositions are united by Poostosh
sense of music – mostly pensive, spatial, tender and experimental.
There's a lot of soul and charisma in every leaf... So please let
your soul look over our HERBARIUM.
Online Now!
