Darklands

2.6 3x

I mean, it sounds Psychocandy if someone turned the noise down. Which isn't bad...the pop melodies they produce are great. Still miss the cacophony a little, though.

Boring.

A gorgeous shoegaze offering, twinkling with nostalgia

Disappointing

Damn, I really need to listen to Jesus and the Mary Chain more!

Just a bit nice hey

Started out thinking “wow, these brothers really love the Velvet Underground” then eventually I was like “wow, these brothers are sure making something that sounds like a janglier version of Stone Roses”, and for some reason, it still took me a little bit to settle into liking the album. Who knows why. They create these really nice pleasant soundscapes, real “smiling and enjoying a walk even though it’s a grey day” type shit, and the 60s pop sensibilities add a nice musicality to that. They’re not in out and out neo-psychedelic vibes, they’re just in whatever level of psychedelia you call it when you love watching the sun break through clouds.

Meh.

ok

I really liked this one. I found it more appealing than psychocandy. It seemed like a gateway album to 90s alternative rock

Unfortunately quite a boring album.

this one was nice. i was listening as i was doing computer work so this was another one that felt like background music to me but like it wasn't bad background music.

Suffe popmuziek **

Not the album with Just Like Honey, but still good. Solid pop rock sound that’s both refreshing and nostalgic. 4/5

Not what I thought Jesus and Mary Chain was, although I've heard "Cherry came too" before. Something about the band name threw me off and must've had them confused with other bands/genre. If I had known this was their sound, I'd have been listening long before this. Really enjoyed the album front to back. 4/5

Meaningful to a lot of goths this band. However once you have heard one of the tired arrangements and vocals you have heard them all

its relaxing but faded away without having any highlights remembered off this full length project... maybe on another try (2.5/5.0)

Heard of this band, but hadn’t listened to them. Glad I did.

Not a bad listen, but nothing for me to seek out again

cure light

Sounds like a late 80s alternative rock album from the UK.

Relaxing and soulful.

Not a bad album. It felt like if I heard this on the radio I would think it was the Cure but I wouldn't change the channel.

I liked this. I'm a fan of broody music. I knew of the band owing to a track on The Crow soundtrack, but haven't listened to them solely. I suspect there may be other songs I know that I confused with being Depeche Mode or The Cure. Would listen to it again.

Bored to tears. RYM: N Saved a song: N

New album and group to me. But very enjoyable. I'd listen to this regularly.

“Down on Me” managed to be gloomily and jangly danceable. “The sky falls down on me always in the dead of dark days.” Next song is “Nine Millions Rainy Days,” which has “all my time in hell is spent with you.” Not jangly danceable. A lot of rain ☔️ on this album. Brings me back to the emo teen years. “I’m as dead as a Christmas Tree” is line I’ll use in future. “Cherry Came Too” is a love song with “barbed wire kisses” and “the trigger itch in the killer’s hand” lyrics.

Listened to it twice. Just nothing special.

i actually enjoyed this more than i thought i would

3/5

Ці прикольні) Вони вже були)

I'm kind of a sucker for shoegazing, and these fellas pretty much define the genre for me. If you're good with the style, this one probably sounds pretty great. If not, it's probably pretty meh to you.

Thai was about what it should have been. I guess kind of like the cure - that 90s alternative. Doc Martin girls in high school must have listened to them. It was pretty good. Kind of low energy.

Love it when you can actually hear and understand the lead vocal. Really like their sound. This one to be added to my collection.

Never heard this band before but I actually really liked it!

I think from the band's name, I thought their sound would be heavier and darker than it is. Pleasant enough but nothing special in my opinion.

Don't know much about this band I brought their debut album on cd a few years ago it's really good this album isn't far off that and I like the sound of it kinda chilled out rock I'll definitely be listening to this one more it's kinda early shoegaze with a Indie vibe really likef this one

cool

unpleasantly-textured monotony, except for when someone sings, which makes it less monotonous but more unpleasant

Not a fan of these guys

Stumbled upon a couple tracks from these guys recently while listening to a playlist of early alternative / post punk stuff and they stood out. This album has a Lou Reed or Velvet Underground vibe to it which I like. It's on the cusp of being too goth and dramatic for me, but not quite there. Surprised myself with enjoying this as much as I did.

The Jesus and Mary Chain are another band I've heard mentioned countless times that I've just never gotten around to checking out. This feels like a mix of 60s psychedelic jangle pop and 80s gothic new wave. It all comes together as a solid alt rock album that was clearly quite influential. Reading that they felt burdened by accusations that they were hiding behind feedback and the wall of noise approach on Psychocandy makes me suspect I'll actually like Psychocandy a fair bit more.

I like that vibe.

I don't like the drum machine.

(7.6)

Not really my jam. 2.7

Boring. 1.5

É um disco infinitamente mais agradável do que o anterior "Psychocandy" que é extremamente barulhento, mas não chega a ser cativante ou interessante.

Okay we’ve got a deep voice on our hands. AND they’re Scottish? Definitely a pleasant surprise, and no idea how I already knew the rain song (love; also love the rain, perfect timing for my return to Washington, which always reminded me of Scotland)

I think I only knew one J&MC song before this, and now I wonder why. This was so good! I'm going to need more.

Little bit of a journey, started slow and a bit bland, then in the middle we kicked up into sultry 80s chill rock and then slowed down again.

There’s a kind of effortless, morose cool to the album, but the understatedness and lack of gear change means it never really elevates above moderate enjoyment. Do quite like the style of guitar on it. Enjoyable and nice to listen through having heard April Skies before but not that memorable for me.

I find this one slightly hard to evaluate.  It's not a personal winner on taste alone, but it digs into things I actually really like.  It's got a great bass murk, and it accompanies the darkness by adding to the overall heaviness of the album.  They can certainly add depth and atmosphere and use their instruments to great effect.  I did enjoy "Nine Million Rainy Days" in particular it just seemed so rambling and tortuous to the subject at the center of it all.  On one song that approach worked but in others it just seemed to be carousel of sound, so it wasn't winning on all fronts. It's an album I actually want to hate but fail to find a way to slam it.  Just potluck if you are seduced by the specific mood of a track, else the formula takes over.

Firstly, I have to say that I have an aversion to bands singing "do do doopity do" in the place of lyrics (Darklands, I'm looking at you). Personal prejudice aside, I thought this was quite a nice example of an album from a decent touring band. I would probably quite happily listen to these guys live, but in isolation they just come across as a bit bland. They sound like a less annoying, lower energy U2. I don't mind the genre so I am happy enough to listen through this but I unfortunately this is one where I have to ask, "What on earth is this doing on this list".

Not a favourite, do agree with their stance on rainy days

Awesome and amazing

조용히 밤에 틀어놓고 할 일 하면 릴렉스되고 좋을 것 같은 앨범이당. 목소리는 내 스타일이 전혀 아니지만!

Breathy new-wave pop-rock that is every bit as late-80s as you can imagine

I’m really sad that this isn’t a five, but there are just a couple of songs that are too much to get past. Or maybe just “Fall” is too much. I knew I didn’t love the song but never realized how much.

Not the best MaJC album but still worth a listen.

Solid bit of noise pop, and only dated by the electronic drums.

Very much in the easy listening category for me (complimentary)!

My Jesus and Mary Chain knowledge basically started and ended with the use of Just Like Honey in Lost in Translation and despite how good that song sounds I thought this would be a lot more inaccessible? But I LOVED THIS. One of my top discoveries from this list for sure. I loved the vibe (felt kinda appropriate for reading the Secret History), the hooks were there, and each song I just felt compelled to save it for future listening. Ideal for an indie shoegazey (I hope I am using this terminology correctly) album and after it was done I went to listen through some of their other stuff. I love how the sound washes over you and also the tone of his voice. Don't know exactly which songs were my favourite but I felt like the album was getting better and better as it went on.

unoriginal thought but happy when it rains could be on the worst album of all time, i'm still gonna give it 5 stars

The Jesus and Mary Chain are another band I’ve tried to like on several occasions and just can’t. I find their sonics flat and their songwriting forgettable. I’ve long preferred Darklands to Psychocandy (man, I do love their album names), but there’s only so many of these bleary-eyed, reverb-drenched, slower-than-midtempo tracks I can slog through before I have to admit I’m bored. But hey, this should be someone’s favorite brand of indie rock, it’s just not mine.

Great introspective vibes.

1. dark - 2 2. deep - 2 3. rainz - 2 4. douun - 2 5. dayz - 2 6. april - 2 7. fall - 1 8. cherry - 2 9. uuall - 2 10. you - 2

I am a huge sucker for bands who are notorious for putting on shows at a violently eardrums-splitting volume but whose albums also somehow make for entirely cromulent low-volume background contemplative deskwork music. One notch behind Psychocandy, though.

Just another loud alternative album.

genero y sonido muy cool sin skips, gracias gilmore girls otra vez 7,5/10

Cool

very 80's.

I wanted dark, I got sad boy Simon and Garfunkel

It was fine.

Highlights: April Skies, Happy When It Rains. 3.2

This one is a hell lot less noisy than their debut Psychocandy. These guys are a lot more mellow and melodic on this album. You can definitely tell the early shoegaze bands listened to a lot of Jesus and Mary Chain. "Deep One Perfect Morning" kind of reminds me a lot of the yet-to-come shoegaze classic "When The Sun Hits" - tsk tsk Slowdive! I think this is just a straight 3 star albums, you see it's nice and melodic and all, but it's a bit boring, not a whole lot of substance to be found. Which is a feeling I shared when I listened to this album a couple years ago. It's a fine album overall. I don't think this is a must-hear album. Highlight Song/s: "Deep One Perfect Morning" and "Happy When It Rains"

The balance between melody and empty space is really where "Darklands" departs from its predecessor, "Psychocandy". The sheer abrasiveness has given way to a dark, melodic beauty. The lead guitar lines are minimalist, with deft arpeggios interwoven effortlessly into the tracks. The production is quite superb - the layered guitars, echo, and cavernous reverb make this album sound huge, in a true Phil Spector "Wall of Sound" style. While I have heard this album before and knew it was good, I had never really sat down and properly listened to it. The gloomy brilliance of 'Nine Million Rainy Days' is a standout for me, alongside 'Darklands', 'Deep One Perfect Morning', and the magnificent 'Happy When It Rains'. However, it was 'April Skies' that truly hit home, making me feel 22 years old again and having me dancing around the room. This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but by jiminy, it is mine. How I haven't added this to my collection earlier is beyond me - I can only offer a sincere apology to The Jesus and Mary Chain. I have now rectified that error. Five stars. Side one 1 "Darklands" (5/5) 2 "Deep One Perfect Morning" (5/5) 3 "Happy When It Rains" (5/5) 4 "Down on Me" (4/5) 5 "Nine Million Rainy Days" (5/5) Side two 6 "April Skies" (5/5) 7 "Fall" (4/5) 8 "Cherry Came Too" (5/5) 9 "On the Wall" (5/5) 10 "About You" (4/5) Total - 47 Average - 4.7 393/1001 206/393 albums reviewed were new to me.

scotlandddd

Good music, I like the vibes but it really doesn’t do much else. It really just faded into the background while I did other things and nothing stuck out. The whole album feels the same, which is nothing bad but worth mentioning. Overall not bad.

Corte que islas muy oscuras.

Not my thing but there's a couple good tracks here. 2.5/5

A cool album.

i mean holy ass i think this album could be perfectly described by a self harm joke that i'm not going to make, but inadvertently have

1) Down on Me 2) Deep One Perfect Morning 3) Darklands Least Favourite: About You

Not for me

Alternatiivista rokkia.

This album is a nice contrast to Psychocandy. A lot less fuzz and noise and somewhat more subtle April Skies, Happy When it Rains,Down on Me and Fall are some favorites for me

I liked the album, but didn't love it. It was pretty much what I expected, knowing their singles from other albums. But it didn't reach the heights of any of those singles. A pretty solid 3-star album that I might go back to - I think it would make a good listen if I were taking a walk around the neighborhood on a drizzly day.

It has a couple of moments but nothing special for me.

I should like it, however, it didn't ring a bell with me.

Best Track - "April Skies"

This album is amazing, better than Psychocandy somehow. Just great dark pop music. Sounds like some Breakfast Club type stuff

I listened to it. But didn't rate it immediately. Now I can't remember anything about them which is telling. 2 rats.

Budget 80s Lou Reed.

Didn't even notice one song end and the other begin and next thing you know I was back at the start of the album. What even happeneed, who knows

Listened before?: nope Darklands - 4/5 Deep One Perfect Morning - 4/5 Happy When It Rains - 5/5 Down on Me - 5/5 Nine Million Rainy Days - 4/5 April Skies - 4/5 Fall - 5/5 Cherry Came Too - 4/5 On the Wall - 3/5 About You - 3/5 Average score: 4.1/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not bad.

Well wasn’t expecting much; the title, the cover, shoegazers. Not exactly up my street. But there is a brightness to the sound. Quite VU in its pop leanings. More moody guitar pop than anything. Coming on like it wouldn’t be out of place on a John Hughes movie. So all in all pleasant as I tend to really dislike shoegazing. 3 Star

A first listen didnt reveal much, but I put the headphones on and went for a walk and it come to life. As a child of britpop, this sounded like a foundation stone from which a lot of my favourite artists built. The vocal was warm and welcoming and the tunes bounced along nicely

So many great tracks here with a sound which I’m sure paved the way for many other artists in the 90s and onwards. And, while this shouldn’t factor into my ratings, them being Scottish is certainly a bonus.

This was pretty dang good. A bit post punk and moody. Catchy songwriting. Very solid record. 4/5

Great album great band.

Not half bad

this is really good I mean I like how it’s a mix of rock and kind of soft sounds

This album is very stunk in the 80's, and that spacey atmosphere does not favour it to be something else. And that's not because there are no good things from the 80's, but, surely, some genres from this decade haven't aged that well. There are some pretty good songs, some really nice ideas, and a dark atmosphere that suits really well the kind of sound of the album. But, at the end, even if there are nice things on it, it is soporific. It could very well be a The Cure album, and definitely not one from their best. And, still, even if it has some original elements, it is a very classic 80's Shoegaze album, combined with New Wave, which is another genre that was too exploited. Maybe I am not liking it as much as I could because of the so repeated sound that this album also has, which doesn't take it any further than from other records I have listened to in the past. And maybe I am judging from a contemporary perspective, it is, actually, inevitable. I can find what is great in this album, but there are also many aspects that are very weak too. So, this is not much better than many other similar albums. It's enjoyable at some extent, and that's something many Shoegaze albums struggle with, so I also have to consider that it may be very mid, but it's good at the end. It has some nice songs, some catchy choruses, and it really works well at building an ethereal, dreamy and dark atmosphere that at times is even interesting and moving. So, it is nice, not great, but it really has some nice sounds.

The album has a fairly moody atmosphere , but often it feels quite empty. I often found myself thinking that the album felt quite drab and some songs start to sound very similar to each other. I get a vibe that this music feels like something that you'd see in a coming of age movie , not necessarily a bad thing , but not something I really vibed with. It's all right , it's inoffensive , but didn't blow me away. Fav Track: Down On Me

Good vibes and it’s short.

Just what I like, 4.5 stara

Phenomenal edgy shoe gaze that I really loved in the 90s. This album, as the title implies, is darker in mood. Love the sound.

Cool algunas me dieron vibes a cigarrera after sex

it's jangle pop from '87.

One of the greatest in its genre.

𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 proves that The Jesus and Mary Chain didn’t need walls of feedback to create a compelling album. By scaling back the noise, the band allows its melodies, shimmering guitars, and understated songwriting to take centre stage. What impresses me most is the atmosphere. The album is filled with a quiet melancholy that runs through almost every song, creating a dreamlike mood that never feels forced. Instead of overwhelming the listener, 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 gradually draws you into its world. I actually prefer this approach to the band’s noisier side. The songs have more room to breathe, and the album’s subtle, reflective character makes it an even more rewarding listen. For me, 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 is one of the finest examples of how atmosphere can be just as powerful as volume.

Kinda like a soft rock. It was okay.

Mostly a mellow album with dark n depressing undertones.

I'm just not a big fan of the late 80s indie rock sound so not much to say here. The whole aesthetic on this record feels very locked into a specific time and place that just doesn't quite resonate with me. It heavily relies on that signature, dreary post-punk atmosphere and jangle-pop guitar work, which unfortunately makes the entire experience feel a bit monotonous after the first few tracks.

Incredible stuff. They really pulled back on the noise and it was risky because it exposed the songwriting a bit more. Still pulled off a great album.

Not Great!

New band for me. Worth another listen

I prefer my surf songs with Bobby on drum and more noise but this is pretty damn good. Probably better written songs than Psychocandy, but less of an air of danger. About You is just a pretty pop song, done straight (give or take a line about people dying in their living rooms) and is lovely.

Kinda liked it, high 3

Noise pop and alternative rock built from chiming guitars, understated rhythms, hazy production, and detached vocals feels like walking alone through quiet suburban streets after the rain while every house hides a story you'll never hear—melancholic, restrained, and quietly absorbing. By replacing the overwhelming noise of its predecessor with stronger melodies, the album finds a balance that I found considerably more engaging. Its emotional distance remains, but here it serves the songs rather than obscuring them.

And not a single boundary of music was pushed.

great painting music!

Is this one of the albums that you have to listen to before you die? No, it's kinda middle of the road. It had it's moments, and was good enough for most of it to generate a passing grade rather

My first thoughts were that this was decent and moody post-punk/ new wave, but upon a clearer listen, I did notice that this is very shoegaze adjacent. Turns out this band was incredibly influential in the development of both Noise Rock and Shoegaze, so I'm happy I could noticed it. This album is great. It has a very moody atmosphere, coming from the deep and kind of disheartened voices along with some delicate guitar playing. However, this is not a super depressing album. In any case, it is more like one of those gray days when the feelings of carelessness, not wanting to do anything and that nothing matters prevail, without really reaching concerning levels of depression. While being an album that mainly portrays cold feelings, its sound is quite cozy. The vocals are very soft, and the production is warm and spacious, with an incredibly pleasant distortion on the guitars, that makes the album close to the shoegaze sound. Another aspect that doesn't make the album incredibly gloomy is the change in rhythms. While there are songs that are very very slow (like "Darklands", "Deep One Perfect Morning" or "Nine Million Rainy Days"), there are a handful of them with a medium to fast playing and more uplifting melodies, like "Happy When It Rains" and "Down On Me". Now, do I really love this album? I don't think so. Most of the time, when I listen to it, I end up losing my focus and daydreaming. I'm certain that many people would consider this as an interesting trait, the ability to make the listener disconnect, but in this case, I'm not lost in the music, rather in my own personal thoughts that do not have anything to do with what I'm listening to. In summary, it doesn't really grab my attention. In the end, I think it is a great album. Very moody, intimate and cozy and also interesting to see the roots of shoegaze.

It’s good. Their guitar sound is second to none. Little monotonous.

A better record for sad sacks than the Smiths imo.

How to describe? A laid back kind of psychedelic shimmery post-punk. But with some 80s classic production with reverb etc. Deep One Perfect Morning is half The Cure, half 90s pop rock (e.g. Lightning Seeds) It's pleasant enough but it doesn't have much bite. Nine Million Rainy Days has to me a Stone Roses/madchester feel, but at a much lower tempo without the driving dance beat. On the Wall immediately reminds me of the chords in Heroin by Velvet Underground. Is this shoegaze? That would explain a lot. Best track - Deep One Perfect Morning, Happy When it Rains (as one of the most up-tempo tracks) 3 stars - I bet it will grow on me, but first listen found it a bit underwhelming

Ok album

#173/1001 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🖤 After the brilliant but feedback soaked Pschocandy, JAMCs second album was a much more accessible outing with the pop melodies shining through whilst the introduction of a drum machine adds a mechanical edge. I was lucky enough to see them touring the album in 2021 and unlike in the earlier part of their the gig didnt spiral into a riot after 20 minutes. They made it to the end of the record and play a ton of b-sides from the era too. I'm on a good run at the moment. 4 x 5 star records in the last 5 days. I'm going to end up with something really rubbish soon. Best Tracks: April Skies, Darklands, Fall, Happy When It Rains, About You.

Really liked the title track and liked the rest enough to round up from 3.5.

Nothing bad about but not very exciting to me

2.2 at least its not too long, listenable but not memorable at all

used to love this album but this time kinfa bored me

Darklands - The Jesus And Mary Chain (1987) Darklands is an absolute masterpiece. It achieves everything a listener could want from a shoegaze-adjacent record, flawlessly creating the exact perfect, deeply atmospheric sonic landscape to get lost in. The album offers a brilliant, entirely chill, and easy-listening experience, heavily elevated by a tight, incredibly straightforward tracklist. It is remarkably short yet beautifully cohesive, allowing every single song to serve a great purpose without a second of wasted space. Based on the track selections, the definitive highlights that anchor this atmospheric triumph include the moody title track "Darklands," alongside "Deep One Perfect Morning," "Happy When It Rains," "Nine Million Rainy Days," "April Skies," "Cherry Came Too," and the sublime closer "About You." 5/5

Happy When It Rains was a familiar, pleasant surprise. Good stuff, we enjoyed it.

Do do do DO doo

Good but some of it kind of washed over me without making a big impact

If you were to prompt your favorite AI bot to generate an alternative rock album that sounds like it came from 1987 this would be the result.

I ended up not remembering a lot of this one, but when I listened to it yesterday I thought it was alright Standouts Darklands 3/5

It was ok. Soft rock album

Love jesus and mary chain especially their debut album psychocandy, aswell as this album in certain ways. All the songs are very simple, some are brilliantly simple like down on me and darklands, yet some other tracks lack edge. Overall part of their more pop infused career, starting to stray away from the scarier part of their career. High 3

Voll chillig gsi bim hei fahre. Hät sich aber nur wie hintergrund Grüsch a gfühlt

Não conhecia, mas curti

I enjoyed it quite a bit. It kind of grew on me. A solid 3.5. I'll round down since I probably won't listen to it again.

Jarentachtig bandje met een beetje Indiegeluid, zelfs een beetje surfmuziek: bij het intro van 'Nine million rainy days' ga ik vanzelf 'Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya' (Kokomo van de Beach Boys) meezingen. De teksten zijn wel wat depri. 'Happy when it rains'? Ik zou bijna zeggen, pour your misery 'Down on me'. Maar goed, het is wat onopvallende muziek, maar echt 'garbage' is het niet. Meerdere keren zonder problemen geluisterd, dus het is wel een goede revanche voor het nagels-over-een-schoolbordachtige gekras van hun eerdere album.

Niet mijn smaak muziek; het is me wat saai. Maar dit lijkt mij een mooie vertegenwoordiger van het genre. Af en toe komt de jaren '80 wel door, zoals in April Skies. Maar dit album zou ook 10 jaar later gemaakt kunnen zijn. En af en toe komt er een echt sfeerscheppend nummer voor bij, zoals Nine million rainy day. Wat waarschijnlijk niet zo negatief uitgelegd moet worden als de titel en de muziek doen vermoeden, gelet op het eerdere nummer Happy when it rains...

Hallo zeg, we weten gelijk in welk decennium we aanbeland zijn, want het eerste dat opvalt, is de enorme bak aan reverb in de drums. Dat is zo ontiegelijk jaren '80, dat kan echt niet meer. Verder vind ik het een beetje inspiratieloze muziek. Het is niet per se slecht, maar ik word hier niet heel vrolijk van. Ik denk dat het de combinatie van de galm in de drums is met de luie zang. Want op zich rockt het redelijk en ik ben zeker niet de grootste 80s hater hier volgens mij. Als ik mijn review van het debuut teruglees, is de kwaliteit een stuk beter, al vallen ze hier ook graag terug op die eerder genoemde galm. Dat zal hun identiteit wel geweest zijn. Het bevalt me iets beter dan het debuut, dat een krappe 2 scoorde. Laat ik dit dan een krappe 3 geven.

The album was okay. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't LOVE it. It was easy to listen to though.

This was fine, nothing really grabbed me or stuck with me

We had this groups Psychocandy album on the list before, which was an absolute atrocity. Luckily, I didn't find any of the distortions issues on this album that was present on Psychocandy, even though much of this album still sounds like it was recorded in a cathedral. All tracks are just drenched in reverb. That aside, I think the opening track 'Darklands' was a great track! And 'Happy When it Rains' was also decent. Though the mixing didn't sound great on this album, I still think it is an OK album. So the group has definitely recovered some esteem.

We already had “Psychocandy”, which I barely remember, but I gave it 1 star, so I must have hated it. This wasn’t nearly as bad. I could kind of see the appeal of this band. Dark, gloomy, and with just the right guitar tone, it felt like the soundtrack to an indie movie. “April Skies” and “Happy When It Rains” were the standouts, though they sound pretty similar. I get why they’re famous: they’re like a more emo version of Pulp. 3 stars.

It was a really “cozy” feeling listening to this album, weird. I thought the lyrics were solid and the production was really nice for me

Rock, Pop, Folk, 1987 -> 3

Dark, synthy pop. Not my favourite JATHM record, but it's still very good.

Not that I think it's amazing but this stuff's way better than any shit The Smiths and their types have produced..

Cet album rejoint la longue liste d'albums dont je ne comprends pas trop la présence dans la liste. C'est tout sauf un mauvais album, comme je le dis à chaque fois, mais je ne suis pas sûr de ce qu'il le rend particulièrement exceptionnel, influent ou novateur. Donc ben écoute, ça sera un petit 3/5. J'ai rien de plus à dire.

Just a really dull album today. Not bad as such, but nothing to it at all for me. Heard a lot about them, but don't feel I've missed out from them really.

All I knew going into this was Psychocandy, which I enjoy and understand its classic stature. This one was never even on my radar. But what a goddamn wonderful album it is. Maintaining the gloom but trading the feedback for reverb-soaked warmth and some of the hookiest 80s alt-indie-shoegaze-rock I've ever heard. Insta 5. Rained-soaked misery has never felt so oddly comforting.

Fine? Given them three plays and nothing has yet hooked me in.

Wasn't horrible, but wasn't very engaging either. Was easy to lose focus. 2.5/5 Won't listen again

Couldn't help but gaze at my shoes the entire listen Best Song: April Skies Rating: 5.0/10 Starts: 3

Some nice songs on an easygoing album.

chiiiiiill, calm and peaceful, so nice

Alternative / new wave? Idk didn't like them that much

I thought that I'd enjoy this more than I did. This band is adjacent to others that I like. I found it fell pretty flat overall.

4/5 Favorite Song: Happy When It Rains

Pretty good it felt emotional

I'm not going to remember a single song tomorrow and it's dynamically kind of bland but it's OK.

I think I’ve said this about the other Jesus And Mary Chain album, but I get the appeal. I hear the good. It’s a nice mixture of 80’s pop sounds, early shoegaze, and a some gothic aesthetics. I’m not gonna bother listening again, but there’s a time and place for these guys. My favorite song was “Cherry Came Too”. Soft 3/5

eh, not offensive, totally forgettable

Gloomy and full of melancholy. Honestly quite relaxing to listen to and to be introspective about your life.

A long and steady wave of melancholy. In isolation, the chord progressions are standard upbeat pop, but contrasted with the slow pace and sombre vocals it makes for a digestible sad. It could have used a couple more tempo changes.

It's actually surprising that I never got into the Jesus and Mary Chain much in the late 80s/early 90s, as they were right in with the groups that I loved and the music I loved. I listened to them casually from time to time, but didn't seriously get into their music. This album was new to me, although some of the songs sounded familiar. I loved a couple of songs on the album, but a lot of it was somewhat boring. I was surprised to hear some definite influence from the Beach Boys on a couple of songs. I didn't mind listening to it and a couple of songs ended up on my playlist, but it's not an album I would return to.

Had the pleasure to see this band live opening for NIN on their Cold, Black, and Infinite Tour. They are good, but better live. 3.

Very good

Pleasant and yet really boring. It would make good music to put on while cooking or cleaning out closets.

I respect The Jesus and Mary Chain, but it's not really my kind of thing. I'm sure that If this has been the jams when I was getting into music it would be a 5 but for now it's going to be a 3.

This generator has a category of albums I've created, titled "Generic". This is another generic album that simply sounds like a 1980s Pop Rock album. I really can't say much more. Favorite Track: "April Skies".

not too bad just didn’t amaze me

I enjoyed this. This is my kind of 80’s music. I have heard April Skies before, but I didn’t really know any of the songs on this.

Meh

Nice melodic rock.

Only song I ever heard before was April Skies, but the rest were pretty good too

잘 모르겠음

This is why we do this. The melodies in this album are fantastic. Great songwriting, fantastic guitar tones and riffs. It’s not a bad thing when you have to debate between a 4 or a 5.

Boring pop with a bit of guitars. Didn't like it. Nothing new to my ears. 1/5

Overall: 8/10 I wasn't a huge fan of the last Jesus and Mary Chain album I listened to, but a big issue with that one was the terrible production, which seems to be fixed on this album. It's atmospheric and very chill. Fav Song: Happy When It Rains

Another nostalgic album for me — JAMC got a lot of radio play on KJQ in Utah. I can’t really name many of their songs other than Just Like Honey off the debut album… and though the songs here kind of flow one into the next, I really love the whole shoegaze vibe on here. It’s a unique sound that I just find comforting.

Some pretty good alternative. Not something I expect to return to much but enjoyable nonetheless. No tracks particularly stood out to me. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: April Skies, Happy When It Rains, Cherry Came Too, Fall

Expectation: -> Based on band name, I thought this might be a 60s rock album. Nope. After listening: -> My wife asked me to describe this. I'm admittedly not good at categorizing music into genres and subgenres. I just listen. I said somthing like it having a new wave sound. It is part pop and radio friendly, part rock/guitar. Such an album from 1987 should be right up my alley. Well, I could listen to this all day. Yet, not once would I (or did I) stop to look at my phone to identify a song I was really enjoying. This album needs a proper spark, some fire. The most likely prognosis here is that this will fade into obscurity for me. Track ranking: Darklands April Happy Fall Down Cherry Deep Wall About Nine

This was better than I expected

Pretty okay I guess

Meh

This is true to what it is.

they like singing about rain gilmore girls background music? WHY DO THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT RAIN

And Psychocandy still to come. Fantastic.

solid 90s

Really great shoe gaze album. I have Psychocandy, but had never heard this one all the way through. It was nice.

I think I like the first album better, but this is still very much the thing.

Darklands feels like the album that finally made The Jesus and Mary Chain click for me. Going in, I expected another wall of distortion like Psychocandy — an album I respected more than enjoyed — but the title track immediately surprised me with its mellow, laid-back atmosphere. The blend of fuzz, melancholy, and melody reminded me of The Cure and The Velvet Underground, while still sounding completely unique. Songs like “Deep One Perfect Morning” and “Nine Million Rainy Days” feel years ahead of their time, almost more like late-90s alternative and shoegaze than something released in 1987. What impressed me most is how the album balances pop hooks with noise and attitude. “Happy When It Rains,” “Down on Me,” and “April Skies” have an energy that hints at shoegaze and even grunge before either fully exploded, but the band never compromises their identity. The fuzzed-out guitars, driving drums, and detached vocals create a sound that feels rebellious without relying on image or gimmicks. Reading about the band while listening made the experience even more interesting — their desire to carve out their own sound and reject expectations comes through in every track. By the time “About You” closes the album with an acoustic ballad, Darklands completely shattered my preconceived ideas about the band. It’s a surprisingly warm, melodic, and forward-thinking record that stands far apart from the commercialized rock dominating the 1980s. This is the kind of album that grows bigger with every listen, and one I can already tell will stay in rotation for a long time. 9.8/10

Love punk, some great songs in here. Doesn't transcend for me but very solid album.

It was okay. Captures that 90's indie vibe but a bit too on the nose. Darklands and About You were the standouts.

JAMC were on the alterna-radio a lot back in the day, but never grabbed me enough to buy any of their records. Did I make the right choice at the time? We shall see. This stuff is tuneful, but not very exciting. I liked "Happy When it Rains," though, and some of it feels almost like some of the slower Velvets songs, which I appreciated. Maybe if I were following the lyrics more closely, it might be hitting me with some poignant feeling that the music seems to call for but doesn't quite evoke. But this sounds so much like other bands from this period. Their drum machine is making me tap my foot, but most of these songs aren't hitting for me. 3 stars

Taki britpop kolejny. 2

Bien.

The Jesus and The Mary Chain was the nickname of Len Houmous’ genitals 3.1 3/33 Happy When It Rains

Alternative rock. Monotonous

Hard for me to write something, as this is not bad music, but very generic. To me, it was very unremarkable and made no impression. I feel like I have heard similar song before.

Okay

This album and this band are everything the Velvet Underground wished it was and could be. I was never a big fan of TJAMC because of that god awful first album, but this one, was flat out incredible. It was beautiful, lush, sparse, compelling and mature.

1001 albums to hear before you see jesus and mary, the virgin 100# omg first hundred albums. until now it's been very interesting and some days I'm more in the mood or just can't listen to anything because i'm outside, but have to get back to it the next day and compensate. For the albums appearing.. i thought i would know the majority and more, but i only knew the majority of them and didn't had listened to quite a lot of them, so the objective of it all is being accomplished, open horizons of music and learn more about the history of music. The list isn't perfect, but at least has the potential to expand tastes and kind of lecture the history of music. I'm repeating myself here. Stop Well, for the album. It feels kind of restrained.. but it's still good nevertheless. I'm curious to hear the other album they have on the list that is said to be more experimental. Has a shoegazy sound to it, but really being alt rock Love the vocals on 'Nine Million Rainy Days' and the backing vocals coupled with the instrumentals.. i floated.

Generally pleasant noise pop. They sound the same, some slower, some faster. Background music. Not very good guitar solos.

I can see very well why a fan of PSYCHOCANDY wouldn't like this album. I mean, you take these guys out of the endless wall of noise they built for themselves, and, well... They can sound a little plain. Maybe a little convential. Not terribly exciting. However, given how much I couldn't stand PSYCHOCANDY, shoot, I'll take plain, convential and not terribly exciting any day of the week. Sure, it doesn't hold my attention too well — but at least my ears can discern what's happening.

Bit of a different sound than Psycho Candy, but I feel like that's an improvement. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m pleasantly surprised to be at a 5. I gave “Psychocandy” a 3, which boiled down to 3 specific reasons. First, the wall of sound that was so prevalent there didn’t really add anything meaningful to the tracks or the enjoyment of those tracks. Secondly, the drums & vocals felt like they had no real presence or emotion, at least not to the degree I would’ve expected. Finally, the track order never found a natural progression, which led to a disconnected album experience. All of those reasons felt valid for “Psychocandy”, and I was hoping they’d fix these when this album popped up as today’s pick. They fixed them, alright. This is a much better album than Psychocandy, on account of all of those issues being fixed, & blending them with strong songwriting. The lyricism here is able to channel the melancholy mood established at the top of the album with “Darklands” on most of its tracks. It occasionally feels like a sort of shoegaze-y Springsteen, which is a big bit of praise in my book. It is pretty dark overall, but I’d say the focus on love tracks, some occasional grace in the lyrics, & a generally ‘peppy’ instrumental lean keeps the album from feeling too drab. My favorite one here is probably “April Skies”, just because I’m struck by the struggle between acknowledging an unhealthy love & the desire to maintain it. A lot of tracks in this genre just accept the unhealthy love & play around it, so to have a track treat it like the sort of ‘addiction’ it is & quitting it is a welcome change of pace. Ultimately, I just enjoyed everything here. It’s a consistently strong album, and while it might be a little one-note in its darker / depressed tones for some people, I think the album does a good job of making its modus operandi clear from the get-go, so I never minded it. The biggest knock I have against this album is some of the outros on its earliest tracks – it settles HARD into a “repeat one line a lot” structure, but it thankfully shakes that off after “Nine Million Rainy Days”. The biggest nitpick I have here is that the wall of sound on “Fall” is just a little overtuned; it would’ve been better if it naturally reached that peak by the end of the track. Regardless, I don’t think there’s a bad track here, and if my nitpicks / complaints boil down to personal taste, it’s probably a pretty good album. The higher rating on the site says as much. Hence, a 5, & I’m glad it's on the list.

As much as I enjoy The Jesus and Mary Chain, I believe that one of their albums is sufficient for this list. Their style remains consistent throughout their catalog and including two albums is redundant. "Psychocandy" is the better of the two. Skip this one and wait for it.

4.5

I think everything The Jesus and Mary Chain had to offer was covered by their first entry in this list.

This took me by surprise. I didn't enjoy Psychocandy. Too much feedback. This was really fucking cool. Like movie star in a leather jacket, smoking cigarettes cool. Such a simple sound but that's the secret. Rock n roll should not be complicated.

Nothing special but ok.

very good but the expanded edition tracks are a waste of time

There’s just enough of this stuff like this that is so weird for me, I don’t think I’m a fan of post punk. Anytime I hear this kind of music, most of it is just not for me, not sure exactly what about it. Two stars.

I had heard about the Jesus And Mary Chain but couldn't remember a song. This hasn't changed after listening to their "Darklands" album - it's nice-ish but got nothing special. Just another hour of well-produced boredom. Before I joined this project I wondered if there are really 1001 albums you must hear before you die. After listening to one quarter of this I still think a list of 101 albums would do.

Nice to hear the tunes emerge from the noise, though it’s a clear step back from the bold vision of Psychocandy

The areas of Hell.

fine

There is some really good guitar work. Lead vocals is a little blah

Way more refined than the debut. Ditched the distortion, cleaned it up a bit. Still sort of feels like a slightly more boring Stone Roses

It’s become quite pathetic how this list pushes every have asses UK band that happened to make an album as if they’re essential listening when they’re nothing more than just another band. Minus one for being boring.

Moody ambient album, feels like a predecessor to a lot of alt albums in the 90s. 3*

I wish I'd have listened to this band when I first read about them in Record Mirror back in1985, but I probably wouldn't have given too much thought anyway - same with Cocteau Twins back then, it just wasn't a genre/style that I was that interested in. Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, and more synth was what I wanted back then. Appreciate this much more now - it was almost like discovering a new band a few years ago when I gave them more time.

I’d never heard of this group let alone heard any of their songs before listening to this album. What a pleasant experience with a mix of music & vocals that provided multidimensional sound. I liked it.

Big fan of the shoegaze tone here - the atmosphere the album creates is really engaging and slightly dark, created by the instrumental work but also the haunting vocals. The only minor criticism I'd have is that the album does feel relatively one note, but that single note is really enjoyable and has made me want to listen to more of these guys. A solid 8/10 album for me.

savo gaat dit sws leuk vinden het was once again saaie rock.. sommige liedjes wel leuk maar gwn ... niet echt fan van hun naam? alice in chains >

soms weet je gwn gelijk dat het een banger is.. BANGER ACHTER BANGER ik zie dit mezelf gwn dagelijks luisteren 10/10

If the stone roses were Scottish. Not bad but got a little samey in some places.

It’s like the Beatles meets u2 but not in the best way

I’ve heard of the band, of course, but I’ve never actually listened to their music. I don’t really think it’s that great, to be honest. Two stars...

love this album so much! don't love that it took me so long to get it but it's fine because i got april skies in april

Just a touch too young for TJAMC, but if I needed a soundtrack for my biopic (teenage years : stood moodily in a kitchen, drinking whisky, angry at the world for no real reason), this would be it.

Found myself not paying attention

J’aime beaucoup !

my new favorite old band

need to listen to the first one

My first band did a cover of April Skies and I gave our perma offkey lead singer my double gatefold picture sleeve 7" of it to learn the lyrics. Never got it back. Still raging. Speaking of the singles, I sometimes wonder if the album would be even more perfect if they swapped out Down On Me, Fall and Cherry Came Too for the b-sides Kill Surf City, Everything Is Alright When You're Down and Happy Place? Maybe not, it might unbalance the feel of the thing and those songs made the first two singles feel like treasures of their own. Hence, my rage.

I really disliked their debut album, it was just too noisy. This is exactly what I thought was buried underneath all of that, and I loved it. Gloomy, moody, chill. 5/5

Never heard of em - very generic pop sounding. Meh.

Es zeigt die Dand in einer fast unheimlichen Klarheit: Der Lärm der frühen Jahre weicht düsteren, melodischen Hymnen, die wie nächtliche Gebete klingen. Der Titelsong “Darklans” schwebt mit stoischer Eleganz, „Happy When It Rains“ verbindet Melancholie mit Pop‑Instinkt, und „April Skies“ ist ein perfekter, schwarzglänzender Ohrwurm. Ein Album, das seine eigene Welt baut – reduziert, hypnotisch und ziemlich vollkommen verkettet. 😊

Great album. I never really listened to this band until I got their debut about 620 albums ago. Really dug that one, but I think I like this one more. 10 tracks at 36 minutes is in the Goldilocks zone for me. It's wild this is from 1987 because I listen to a lot of current music that's in the same vein. Listened through a few times. Great album.

Pretty solid atmospheric 80s indie sound. I'd go 3.5 if I could.

boring, the same every single song.

4/5

While you can hear the Velvet Underground influence here, what's more readily apparent is the influence this band had on a lot of subsequent bands from the era like Stone Roses, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, and the Verve. Actually, now that I think of it, that guy from Soup Dragons sounds like Jim Reid - remember them? A few times, "Darklands" made me think they were doing a cover of Bowie's "Heroes". "Fall" sounds a little like Bauhaus. This is pretty straightforward rock - guitars and drums with a Ramones-like or Lou Reed kind of vocal delivery. Chill and shoegazery in some spots, a bit more noisy in others. Nothing here is particularly ground-breaking or even memorable, but it's OK.

favs: darklands rating 0.5/5

Very repetitive

(2.75)

Dark and brooding and moody. I liked it

This album does a bad job at hiding that they wrote the same song a handful of times, and mixes it with other songs

Nothing really bad. But boring. 3 stars for a good day. 1 for a bad day.

i mean... not really much here in my opinion. feels like kinda a filler album for this list

Just pretty standard 80s alternative music. There were influences that were easy to spot and parts that sounded like other artists altogether. Nothing offensive or difficult to listen to, just didn't seem all that notable.

I liked it. It was nice to listen to, but I couldn't tell you a single lyric. I got lost in it, but didn't find any deep meaning. A very pleasant 3 star album.

Of course really likeable. Missed out on them the first time thinking they were likely heavy metal but no, they’re really a part of a genre I already enjoy. A great listen.

Not for me. Too dated.

#917. Pretty solid, I think. 4/5: good

I enjoyed the first part of this album - but with no songs standing out, it all just started to blend together. There was no variety, really, which slightly disappointed me. However, I did enjoy some individual songs. The lyrics are very melancholy from top to bottom, setting a very common theme for the album. I have not heard anything by this artist before, but I may give them a listen later on. However, I feel that you have to be in a very specific mood to listen to this genre. Favourites: Darklands Happy When It Rains April Skies

I never really got into JAMC. They seem like a band that bridged a gap between dark wave goth and new wave pop. I didn't hate this album, but it's not something I'd seek out on purpose.

Dull and dreary. No thanks

Apparently time travel is real. Because I just spent 36 minutes being 17 years old again. My haircut was pretty stupid, but damn that was a sweet leather jacket. I think I may go do another 36.

Ahead of its time (derogatory)

never heard of these guys but i like their sound. i guess this is like, proto-grunge? early shoegaze? i'm into it. although, i'm currently on my third listen to try and get it to register fully cos it's all very samey. which i'm kind of ok with in this case cos i'm totally down to just let that good grunge texture wash over me, but its making it so hard to pick out individual tracks to say anything about... after really concentrating hard on it i think "nine million rainy days" is my favourite? but idk if i could really even explain why in concrete terms. despite the composition being a bit slower and softer than average for the album, it feels more forceful somehow.....? could be the rock ballad ass beat? the reverb feels bigger too and it's known that i'm a sucker for that shit. idk. "on the wall" stood out a bit more too but there's no mystery there, it's just repetitive to the point of being kinda catchy. when it comes down to it, i'm a simple woman. i hear guitars playing through a fat stack of effects and vocals pushed down into the mix and i space the fuck out bobbing my head slowly and swaying side to side with my eyes closed. easiest 3 so far even if it does keep fading into the background.

It has some hits and a consistent mood, but kind of to its detriment. Feels kinda lifeless on the whole. Much prefer Psychocandy

booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooring

Chill music

This was fine? Very samey after a while. Listened to it in the morning and by the time I'm writing this review in the evening and I really couldn't remember much about it and had to listen to it again. "Happy When It Rains" "April Skies" and "About You" are the standouts for me

6/10

it got very uninteresting very quickly

I actually forgot this was playing. I was in the car too.

Good

Really wanted to like this album cause it’s right up my alley in terms of genre and style but it just was a bit drowning, and his voice starts to bother me after a few tracks in.

Good mellow vibes, but pretty samey through the whole album. 3.5 if I could.

Jesus christ

Nothing special either way.

Alternative sounding for sure, but not really the most interesting sounding to me. Perhaps it's been overtaken by time and became a victim of other albums having made more interesting stuff. It does sound a bit more mature and evolved than their first listen. Not that much to say about it.

3 is about right

По крайне мере, это музыка

Love it very great i listened to these before but I must have had a headache or something

a very meh record for me, felt repetitive

more chill than i thought itd be, nothing particularly life changing but a solid albu, overall

I’ve only really listened to this band in passing before. But I really enjoyed this album!

What a one-two punch with Exodus this is! Totally different, from Jamaica to Scotland, but both showing the value of great songs brilliantly realised. JAMC are one of the fundamental pillars of the music I love, and this album is them at their finest. It barely lets up throughout, and manages to combine high level shimmer with noise, sludge, feedback and gothism. Why they aren't mentioned in the conversations of the true greats more is beyond me. Also, I saw this album performed live, when the band let us do some fundraising for charity at the gig, and it was outrageously well performed.

I really enjoyed this sort of gothic Pixies sound, although I appreciate that this pre-dated that band. This sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole as I thought the chorus of _Happy When It Rains_ really sounded like a Pixies song. That song was _Head On_ from _Trompe Le Monde_ which I subsequently found out is a cover of a JAMC song so now that whole piece all makes sense! So it seems like the Pixies might have been quite influenced by these and I'm glad they were because both of thise bands sound great!

Not my cup of tea

I really like the album’s sound, especially the vocals. It’s not what I was listening to in 1987, but, gosh, I should’ve been. From this vantage point, I hear a bridge between the 80s music I loved *and* what followed. Good stuff!

Their second album and they’re still essentially playing the same song over and over and over again - this time with a drum machine! That being said, it is a pretty good song!

Loved itttt Was worried going in but honestly a great album!

Warm, feelgood, but ultimately extremely 80s-esque Britpoppy nonsense. Even the Scotsmen can't escape from their Britpop callings. They use some of the worst parts of the genre, though – from the horrifically airy 80s production style to the hyper-blurred guitars, to the vocals that are difficult to make out because everything's on full stadium-blast... And yet I also get the sense that The Jesus And Mary Chain just aren't putting in any effort, and the production team is working with the meagre scraps of quality tossed to them during recording. As another reviewer wrote: "'Dispassionate’ doesn’t work, for that implies strong emotion. ‘Disinterested,’ ‘impassive’ seems to work better." Darklands, the title track, commits to using this one "dit-dit-dit-dit" hook, which is good for the first three or so minutes, but gets a little stale after that. For a track of this length, I would have much preferred just a simple instrumental to end the song. Still, I can't deny that it's pretty catchy. The same cannot be said of Deep One Perfect Morning, which is the first of a disappointingly large number of weaklings. Flops. The vocals can take a lot of the blame here: they sound kind of like the empty shell of what was once a great ripping punk voice. I don't know if it's due to the strange mixing, but the vocals are somewhat drowned out by the other instruments – and that's probably for the better. "Down On Me"... they're not exactly trying to be subtle with this one. The song Fall is the closest thing we have to classic rock, and hence it's pretty good. Relatively speaking, of course. On the Wall is just Heroin (by the Velvet Underground) without the tempo changes. 2/5 Key tracks: Darklands, April Skies, Fall