Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Blast from the past. I found out that my girlfriend liked them. So we ended up listening to a couple of their albums yesterday
Fine.
hella mid
Mediocre tavaraa taas eikä oikein mitään jää taskuun. Siellä täällä ihan kivoja fiboja
Käytännössä samat biisit ollu jo tän 154 levyn aikanaki jo 160 kertaa
Eipä oo mitään spessua tässäkään, perushuttua.
Tää on tää pändi, joka varmaan influenssas useempaa myöhempien aikojen yrittäjää. Tykkään yleisilmeestä ja viiliksestä, mutta kokonaisuus jää semisti vajaaks ja venyy ja vanuu liiaks. Meinasin muuten mennä pari suvee sitten kattomaan kun kävivät härmässä, mutta yllättäen jäi. No nyt se on turha surkutella! Ei voi siis myöskään leikkii tosifäniä, kun ei oo keikkaa vyöllä.
Tämähän oli ihan hyvää musaa! Kivaa Manchester-henkistä soundia. Onko tässä sitten jo vähän näytetty suuntaa sinnepäin?
My 2nd fave JAMC behind honeys dead.
The Good: This is the OG chain gang! The Bad: We are missing Joseph… or is that Josef? The Ugly: Trying to figure out why such luminary people would be spending time in the Darklands? I could have sworn that this was the second J&MC album I’ve listened to during this voyage… but it isn’t… As a matter of fact, I am still trying to figure out how frequently I have listened to this band in my life period… If you go by the sound of the album, the first thing that popped into my head was that I was listening to the soundtrack of a John Hughes movie. But then my head reminded me that there really weren’t any John Hughes movies which would use this kind of music in 1987… Which leads me to ponder whether John Hughes didn’t know what music to use after Pretty In Pink… Or, that J&MC are not trendsetters, instead they stole from bands such as Psychedelic Furs… Whatever may be the case… if you are in the mood for some downplayed ‘80s music, this is your poison. It is perfect for an afternoon of rain, or an evening during which you slowly start to drown yourself in a bottle of scotch… Also, shoegaze? WTF is shoegaze really? As this band has nothing to do with some of the shoegaze bands that I’ve had the displeasure of having to sit through on this journey… 4* because I can
Nothin crazy typical band
I gave up on this band years ago and I shouldn’t have. LA radio only played a few songs and I burned out on them before I could hear more of their depth.
A foundational album. These are not songs, they are a blueprint for one of the most unique urban tribes from the 80s and 90s: the goths. Charming
I’ve heard the legend of the Jesus and Mary Chain (they were the loudest thing anyone had ever heard! Their gigs were literal riots!) but not a lot of their music. This was a lot more melodic than I was expecting - if someone had said they had tunes as well as feedback, I might have checked them out earlier.
★¼
Me encanta
Never liked them. It's like an overdose of quaaludes in band form.
Meh. Like Velvet Underground's outtakes.
Right up my street, probably the sort of music I'd try and write if I had a band.
Nope
I first discovered this band, going through my mom's old vinyls. She has their other album and I was intrigued by their unique sound; i do feel like this album is even better than the one I had already listened to.
Not outstanding
6/10
Atmosphere is king Not goth, but not quite not goth A moody delight
I've always liked the Jesus and Mary Chain...but over the course of their albums, the song structures get tedious and samey. That said, there are some really good songs on this, especially the title song, "Happy When It Rains," and "April Skies." I also liked the closer, "About You," because it is acoustic and breaks out of the same song structures that bog down the second half of the album especially. These Glaswegians carved out a sonic space and were hugely influential.
Some great gloomy 80s alternative from a very Scottish band. I'm giving it four stars for April Skies alone, what an incredible track. Sometimes simpler is better, which a lot of this record exemplifies. I find Jim Reid's voice really soothing too
meh
proof that the drummer makes the song no drummer = no song
1987. Their first use of drum machines after their drummer left for another band.
The second album is never easy, here limitations of the band are exposed and it seems to have lost it's edge. Maybe it was the Honey but more likely it was Gillespie leaving 2 for me
This is probably my favorite of the three J&MC albums I've heard. Going with a light 3.5 based on its relative tunefulness and easy listening. But overall, I definitely don't get the hype over this group. I don't find either of the brothers to be exceptional vocalists or lyricists, and I haven't yet keyed into anything particularly interesting or noteworthy from a musical standpoint. Again, it's fine, I'm just a bit bored by it. There is far better stuff from 1987 in my book, most of which doesn't include these awful drum machines. 3.5/5
Why on earth did these people replace their drummer with a drum machine?
I liked it. Very warm and vibrant sounds, a cozy yet moody record throughout. Is this an album you have to listen to before you die? Eh, I don't know. But it's still a decent experience. Have to be honest that it didn't really wow me, and in terms of shoegaze I think there's much, much better artists and albums out there (Cocteau Twins come to mind), but it's undeniably of high quality regardless. 3.5/5.
It was like they took their first take (which was a proper goth album) and gave it to the studio execs, and they said "nope, too dark, won't sell, try again". And this is the second attempt. Just a little broody, but not enough. And half-produced.
não tem nenhum motivo pra álbum durar quase 2 horas; ainda mais quando todas as músicas vão soar a mesma coisa. as músicas não são ruins apesar disso.
So boring I didn't even notice I was listening to it.
Love it
very fun instrumentals and indie rock sound
okay
Scotland makes some awesome music. This was no exception and I enjoyed it all besides getting a bit bored the last couple of songs. It’s a quick listen yet its impact can be heard all over. I’ve enjoyed their music every time I’ve listened and think they’ve earned a deep dive into the rest of their stuff. Rating: 4.2
2 1/2
The wettest drum reverb you’ve ever heard. Followed by a barrage of distortion and a sneering attitude. It’s very up my street. Darklands is moody, melodic. I prefer their debut, but it’s a solid follow up. 4.0/5.0 Best Song: April Skies
Enjoyable, it's good music, it's quite samey, but i can see how hugely influential it is, a lot of music still wants to sound like this but doesn't succeed. It is a kind of music that doesn't do much for me though
Heard Before? Yup, but I'm more familiar with Psychocandy. Notes: - every production style has its place, but I really hate these drum sounds. all of them. in every song. - the Lou Reed of Scotland vocals are equal parts charming and annoying. I'm not opposed to them being buried in the mix. - that leaves the chiming guitars and root-notes-only basslines. they are fine! I've just heard too much similar music. - songs: they have verses! they have choruses! sometimes other parts! and..... you guessed it, mildly transgressive lyrics. meh. Verdict: It's brooding jangle pop that was influential on thousands of 90s bands. Just because it came first-ish doesn't make it great. Listen Again? Why?
I’m on the fence with this one because it’s on the border of new wave and gothic rock, and I like both of them, but it’s resisting the hopeless, unashamed emoness of an album like Floodland (which I love and return to constantly), and that is clouding my perceptions of this album. It’s like if the sisters of mercy went on Prozac and started sounding like verve or the goo goo dolls. With Floodland in my mind, I just can’t respect their inability to go all in on the gothic vibes. So it’s a 3.5 or 4 that I’m forced to round down to a 3. I’m sorry.
This is my mfin JAM
nice
Dark and cool. And 'cool' really is the correct term here. As in sunglasses and leather jacket cool. I wasn't that much into their previous album, as I felt the songwriting was just subpar and hidden behind all the fuzz and distortion. Here the songs are way better, so much so that the band doesn't feel the need to hide them anymore, while they retain some of the fuzzy sound that made them unique. Really good album and a fresh take on a genre that was getting kinda stale by the late 80's. Key tracks: Darklands Happy When It Rains April Skies
I liked this better than Psychocandy. Maybe it’s because - according to Pitchfork - “the band turns down the noise attitude and works on developing the back-to-basics pop songs that were always underneath.” Whatever the reason, I thought this was a totally solid album and enjoyed it more than their feedback drenched first album.
The Jesus and Mary Chain dim the lights and bring the volume down, clarifying that a cacophonous wall of sound was a cover-up for classic songwriting chops. Maybe everyone didn't know it yet and they needed Darklands to prove it to a wider audience of listeners, but it's a smart follow-up to Psychocandy. And yet, after all these years, maybe now we can admit that it's a little too tame? It's tough since I might not knock a more generally sedate band for this level of energy and noise, but I'll always prefer a more spice than this record offers, and with JAMC I know they can deliver it. I feel them holding back on this record in moments where I would've preferred them to let go into a darker, noisier darklands.
Terribly plain “rock” music with absolutely no edge. Mid-paced drum machines under generic chords and not a memorable line to be found.
Sounds like the era it was made in
Tranquilo, deep one perfect morning me ha gustado
I equate this album to what it would feel like if I liked The Smiths. Likes: Darklands, Happy When It Rains, April Skies, On The Wall
2026.03.12
No longer the album of 40 years ago. All rather samey, as if losing the drummer and removing the feedback was the wrong choice
Love the melodies, really enjoyable
The original shoegazers. Musically I found it pretty boring and lifeless.
Love the band name. That’s about it. Music for the Slacker generation. Don’t hate it, but won’t make the rotation.
Always great. You forget just how much of a 60s influence they have, but when the wash of feedback and squeal is toned down, like it is here, the songs really come into focus.
I liked it at first, but as it went on, I forgot I even had it on. It's fine; it is nothing extraordinary. It is boring in some places. I don't even have much to say because it didn't leave that much of an impression. It's just so inoffensive that I can't say much about it. There is nothing much going on, honestly.
I don't get it. This is the kind of album which simultaneously makes me want to buy the book so I can understand exactly why this particular boring ass album is included, but also makes me pissed off enough that this is included over scores of better albums to refuse to give them my money. It's a conundrum.
I like JAMC! don’t hate me!
The advent of shoegaze and noise rock is about as exciting as one would imagine. Which is to say it’s not. This album is a snoozefest. Gratefully as someone that is into shoegaze, there are much better options.
Chilled Album. Liked the vibes.
Good
I enjoyed Psychocandy when I listened to it last October, so I was looking forward to listening to Darklands today. For me, this is an even better album. Where Psychocandy was built around noise and attitude, Darklands feels more refined and melodic. The songwriting is stronger and more confident, with softer and more reflective lyrics sitting against that dark, slightly brooding guitar sound. It creates an interesting contrast. The tone feels tough and atmospheric, but the songs themselves are often sensitive and thoughtful. Happy When It Rains and Darklands are brilliant tracks, but the standout for me is April Skies. It has a fantastic melody and perfectly captures the mood of the album. If I had one criticism, it would be that musically some of the songs lean on very similar guitar sounds, so there are moments where they blur together slightly. Even so, the quality of the songwriting keeps it engaging throughout. Favourite song: April Skies Least favourite song: None. Every track deserves its place Album artwork: Cool cover that matches the moody feel of the record
Good vibes but the tracks sorta just blended together for me
i enjoyed this one. i favorited about half the songs but my absolute faves were nine million rainy days and fall. i wanted just the teensiest bit more of somethin from the other half of the tracks. very solid tho!
Cool dramatic 80s alt sound. I like this stuff personally.
The noise was the only interesting thing about Psychocandy so without it this is pretty boring
This album just sort of blended into the background for me on my listen. It felt like something I should really dig but didn’t quite get me there. Maybe I’ll go back to it someday.
Perfectly enjoyable listen.
While I was aware of the existence of The Jesus and Mary Chain in 1987, they were WAY off my radar. So this thing isn't bad at all. There just isn't anything for me to latch onto.
Me gustó. Tiene un Sonido muy alternativo
Aikas laahaavaa. 2,5⭐️
Tasaista ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ei oikein mitään mainitsemisen arvoista. Ihan ok. ⭐⭐⭐
Beautiful, melodic guitar driven post-punk fused with pop. Really stands the test of time and an album you can go back to again and again and hear new fresh things. Bubbling just under 5 stars for me, but an excellent 4 out of 5 stars.
This was fine, but didn't excite me much.
The perfect Portlandia soundtrack.
This is classic alt rock. Not a whole lot of highs and lows, but a relatively pleasant listen if you're in the mood.
turned ts off after like 5 songs. trash
This worked for me. Love that 80s echoey, driving sound. Happy When it Rains was a standout. High 4.
Very good '80s alternative rock. Lyrics and vocals really work well together.
Shocking the group by giving this a 5. The whole album created an absolute vibe and I loved that it ended acoustically given the heavy filters in the guitars throughout the album. “April skies” was the highlight for me.
Lots of piano and some very well organized pieces
Listening to this record, I can't believe I wasn't a huge fan in HS. TBH I only had passing familiarity with JMC, a few college radio singles here and there. Listening now, it's an excellent record and a clear influence on their immediate contemporaries and close followers, especially in shoegaze. Also notable, second band of Scots in a row, and this one is miles better than the last one
It’s a beautiful album that puts up a sonic front to hide their vulnerabilities. Really well done.
Forgettable but decent
Pop music for goth kids fits firmly into that ‘alt pop’ category that’s just a little too weird for the mainstream but is just a little too bubblegum to be counter-culture. It’s like a cheat code for alt kids like I was, that let me listen to pop-adjacent music without the icky sellout feelings attached to anything you’d hear on that end-of-the-dial pop radio station. Listening to this today, it feels pretty dated and I’m struggling to decide if it holds up. Ultimately. I can listen to this whole record, but I probably wouldn’t choose to. (It’s the morning after, I tried to do a relisten this morning before writing my notes and only made it through a few songs before I decided I’d heard what I needed.
This was such an underwhelming album that I will surely forget in the coming days. It is just everything I’ve not only heard a 100times before (gloomy new wave) and even heard several times on this list already. I’m not sure if this album is more interesting when yo know the backstory around this album cause I know nothing. I don’t know the artist, and I’ve never heard their music before, and worst of all nothing about this album makes me want to look into more of their work. It didn’t get under my skin and upset me enough to get a one but it’s also wildly forgettable. This is another album that could’ve been replaced with a Primus album and it would’ve benefitted everyone more cause even if you didn’t like the Primus album, it at the very least would be something COMPLETELY different that would’ve brought something new to someone’s life. This was an actual waste of my afternoon.
Pretty, pretty good.
I think Psychocandy is the only JAMC I need in my life, but I enjoyed this. I thought two of the songs were "Head On" because they sound almost exactly the same, but that's on another album. 6.9 Fav track: About You Least fav: On The Wall
Awesome. Not quite as good as Psychohoney, but close. 7/10
I want to hear more from them, this was peak music to study math to
I liked Psychocandy better.
This is hard for me as it sounds like something I should love but I’m just not connecting with it. I like a few JAMC tracks but I prefer it when they’re noisier, this feels very weedy and dreary without the emotional resonance to back it up. Seems like a more boring version of what Pulp were doing a few years later. Also I swear these guys only know two chords. Couple of moments that were decent. Lush production too.
It is OK. I am familiar with their stuff, they sound similar to other music I like and cool, but don't really stand out too much. Good song writing.
This feels to me (though I’m no music historian), like a bridge between the Velvet Underground and Seattle grunge. I know that a very un-grungy Seattle native, Ben Gibbard, was such a Jesus and Mary Chain fan that he referenced them in Transatlanticism. I’d listened to Psychocandy in the past and I remember liking it a lot. Darklands, today though, didn’t quite light me up. These songs are dreary in a dull and sick sort of way, referencing rain and falling, over and over. Darklands came out in the year I was born, and one of the songs references April skies. That’s the month of my birth. I wonder if this was written just around the time I was born. If so, I wish it had been a bit glitzier! I’m nearing the halfway point on this list. Every day, I use the prompted album as a launch pad for listening to other albums in the same vein or by the same artist. So, over the last year and a half or so, since I’ve been keeping track, I’ve listened to about three thousand different albums. What’s really striking me during this immersion, is that I don’t like dark, dreary, brooding songs. As a teen and through my twenties, that’s all I listened to. Darkness equated to profundity. Now, I find myself often feeling bored, rolling my eyes, and telling the brooder to get over themselves. Life needs joy, and I want to feel joy, so I spent most of Darklands shaking my head. I especially might feel this way now because for the last month, I’ve been living at my in-law’s house, caring for my father in-law with Parkinson’s. The final song on Darklands, About You, references people dying in their living rooms. The JAMC sing that warmth can be felt in every situation, and I take that to mean that even in a deathbed scenario, one must look for the positive light. We’re here helping this guy when he needs us, and we’ve been here for a while. I guess that’s a good thing. Even in the Darklands, look for warmth. All in all, with the creepy harmony between the lyrics and my life, and the fact that this was written around the time I was born, I can’t help but feel the generator found the optimal time to dish this one to me. Did I like the pill? Not really. Did it make me question whether reality itself is rigged by an omnipotent mover? Maybe.
I've always been aware of The Jesus and Mary Chain through their singles on the radio, and I even saw them live once back in the 80s. But I've never listened to their albums until today. I absolutely loved Darklands. Brooding Scottish Goth-Pop! Perfect. Brothers Jim and William Reid literally invented shoegaze, for which we should be eternally grateful. I enjoyed it so much that I listened to some more of their albums afterwards. 'Honey's Dead' is fantastic. 4 stars for this one, not because it's not great but because I get more out of some of their other albums.
Droney, a bit one paced. Doesn't sound as old as it is. But not really my bag. There is something here, but it would require significant investment to get at it.
Loved it!!
- bändi on ollut nimenä tuttu jo pitkään mutta en oo tutustunu musiikkiin - iha hyviä biisejä mut meil on niinku the cure jo
Wat een onzin
I knew absolutely nothing about this group except that the older cool kids were into them. Consequently I wished I was into them and may have represented myself as such. Having now *actually* listened to them I am prepared to make a judgement. In the age-old dichotomy of taking or leaving, I'm gonna go ahead & leave it
Bezveze, ali nije katastrofalno. 2/5, 3/10
Like I wrote after hearing Physcocandy, they have great songs ruined by distortion, this is a million miles from that, was really surprised by how warm and uplifting this was, definitely adding this to my album list
JAMC cool.
I probably didn’t listen as closely as this deserved, but it was decent brooding gothy stuff
Another new band for me, this album is buyable.
I feel like this is a higher 3 than the last three albums I listened to (Raising Hell, Undertones and Autobahn), but I don't really want to give it a 4 either...I guess if I'm saying 3 is neutral, then I'm not neutral on this, so 4 it is. Does it matter? Are these the least interesting thoughts I could be punching into this thing? I feel like every social media nerd influencer that ever existed. I can only communicate my opinions on something through 5 numbers... I'm tired. Did I mention I'm tired? Woke up late this morning and almost missed driving my kid to the bus..
I actually loved this way more than I thought. Pretty chill for rock.
This album is like the soundtrack to a coming of age movie. Really loved it.
Very Bland. Not bad, just kind of forgettable
I feel like it's a way different experience than in Psychocandy and I don't like it. Like I'm sober trying to understand someone who is inebriated and I can't make some sense of the things they are trying to convey.
I love The Cure.
Rating: 4.7/5 Short Review: They traded the wall of noise for naked melancholy and somehow got heavier. It is restrained, intimate, and quietly devastating. Every song feels like it is trying not to admit it still cares. Favorite Track: April Skies, because yearning should sound this clean and this wounded.
388/1089 - The Velvet Underground and its consequences were a disaster for music.
Sehr unspektakuläre und ustuschbare 80er Rock. Chönti jetzt 3 geh aber willi da nüm innlose wird machemer mal wider zwei Stränge Ave Marias und Hail JC Junior
感觉像从远处传来的演唱会噪音，还是好听的
pretty similar to psychocandy. Little less abrasive, not sure if thats a bonus or a detriment. It's a cool formula.
Feels like a cross between new wave and grunge. A lot of sameness though.
Stronger than the previous record of them I got here. Very heavily Joy Division and even Bowie-coded. Enjoyed a lot 4/5
It's simple and formulaic in some ways, especially with the drum machine, but at the same time it's got a great sound, very lush and dreamy. Overall a good listen.
your potential has been squandered
There's a lot to enjoy about this album—the production and guitar tones in particular, and I'm all about a delicate balance between new wave and garage rock. But it loses steam real fast once each song repeats the exact same chord progression.
Das war wirklich gut.
Gut in dem, was es ist. Haut mich aber nicht vom Hocker.
Derselbe Eindruck, den ich auch live von Ihnen hatte: Angenehm langweilig.
I don't like or dislike it. Kinda boring but not annoying. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
This was really cool. Kinda moody but still good energy. Which is a hard blend to achieve
highkey better than psychocandy
This was fine. Kinda boring. Neutral rating.
4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the-jesus-and-mary-chain/darklands/ It's fine, but nothing mindblowing. Without the vacuum cleaner sound of Psychocandy, it's a bit more standard post-punk from the 80s.
Love this album, so much I bought it again recently 🤩
= the Beatles
Gosto do estilo dss guitarras, banda me agradou
Good album, although it does feel a bit samey at times. Dark and gloomy, a bit hypnotic, and very of its time. You can see where Bobby Gillespie took inspiration with Primal Scream.
Never heard of this band before. Do do do do do dooo. Do do do do do dooo. Ugh. Darklands (the song) sucks. Lyrics that sound like they're supposed to be deep but actually don't mean anything are everywhere. Riffs that have a decent tone but are awful repetitive. These guys are like proto-Creed/Nickleback. But somehow worse. Sorry but there's not a single redeeming feature in this entire album. Glad I didn't try listening to the extended version, fucking hell.
At first I found out his album very boring and repetitive, but then it just clicked. It was interesting to hear how many future bands they influenced.
This was my first Jesus and Mary Chain experience. Enjoyable listen but no singular standout.
When I fall asleep, I sometimes have auditory hallucinations (e.g. a door opening). Those tend to be more exciting than this tepid, lethargic album.
This is an over-produced, cleaned up album, compared to their debut. I like the raw, less produced version of them better.
I challenge you to name a better band from East Kilbride.
Teenage me would have loved this
Dunno, just sounds like a more boring Joy Division
Many of us listening to The Jesus and Mary Chain's debut album could hear bitter-sweet pop songs under the squalling feedback. In their second album these songs are even clearer.
Boring but alright I guess. Background music for an angsty sitcom scene
Pretty enjoyable, not sure it’s aged too well though. Some songs are good, some okay, some bad. Again, I’m not really sure why this is on the list - it feels very safe and not that groundbreaking… 4/10
Älskar shoegaze men detta är lite för tidigt för min smak. Lite för långt in på 80-talet
Я не можу виділити якийсь перелік претензій до цього альбому, але він мені чомусь не дуже подобається. Непогана музика для радіо, рок під меланхолійний настрій.
Не знаю, ніколи не фанатів.
3.7 faves: happy when it rains, april skies, some candy talking
Alternative Post-Punk Folk-Rock. Meh!
Unexpected. Like the Cure - goth undertones. Relatively mono-cadence.
Va y viene. Tiene algunos temas muy lindos y otros que decís WTF BRO PARA TRANQUILO LOCO
Top songs: Happy When It Rains April Skies
This album sounds like a heavier, louder Smiths record. More accurately, it sounds like the Smiths discovered distortion pedals and chose to use them with aplomb. It's still a very hooky, accessible record with some very good songs on it underneath all the guitar distortion. Lyrics generally aren't too great, but the band is surprisingly musically solid for just having two members. All told, this is a good album that serves as my introduction to dream pop. Thankfully, it didn't forget the pop part of dream pop and made sure to have hooks beneath the reverb and detached vocals.
Nothing special in my opinion.
Early alt
90s indie to the core
I’ve been a fan of Psychocandy for a while now, but never explored the band much beyond that. This peels back most of the feedback and a good deal of noise (still plenty of fuzziness to be found) but holds their hazy, dreamy, poppy core. And there’s a lot of sweet melodies - vocal and guitar - and good songs to be found here.
Nice to hear an album from the 80’s that don’t sound like it was made in the 80’s.
Somewhere between The Cure and Pixies and my experience of this album is entirely coloured by hearing the others before this.
My second JAMC album after Psycho Candy, which didn't grab me at all. The songs are, again, repetitively samey. The overuse of reverb remains. But the background feedback has gone. They still remind me of the Stone Roses (of course I know they came first) with a bit of upbeat Leonard Cohen thrown in. Better than Psycho Candy. But not much.
What I wished Velvet Underground ACTUALLY sounded like. Slow, deliberate, moody. Good rainy-day music, even if the heavy reverb gets old after a while. A solid 6/10.
4.0 - Very Good
essential and perfect
makes me wanna get shaggy bangs
I think it’s objectively a 5 but I liked it a 4 amount
Was never into J&MC despite their music having a lot of qualities I like (heavy guitar, heavy distortion, decent pace on most songs). The somnambulant singing weighs them down, as does their album production, which often sounds like the music was being played from the next room over. Shadowlands ditches the distortion and the production is a much better affair, but the songs are snoozers. The group had a problem with violent fuckwits showing up to their gigs (prompted in part by their own shitty behavior), which perhaps accounts for the muted approach here. Anyway, not much to say otherwise. Pretty dreary!
Kind of a snooze if I'm being honest. A generally inoffensive record, but nothing stands out. From start to finish it sounds the same. Drab, repetitive, droning and bland.
A real bummer because it doesn’t have the same nightmarish noise the other album on this list does. This is still good it just sorta blends in with the rest of new wave at the time.
Really enjoyed it - passed me by a little at the time - was familiar with April Skies, but that was about it - really good album
Favorite Track: April Skies
Much better than “Psychocandy”. Still really depressing music though.
Goth pop with haunting beach boys vibes
Nice
Very chill early 90s vibes
Got more into this than most other shoegaze I've listened to. Enjoyed it more as I listened too. 8ish
Ok, now we're getting somewhere. I'll be honest, I HATED Psychocandy, I found the whole experience of listening to that album to just be a 40 minute wall of noise. Every aspect is so heavily distorted and doused in reverb that you can't even tell one intsteument from another. But this, this I can get behind. This feels like making actual progress in the shoegaze genre, having actually audible guitar riffs and heavy post-punk influence. I still think that for such a primitive album in its genre, a lot more improvements and refinements would come in the following years, being most evident in bands like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. But for its time, this is still a solid effort that solidified the groundworks for shoegaze really becoming itself.
Spooky
Either too dark to not dark enough.
nothing super memorable, but i loved the vibe and overall it was pretty good.
Average
No matter how I try to appreciate this type of music it just don't work for me so far. Even if it's well written, played and recorded. It makes me gloomy and not in a good way, not a melancholy gloom, but weariness gloom.
Never heard of these guys before but I really liked their sound. 17 year old me would’ve loved this album. This was also so pleasant to listen to compared to some of the STINKERS we’ve gotten recently. Favourite song is April skies. I will probably revisit this one in the future The instrumental on the first song sounds like "its a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now". April Skies was also my favourite. Definitely an album I would listen to again and was refreshing after a bunch of bad ones
Big fan of this album. Never heard of them before, but several songs that I loved and the overall sounds was great. Felt a little bit like late stage Dire Straits
I feel like I SHOULD like this more than I actually did honestly. It checks the theoretical boxes of other styles I typically like (morose shoegaze-y post-punk) but there's just something lacking in the execution. Some great songs to be sure, particularly Happy When it Rains and April Skies, but I think my problems are partially with recording quality (hardly any bass/low end?) and the drum machine just taking away from the overall energy of many of the tracks. The guitar work is a little too rudimentary in places as well, on some tracks it sounds nice and full but on some it just sounds thin. I think I was expected more based on what I knew of this band and was just a little let down.
Unbelievably boring. I guess this would be nostalgia value if I were unfortunate to have to listen to this in the 90s.
Wow, what an absolute improvement over Psychocandy. Not saying I did not enjoy The Jesus and Mary Chain's debut album, but Darklands blows that project clear out of the water in nearly every single way. This project feels very Lynchian as it sounds like a blend between Alt Country, Alternative Rock, and just a perfect sprinkle of more gothic genres like Post-Punk to create a very odd and yet charming album. I also don't think enough people give this album credit for how romantic it is as well, the songwriting on display here is so passionate like on April Skies or About You that really make you fall in love with this sound. This whole album has this smokey and dimly lit bar feel to it that makes it feel so comforting and at home even if you are unfamiliar with the album like myself. Some may find the dry vocal performances here to feel a bit stale but personally I find them very charming. Darklands is a very cute gothic album, truly an oddball love story of an album, and I wish more people gave this the love and appreciation it deserves because it is beautiful in such a strange way.
Moody and catchy. I can fuck with this.
“happy when it rains” & “down on me” were my favs but halfway through the album all of the songs started sounding the same 4me :c which is not bad but it’s just not my cup of tea for an album
76/100. A solid alt rock record with some fantastic highs. It dials things down compared to their noisier debut, leaning into more melody and atmosphere. A dark, moody ride that mostly delivers.
so sweet to start the year with such beloved record 💗💗
No me generó mucho. Deben haber mejores albumes de la banda y del género. 4/10
Not a bad album by any means, but not one that I really want to revisit. It just didn't grab me at any point and I wanted to just get through it to get onto something else.
I like The J and MC, but this wasn't my favorite. I prefer some of their other albums.
I've must have listened to this album 5 times since it came up on rotation. Not high energy music (no workouts to this album), just beautiful songs and influential sounds.
Had trouble listening: youtube wouldn't find the album or the links from here. Was still able to find a couple of songs: fond memories of the 80's!
Still listen to this album frequently. Not my favorite J&M Chain album, but solid.
Waiter waiter, more mediocre 80s new wave please!
This was pretty boring to me. I couldn't get into it. 2
A very good album!! Def recommend
Favourite Songs: Nine Million Rainy Days April Skies
Excellent album, not heard it recently- I think I might buy it today as it’s so good - one of the best albums from the 80s - reminds me of T Rex, but the gravel voice and manic guitars from the Reid brothers makes this album sensational 🎸
Great, already rated on my other account, 4 stars, could listen to on repeat all day.
3.5
Always a good chill vibe from The Jesus and Mary Chain but sometimes they are lacking energy. I’ve noticed sometimes I prefer their songs covered by other artists.
3.5
2.5
Not for me. I remember nothing from this listen and I just listened an hour ago. It seemed dark and depressing. 2/5
best record on the list
I had bought this sight unseen because of how much I loved their first album. Here the Reid Brothers ditched the feedback but kept their songwriting chops. Somehow this album straddles light and dark at the same time — a miraculous feat.
I started out liking it, but it got old after the first few songs for me. It was a little too much reverb-pop, probably because there wasn't really any change in style between each track. I got lost along the way a few times. I just found it kind of bland as an entire album even though I didn't think there were any bad songs on their own. I started coming around to it again toward the end, for what that's worth. As an album, it falls into the familiar category of "not bad, but not great". I'd likely enjoy the songs more individually or in small batches rather than when listening to the album as a whole. It might be one I need to revisit. For now, it gets an OK. Overall: 2.8/5
Mid
Nice and relaxed groove.
very warm and quite sounding album
Good
Good dark atmosphere
Bored
Like it
The generator has been blessing me recently. I've never listened to a full Jesus And Mary Chain album so this seems like a good place to start. Goth/shoegaze goodness. Favorite track: April Skies
Jesus this is good.
Enjoyed more than I expected to
Alright.
Enjoyable, retro sound now. Probably could've got into this at the time but it passed me by. Can hear essence of bands they clearly influenced, like spiritualized who I love. Enjoyable hour and a half (deluxe version) but likely won't revisit.
This album is notable for its impact on the noise pop and shoegaze subgenres. After listening I had to play Only Happy When It Rains by Garbage
Some parts are okay, but it is really quite boring. 2 stars or D+.
Slow rock has a time and place when it fits well. Maybe unfortuenately for this album today wasn't one of those days for me. While I can't point out what is bad about it nothing draga me in and makes me want to keep listening.
Day 128 Second JAMC album off this list I’ve had and I definitely Preferred this one to psychocandy which I found too feedback heavy, some nice shoegaze here that I’ll return to. Highlights Happy when it rains April skies
Shoegaze. I didn't really find it interesting enough to really keep my attention. I can see how she might enjoy it. Just isn't for me.
"Darklands" is the second studio album by Scottish alternative rock band the Jesus and Mary Chain. Alternative rock, post-punk and folk rock are the Wiki-listed genres. It was their first album using a drum machines after previous drummer Bobby Gillespie left to form Primal Scream. The band is brothers' Jim and William Reid. Commercially, the album reached #5 in the UK and #161 on the US Billboard 200. It also had decent reviews. The self-titled "Darklands" opens the album. Hey, a melodic guitar with no feedback and clear vocals. There's that drum machine. A heartfelt song about love and friendship. No, "Happy When It Rains" is not a Garbage cover but their own. More poppy with loud guitars. Yeah, those drums are really sounding like their next album "Automatic." Finding solace in a gloomy place. "Nine Million Rainy Days" is slower. This is a bluesy stoner song. Acoustic and Velvet Underground-esque guitars. Reed's vocals ooze dread as he sings about a toxic relationship. The first single "April Skies" is more upbeat. Drums in the forefront. Ringing melodic guitars. Good song. Another one about a toxic relationship. The album ends with a ballad "About You." Yes, a ballad. Acoustic guitar and a whispering, soft voice. This time it's more about the beauty of love. The band took a direct left turn from their feedback-drenched, drug-oriented lyrical debut album "Psychocandy." Clear vocals. Mostly clean guitars. A drum machine beat which was not quite at the loud-level of their next album "Automatic." This album has a solid bunch of songs, even a ballad. The songs are mostly about relationships. I have to admit I lean more towards their debut but this is decent and worth a listen.
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Nine Million Rainy Days Right out of the gate, this album (Expanded Edition and regular) are not available on YTM, so I have to listen on YouTube thrown together by some rando on the Internet. Quality of the upload was dubious. Sucks to suck I guess. Not being able to listen to high quality audio tracks really sours my mood and probably contributes to bias. This kind of reminded me of My Bloody Valentine - the Shoegaze genre - and like, The Cure's Seventeen Seconds. Maybe Sonic Youth. I enjoyed a few songs, but it was quite samey throughout the album.
POSTROCKKKKK. Awesome album. Dancing around the apartment listening, sets a fantastic morning vibe. I really have been loving a lot of music out of this era lately.
Not good in my opinion. Very repetitive & slow. Not my kind of music.
Not sure I 'get' JAMC. I gave Psychocandy a 3. I said it was nice but it put me to sleep. I liked this more than Psychocandy, it felt more earnest and melancholic. Not sure this band is really for me but they're not bad or anything, like I still enjoyed this all the way through.
I have no attachment to this, but it was perfectly fine
8 / 10
Maybe I just have the wrong opinion on what “shoegaze” sounds like cause I didn’t really get that vibe too much from this album compared to MBV or Slowdive or Ride. I did like the use of drum machines on this album, added a nice contrast to it! Nothing fully grabbed me tho
For the shoegaze lovers out there, this album is a nice listen to that delivers a great mood throughout. Not my cream of the crop but it does a good job at what it is.
It's okay I guess
This is the first shoegaze album I've enjoyed
Alright listen and I liked some songs here and there, but the album was just too mellow. I’d usually go for albums with moods like this, but there’s something about this one that I didn’t enjoy overall.
2/5
This album is pretty alright for background listening but nothing too exciting, it was just a chill experience. Overall, a bit meh, but it's definitely not bad.
I was not familiar with these guys. This was an interesting listen with some catchy hooks. It ages well as it does not just immediately scream the time period of its release. Will most likely revisit. 3.5/5
This was a nice end of week surprise. Always liked JAMC, and in my opinion they’ve always been underrated. But these lads deserve to be in the same conversation as similar leaning bands that get more attention like Joy Division, Psychedelic Furs and Echo and The Bunnymen. Shoegazer noise pop before it was cool. Very cool listen even 35+ years later.
This was good. Obviously the tones are distinctly 80’s, but felt like otherwise these songs could fit in a few alt rock eras. Nice surprise, rounding up.
I hadn’t really listened to these guesses but I liked it. A very nice surprise. Had that 80s vibe without being over the top 80s. 3.5 but I’ll round up because songs like April Skies and Happy When it Rains are too damn catchy.
Haven't given these guys much time in my rotation, so it's nice to see them show up on the list. While I can't say I loved this album, it caught my attention and will prob dig in a bit more. Thinking we may also get Physchocandy. Sounds like their live shows back in the day were...something. Just walls of sound, feedback, no emotion and peeps not knowing what was going on. Good stuff. Eff the man, man. 3.25/5
I remember 'not thinking much of' these in period. Things change, so let's see. By the end of track two I am bored and feeling vaguely uncomfortable, I'm not sure why. One side done. The album has failed to engage. The band don't sound like they're trying. It's all a bit 'music by numbers'. 2/5.
Mundane Album cover 1/5
Disfrutable dentro de su atmósfera depresiva y caótica. Se me informó que por ciertos gustos que he externado recientemente, incluído este álbum, el shoegaze me gustó más de lo que se pensaba, así que a escuchar más shoegaze, pero en el que sí se entiendan las letras. Darklands es un muy buen ejemplo. Lo escucho, me deprime y luego lo quiero escuchar otra vez.
Short, melancholic and a bit heartfelt. You can draw a straight line from this to insufferable pricks talking about In the Aeroplane Over the Sea when I was in highschool, so that might be a mark against it.
This album was good. Just kind of exactly a spooky, indie rock album from the 90s. Kinda reminded me of if Twin Peaks was an album if that makes any sense at all
"80's music. Not bad, but nothing stands out too much on this album. Pitchfork: 7.8 Rolling Stone: Best Songs Darklands Happy When It Rains April Skies About You"
I almost drove off the road it was that dull. I'm forcing myself to give it a second listen. Huh. What an odd glow-up. Wasn't expecting a long day of work to change how music sounds but here we are. I get it now? This is no "Pump Up The Jam". This is "Closing Time". Still not a fan, but I get it. Also found it hilarious that their wiki says their shows were plagued with fights and riots. Imagining a bunch of goths getting riled up to the musical equivalent of porridge just tickles me.
With Darklands, the Jesus and Mary Chain swap out the jet-engine feedback of Psychocandy for something moodier, smoother, and—depending on your tolerance for gloom—more quietly hypnotic. The Reid brothers lean hard into their Velvet Underground fixation, trading distortion for a dusky jangle that can feel a bit samey and undynamic, yet still pulls you into its slow-motion orbit. “Darklands” sets the tone with a somber shimmer, while “Happy When It Rains” turns a downcast love song into a perverse form of pop sunshine. “April Skies” and “Cherry Came Too” keep the midtempo jangle-pop streak alive, proving the band can sound genuinely tuneful without sacrificing their trademark moodiness. And on “Nine Million Rainy Days,” those ghostly “woo-woos” drifting in the background nod to a decelerated “Sympathy for the Devil,” reminding you that even when the guitars aren’t screaming, the Jesus and Mary Chain still know how to haunt a room.
Honestly very good
Reminds me of the 90's, soft rock without being soft. Nice mix of acoustic and electric guitar, very melodic.
Another '80s alternative rock band. Not standouts, gets boring quite fast.
I've heard on them before, but never actually listened to anything of theirs. Which is a shame, because this album was really good, so good that I will probably end up moving towards a 5 star rating the more I listen to it!
Best Song: April Skies. It has a kind of dad-rock quality to it, that isn't unpleasant. Worst Song: Nine Million Rainy Days. Just dripping in a corny melodrama. Overall: Who is getting excited about this music? Admittedly, it's marginally better than the other album of theirs on this list, but goddamn if it isn't monotonous. Every song is the same as the previous one.
These guys listened to a bit too much Cure, but honestly really good, for once a real good pull on this list. 7/10
494/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
4 out of 5. This is another band I've heard of but never heard their music, and I'm glad it's changed.
It was my first time hearing this band, and I was like, "Oh, another band from the UK," which almost made me uninterested in listening to them because of the previous UK band (post-Beatles) albums I’d heard on this list. But I was wrong.
OVERALL THOUGHTS - 3.25/5 Definitely enjoyed listening to this and wouldn't be mad if someone threw this album on but I don't think I'd go out of my way to listen to it. Despite how mopey the lyrics were, there were some fun lines there! I can see where they were going with the washed out sound and I found it largely effective but it could serve to be more 'lush', it often gives it the appeal of background music rather than an all encompassing bliss. Think it's another 'they did it first but not best', I would rather listen to the stuff it inspired like MBV or Slowdive. STRAY THOUGHTS - Softer sound than I was expecting, apparently their previous album was the more proto-shoegaze sound I associate them with and they went in a more subtle approach for this record - "plug into her electric cool" - Did Garbage rip off "Happy when it rains" from them??? - They liked the rain so much they got 9 million of them! - I thought we were depressed now but they were really going through it in the 80s damn - "Life in a sack is coming back" - Rain as a motif on this album?? They would've loved Matt Reeves' 'The Batman' FAV TRACKS: April Skies, Happy When It Rains, Fall, LEAST FAV TRACKS: N/A
i buckled in and thoroughly enjoyed this ride
Sounds so definitively 80s. Man there was such a strong sonic signature on this era. For better or for worse. Everything soaked in reverb, gated drums, that crunchy guitar tone. Even the alternative stuff has that same sonic palette but a little rougher around the edges. This is very much a vibe record, where nothing really sticks out to me, but the energy is nice enough to keep on in the background. The songwriting isn't very compelling for me. I likely won't revisit it.
This one was ok, just not my favorite style of music.
If everybody listened to the Jesus and Mary Chain the world would be a much better place. Absolutely LOVED this. Undeniably great. 5
Late 80s, post punk geniuses avoiding the sophomore slump to deliver the goods.
I loved Psychocandy when it first came out, but for some reason this one didn’t grab me in quite the same way at the time. The obvious difference is that the feedback and distortion from the first album is now gone, but there’s still the same dark, brooding atmosphere with that resonant guitar and drums booming somewhere back in the mix. It struck me for the first time how much this now reminds me of Lou Reed (in a good way) - I hadn’t listened to him back in 83 and certainly not heard Metal Machine Music which is another obvious influence on this wee band from East Kilbride. I’ll definitely be listening to this again and sending a Time Machine back to 1987 to tell past me to give this album a chance.
I was surprised at how many of these songs I knew even though I don't own this album. This has all the elements I love, dark, expressive and moody.
Wait is this a joke. Psychocandy took some real liberties in recycling the same song over and over again. And then Darklands, their follow up album starts, and its the same song again?! Next track, Deep One Perfect Morning, starts with the Just Like Honey drumbeat. Happy When It Rains is finally a new song, hooray. We manage to get through a few songs that don't smell like honey until April Skies which can't resist an oscillating two chord progression that mirrors JLH. Its kinda funny at this point - I go into each new track hoping it will be another JLH clone - Cherry Came Too is another one - slow strummed guitar chords, the same chord progression, basically the same drum beat. How did they get away with this?! TJAMC are really one of the least creative bands I've ever heard. Which is truly a shame because I really do love Just Like Honey. I'd say there's a bit more diversity on Darklands compared to Psychocandy, but there isn't the OG JLH, so it loses marks for that. Neither of these albums should be on the list. 2.2/5
Dark and moooody, just the way you like it. The Tampa Bay Lightning are not very goth, but these guys are.
Average
Een personal favorite, én wat mij betreft één van de beste 80s alternative platen. Dit album puilt uit van de effectieve hooks, meeslepende teksten, en fijne tempowisselingen. De chemie tussen de gebroeders Reid druipt er ook vanaf. Gewoon een tijdloze popplaat, die interessant blijft van start tot finish met zijn shoegaze en noise rock elementen. 9,5/10 Highlights: Darklands Happy When It Rains Nine Million Rainy Days About You
Goh ja dat is me het plaatje wel. Alternative dreamrock/shoegaze zoals je het wilt horen eigenlijk. Soms vind ik My Bloody Valentine iets te veel escaleren op de gitaardistortion, maar dat was dan natuurlijk ook peak-shoegaze. Darklands blijft wat dat meer binnen de kaders, waar Slowdive later ook haar kwaliteit van heeft gemaakt. Dat Darklands uit 1987 komt verbaase me enigszins en is eerder dan ik dacht. Altijd positief. Heel simpel eigenlijk. Darklands is ijzersterk en kan gewoon altijd aan. 9/10 Highlights Darklands Some Candy Talking
Full Disclosure: I love The Jesus and Mary Chain (this is their second album). This album brings back a flood of memories from high school, college, and MTV's alt program 120 minutes. Their signature sounds are mellow songs followed by songs with a wall of fuzz guitar. "Darklands", "Happy when it Rains", and "April Skies" are my favorites. For me, it's not my favorite album of theirs, but it's a great album and a good representation of the band. a perfect in-it's-time Alt Rock album of the late 80s. I will be curious what others think of them. my experience is either you love them, or you find them just "there". My favorite album of theirs is "Stoned and Dethroned" and my favorite song is "Just Like Honey".
The best part of the 1001 album challenge is listening to stuff I would have never listened to otherwise and broadening my music knowledge. This one definitely broadened my knowledge. I don't listen to this genre ever. This sounded like Billy Idol as a lead singer of Midnight Oil or something. Unfortunately his voice sounds like my white noise machine that helps me fall asleep, and the repetitive drumming makes each song instantly forgettable. I do appreciate that they have a unique sound and it does feel different from the mainstream. I wouldn't be able to listen to it again, although the guitars were enjoyable.
Prior to this, I never heard of The Jesus and Mary Chain. I have to say this is one of the best albums I heard in a long time. This was right up my alley. It was top notch. I will probably download this entire album.
Album No. 0068 on my list. Interesting listen! I've heard of this album before, but never listened to it. I like its overall vibe, the shoegaze appeal, the drum-computer sound and the way both singers sing. My favorites were "Darklands", "Happy When It Rains", and "April Skies". Because of the overall sound, its 4/5 stars for me, although I have to say that it's a rather narrow decision. Might have been 3 stars only as well. 4/5 stars.
I don't usually listen to a lot of rock but this was a great listen!
Never sounded like it got out of 1st gear to me
I liked it, but it didn't knock my socks off.
I feel like I am just a clock on the wall ... the time ticking away through another day and another mediocre album.
This was perfectly fine and lightly enjoyable, but also a bit dull. 3.4
Probably a better record then their first, but less cacophony and more song styling might make it less important
War anfangs langweiler synthypop aber wurde dann immer dunkler und somit auch interesanter
I was a fan of this one, one of those bands that people have been telling me to listen to, only ever heard Psychocandy. I really enjoyed this one though. 7/10 Favorite Tracks: “Darklands” “Down on Me” “Cherry Came Too”
The Jesus And Mary Chain are one of the most overrated bands I’ve had the misfortune of seeing live. Thankfully it was at a festival and I could go watch something else. Just boring as hell, and I’ve no idea why they’re held in such high regard.
Darklands fena değil, sonbahar vibes deep one perfect morning, iyi girdi zayıf bitti happy when it rains + down on me, karıştı gitti çok bişe yok nine million rainy days, fena diil april skies, en ünlüsü bu ama tırt Fall, şimdilik en iyisi cherry came too, mehh on the wall, güzel
might be good for its time but it felt bland. sorry
Un disco para disfrutar y paladear. Reverso melódico de Psychocandy. El complemento perfecto es la colección de rarezas y caras B (Barbed wire kisses). No hay una sola canción de que baje del notable alto, tal vez Fall. El resto son obras maestras de principio a fin. Es uno de los álbumes que más he escuchado.
Solid
When I feel romantically melancholic, I listen to this album. I hope I will find someone to whom I could sing and play the song About You on the guitar…