Darklands

I've never listened to this album (52). A bit too flat and whiny for my taste.

Get a drummer that knows how to do more than that one set of banging lmao. Once I heard it, could not unhear.

Great stuff

1987. Decent enough English rock band.

Me recordó a The smiths o The Cure. Buena vibra, cursi, fácil de escuchar.

Real good, love the shoegaze, I hadn’t heard this before but I can hear the foundation of their sound that they stretch out in later albums

Great album. One of my favs by the Jesus and Mary Chain.

Did not expect to like this album

The first couple are as good as it gets. Sadly followed by 20 songs which can only be described as noise

This was fun.

Steeped with 80s production with a vocal delivery and mix full of premonition. I'm old enough to have lived through the 80s,but I have no connection to this at all. And it doesn't work for me, listening in 2025.

Ok

A more interesting side of music coming out of the 80s. Drenched in reverbs, very rock but sort of mellow and atmospheric. A great listen and a fascinating band.

Moody

Darklands Happy When It Rains April Skies

First time hearing this and absolutely loved it. Moody, melodic, and beautifully atmospheric. A perfect blend of melancholy and pop sensibility—an excellent album.

It's fine, nothing special. Completely forgettable but I didn't mind listening to it

meh...

2,5/5

Weird coincidence that this is my listen as there are multiple rain tracks and today was dreadfully rainy. Album was really good, loved the texture

One of my all time favorite bands, love them. The are likely one of the most copied bands from the 80s. Just amazing.

Nothing unique about it, but it wasn't bad.

A band always on the edge of my listening range. I was aware of them and they were popular in my circle but I never listened to them. Not sure why that was. Strong start with Darklands. As it drones on, I keep digging it. Shoegaze be damned, let me enjoy my morning mope. I'm going with **** here.

Really really pleasant. Not usually a shoegaze/dreampop kind of guy, but they do it very well here (probably because they were some of the first to do it), and it made for a great meditative driving experience. At the end of the day it's still a pretty simple record, but I was not upset at spending 36 minutes this way. Fave tracks: - Darklands - Happy When it Rains - Down on Me - April Skies - About You

All timer. Wish I had time to listen more

Pretty good

Now this is The Jesus and Mary Chain sound I recalled from college. Glad they turned a hard corner from that debut album of noise pollution.

slightly boring but still enjoyable

Solid jangle pop with some post punk influences with a sprinkle of shoegaze cool album to listen to while it's raining. Went away from their noisy debut to make an accessible pop album with interesting melodies with beautiful atmosphere. Lyrical content that touches some bases of longing, introspection, pessimism, romanticism that deliver a cerebral/ethereal response. Favorite tracks: Happy when it rains, Nineillion Rainy Days bleeding into April Skies, Fall and On the Wall Enjoyable experience 4/5

- guitar rift reminds me of "are we the waiting" by green day - du du du du du dooo , fluffy, chill - ("hit") what am i listening to what - everything has sounded so chill and samey up until this point huh - i was just thinking damn i would've loved this album in 2014 during my indie rock obsession but now it just falls flat for me - but maybe things will change from here after this track? - "kill surf city" HUH same thing it goes from a guitar riff to distortion? things are spicing up - now we in the demonic screams part of the album - is it weird that its making me like this more - demonic cumming now - how did we get here - and then we go full circle back to indie chill - okay - this was.... an album lol

Hintergrundmusik, meiste lieder eher ruhig und dunkel

This is #day444 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… how about some fine Scottish noise pop? You bet. It totally slipped my mind that Bobby Gillespie played drums on their first album, which still awaits me down the road. Now, this record... what else to wish for when there are such gems as "Darklands," "Happy When It Rains," and "April Skies," to say the least. A great listen through and through. This is a 4 out of 5; sparing a 5 for Psychocandy. Looking forward to #day445.

2.5

too slow and intimate

Good opener

2.1

Kind of remarkable how well this aged into the 90s and how influential this band was even into the 2000s. Also a nice bracing antidote to the 80s even as there are pop hooks that hail to older music traditions buried in the moodiness and reverb.

Not a fan. Stupid songs, weird music.

Hometown heroes from the Land of the Free. I liked this one too. I’d rather listen to this again than a lot of this other shit.

I’d heard of the band, but had always assumed it was some sort of 60s hippie band (based on the name I guess?). Instead, to me, they sound a lot like a 2010s indie band. Kind of like Kurt Vile was going through a Springsteen phase. Really solid front to back, I’ll definitely listen again. 3.7

3.5 Good, not great, although influential to others

Wow. Perfect for my today. Cloudy drizzly and lazy day. Begore today I knew the few songs that had radio play. Hearing this entire album today was perfect.

4/5 The sound to the overall thing ‘meshes’ a tad but it was listen 1 so I think that would change

Ok

2ка, защото On the wall е копие нa Heroin на Velvet Underground. Не може така да се копират чужди песни и да се редят някакви тъпи текстове по мелодията

I would vibe to this 3.5

Slow and boring af

Good. They have an appealing and unique sound. It didn’t jump out and grab me though. A 3.

Back to the eighties. I like the vibe but it’s a bit same-y. I want to give it a four because the vibe almost carries it through. But I couldn’t remember any songs in particular so it’s not very catchy. It’s more a three and a half.

A snooze fest, honestly. I still don't know how to define "shoegaze." I'd never heard of the genre before embarking on this project, and I have had several albums that fall under that label since. I can't define it, I don't know its origin, but I know I don't like it. This wasn't a whole lot different, except that it was largely boring. Vocals from a guy who sounded like he doesn't care about what he's singing and who was kinda hard to understand. Guitars soaking in reverb and pedal effects that they lose coherence and intrigue. Most songs were at the same tempo. The whole affair was just largely boring and felt like a slog. It's a bummer, because these guys are/were probably a solid act. But this album can't be the best representation of their work because it was a snooze fest. Two stars. Standout Tracks: Down on Me, Nine Million Rainy Days, April Skies.

Sad 80s alternative. Meh.

It reminds me of when youre a child and watch a movie on a saturday afternoon and this song starts to play in the middle of the movie. Very nice songs. Love the recommendation.

Ok

A typical artifact of a bad period in recorded music. Was everyone really so smacked up? (rounded up to a 2 because of the sound quality in the mix)

Was ok. I expected it to rock harder though

Very dull and repetitive

Been put off exploring J&MC more after being disappointed by Psychocandy. This feels more poppy and fun though. The better album for me. Glad to listen.

Released in my birth year! Finally an album from 1987. I enjoyed this a lot, I was not familiar with Darklands and I only know Psychocandy, which I am not a massive fan of. This however feels a step up from that, there's some very good songs on here and the album is 36 minutes long. It had a gothy post-punky feel to it, that I really enjoyed. An excellent autumn record.

Didn't do anything for me. Average.

I liked it but not as much as Psycho Candy

They named themselves after an ancient mother and son. The son got nailed to a cross. The mother weeped. "Dad", the son shouted. The father was nowhere to be seen.

The album generator is stuck on UK albums this week which is kinda fun. I don’t think I’ve heard this Scottish group before. Seems their first album might not be my cup of tea, but this second one is off to a nice start! Feels like the perfect thing to listen to on a rainy morning like this. I’m adding this album to my library. 4/5

Really good first listen. I've always enjoyed listening to The Jesus And Mary Chain and could see this one growing on me a lot.

Solid, shoegaze precursor - easy listening pop

Awesome

Bon mais sans plus

This is mood music more than songcraft. Big guitar space, simple progressions. It’s a short record. Easy to drift into, hard to recall after. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Darklands - Happy When It Rains - April Skies

I'm really struggling. I like this album more than Psychocandy, but can't deny that every song sounds the same (although I have a really sweet spot for April Skies and I'm Only Happy When it Rains). It would be a 4.5 but let's be generous today

The album title an cover had me thinking that I was going to hate this shit but to my surprise, this album was a fun listen!

I expected not to like this. I’ve been a fan of the dandy Warhols a long time and can see some very clear influence from TAMC on them. Liked the laid back, psych pop vibes on the more chill songs on the album. Overall I probably won’t come back to it, but I enjoyed it while I listened.

Definitely out of my Q zone, this one's not for me

I remember the band from my old goth days. I listened to them back then, but my focus was on other bands. I quite liked the album. However, it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. Maybe I'll listen to it again. 3/5

Some enjoyable tracks but not enough to justify the extended edition. Tempted at times but not quite a 4.

I like Jesus's and English indie music!!

very very cozy album. as the song says, there’s something warm in everything

Fín vinnutónlist, chill 80s

"Darklands" doesn't have the fame or impact of Psychocandy but still a very good album.

This thinks it’s sooooo cool.

Has not aged well.

perfectly gloomy

It was meh. I liked it but nothing really popped for me.

I really like this! Never heard it before today, but I could see myself listening to this regularly.

I would definitely consider this an 80s emo band/album, and it turns out I'm just not a fan

A little too downbeat for my tastes, I'm afraid. Plus, I recently became aware that there are no Warren Zevon albums on this list. That albums like this should make it while Warren gets overlooked is a travesty!

Another 3.5 for me. Was really getting into it until I realised songs just blended into each other.

This album is ok. It’s a little drab and bland to be honest. I get where it was the bridge between post punk and elements of grunge, and I hear that, but it just doesn’t strike me the way I thought it would. It’s kind of like a history lesson. It’s interesting, but it’s not as fun as recess.

I liked this album better than Psychocandy, but not by a whole lot. Their stuff really falls flat for me. I did enjoy "Happy When It Rains" but the rest was pretty mid. It all sounds a bit the same and bland. This is closer to a 2.5 but I'm rounding up because I didn't have quite the same visceral reaction that I did for their other album on this list.

This was a pretty cool post punk and goth rock album for the ’80s. I remember their first album vaguely, but I do recall it being much hazier and drenched in feedback, almost bordering on shoegaze. This one feels a lot less chaotic in comparison, with more focus on atmosphere and melody. It’s definitely darker, with a more accessible sound overall. I think I probably still prefer their debut for its rawness, but this one is still good especially if you’re in the mood for something more toned down and moody.

Always been a sucker for shoegaze/dream-pop but before embarking on this project I just never had the labels for it. Found JaMC with ‘April Skies’ about a year ago, but been a big fan ever since. 5/5

Liked it!! Liked Darklands and Nine Million Rainy Days

I did not like that it is neither foreground or background music

The sound of Glasgow. God, what a great album.

Indie rock

Ok. I love the jesus and Mary chain. But i ain’t listening to the same song 33 FUCKING TIMES HOW MUCH DOES CANDY HAVE TO TALK SHUT UP AHUT UP AHUT UP SHUT UP (respectfully, I’ve seen them live and everything. love the band, but Christ, it’s so tiring)

4.5

3.5

*Darklands* [1987] One thing that kind of struck me listening to it this time isn't as much as that it sounds of his time, but it almost sounds like it was 2 years earlier. I kept hearing 1985 . I don't know if I caught that last time around. I don't know if I was thinking about what year it came out. I also kind of thought they resembled a little bit of the Psychedelic Furs, which is not really a knock, but just a notation. Still this was the kind of stuff I really ate up a lot back in the 80s . This sound actually really takes me back to what I really love to listen to with my friends back in high school so i might have some Gen X colored glasses on my rating. (8.85) ★★★★

It is good, but doesn't excite me and bores me a bit. 3 stars

I like this era of JAMC quite a bit, and think this is a fantastic album. They kind of take the 60's girl group aesthetic of the Ramones, but add this dreamy, surfy layer to it. I think this is the band's most consistent album, and there's a lot of highlights, including the title track, "Deep One Perfect Morning", "Happy When it Rains", and "April Skies". 4.5 stars.

4.5

My sun is stuck. I cannot go back to your Darklands.

I thought I loved the Jesus and Marty Chain (or "Jesus and the Mary Chain" to the agony of a friend) more than I do. Sure it ticks the boxes for me... I like New Wave and a bit of dream pop. shoegaze, whatever this is. The sound is great, and filmic. But this does not move me at all, it's mostly really nice background music and too poppy. But they were influential, I was going to give it a 4, but listening to this, at face value, in 2025, it's a 3 for me.

Slow motion alt rock. Not unpleasant, but not something I would ever put on. I love darkness, but this isn't dark, it is just uninspired. I don't mind the drum machine, but if you are going to use a drum machine, do something interesting with it for fuck's sake. The result is an album that I enjoyed slightly more than PSYCHOCANDY, but not enough to actually care about. JOMC is never music altering in the ways that their contemporaries Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, or the Pixies were. They just kind of exist. Almost anything else from the 80s was more enjoyable than this. Boring and tedious like a Sofia Coppola film. Definitely doesn't belong on an all time list.

This clearly influenced Britpop, so I definitely enjoyed it.

Good enough

Fairly good shoegaze

Day618 - dark and moody just how i like it

# 567 : Darklands Darklands - the musical equivalent of a shrug It’s moody, slow, and vaguely atmospheric—like someone dimmed the lights and forgot to turn the music up. The guitars jangle politely, the vocals mumble introspectively, and the whole thing just sort of... happens. It’s easy listening in the most literal sense: easy to listen to, easy to forget. I get what it’s going for—post-punk melancholy with a pop sheen—but it never really lands. There’s no tension, no release, no standout moment. It’s like watching a black-and-white film where nothing dramatic ever occurs. You sit through it, nod occasionally, and then move on with your life. This isn’t a bad album. It’s the kind of record that critics adore and fans defend, but for me, it’s a soft pass with a polite wave. Verdict: Not hated, not loved, and definitely not remembered. File under “80s excess with no payoff.” Best Track (if you must): Happy When It Rains – the one moment where the clouds part and something resembling a hook appears. Listened: 12/09/2025

Some really good alt rock a lot less noisy than their previous album but the dark atmosphere is really good here. 8/10 Favourite: Darklands Least Favourite: Cherry

This was a pretty cool post punk and goth rock album for the ’80s. I remember their first album vaguely, but I do recall it being much hazier and drenched in feedback, almost bordering on shoegaze. This one feels a lot less chaotic in comparison, with more focus on atmosphere and melody. It’s definitely darker, with a more accessible sound overall. I think I probably still prefer their debut for its rawness, but this one is still good especially if you’re in the mood for something more toned down and moody.

me re gustó eee

Since I had the impression that shoegaze was difficult to get into, Darklands was my first real listen, and it turned out to be much more to my taste than I expected. The famous “April Skies” stood out, but I also like “Nine Million Rainy Days.” Then I listened to Psychocandy, and it was a real shock—truly noisy. I prefer Psychocandy and can understand why Darklands might not leave as strong an impression. It’s interesting how it is so noisy yet still strangely nostalgic. I’d give Darklands 3/5 and Psychocandy 5/5.

Not as dark and brooding as I remember. Still, a very good album.

That late 80s reverb-drenched sound isn't my favorites part of that decade, but these songs are good.

A middling album as far as I’m concerned. Definitely thought it was fine but didn’t really wow me.

Not wanting to be a one-trick pony (it seems), the JAMC shed the screeching layers of feedback of their debut album in favor of gently-distorted guitars on this, their second album. In place of the wailing guitars however, did the Reid brothers bring any new elements into their sound? Not really, which places the focus squarely on the songwriting, which (unfortunately) relies on a lot of fairly tired chord progressions. The shapes of the vocal melodies don't vary much from song to song either. The JAMC might have been aiming for a Phil Spector-ish classic pop sound with *Darklands* but the songwriting chops weren't strong enough at this point to pull it off. Lastly, this album is a more polished record than its predecessor (drum machines, anyone?) but it's the anarchic spirit of *Psychocandy* that makes that record a more thrilling listen.

A neat listen but nothing stands out too much

Absolutely nothing about this album stands out. The best I can say is that I didn’t need to shut it off, but that’s largely because it was almost not even there. An entirely skippable album.

Surprisingly good. Never heard of them before. Added to playlist

Het genre zelf (ik gooi hem even bij de post-punk in het bakje) hebben we wat mij betreft nu wel vaak genoeg gehad in deze lijst, maar ik moet wel toegeven dat ik dit dan niet het slechtste album uit dat bakje vind. Er is wat teveel galm, de drums zijn weer overduidelijk via een computer geregeld met redelijk inspiratieloze fills als gevolg, de zangers doen iets te geforceerd mysterieus... en toch vind ik dit nog wel aardig eigenlijk. "Down on Me" bijvoorbeeld vind ik best een leuk nummer, net als "Fall". Het is gelukkig allemaal niet té zeikerig, wat wel eens een valkuil kan zijn bij dit soort muziek. Hier zit nog enigszins plezier in. Met 36 minuten is de portie ook klein genoeg. Misschien ben ik mild omdat het donderdag is, maar dit krijgt gewoon een voldoende. Ik ga zelfs gek doen en een 3,5 naar boven afronden. Als recensent moet je een klein beetje onvoorspelbaar blijven.

average

I'm not in love but it sounds soothing. It kind of reminds me a little of the smiths mixed with the cure or the pixies.

I had never heard of this band or this album but I liked it - seems ahead of its time in some way

Had not listened closely before - brooding rock that hits far more than it misses

I know Psychocandy and various JAMC singles but somehow never got round to listening to the follow up in full. It's great, stripping away the feedback and chaos to reveal some gorgeous melodies.

This album really benefits from how much I like Psycho Candy because its just more Psycho Candy.

this was mostly chill and fun, but i didn't like the beach boys impression towards the end of the album

This was fine but mostly made me want to go listen to Automatic

this doesn't sound good. drum machine is shit, guitar too twangy. everything played in different rooms. it's like leonard cohen from around the same time. could use a good remaster maybe?

klasicky britpop album (skotsko), pocuvatelny, nepustil by som si tie pesnicky sam od seba - iba ze by som chcel byt pretentious as fuck. je to pomale, hlas je prijemny ale nepaci sa mi vyuzitie nastrojov... nepacia sa mi nizke toniny

26/08/2025 Definitely different, Definitely okay. Never heard of them before and I doubt i will hear them again. Spotify listeners: 779.7k

very cool album, soft and depressing, the spirit of 90s grunge is all over it

Meh

songs decent. as album, boring

I mean its good. I liked listening to it, just wont revisit it again honestly. Had some good songs. Not any super memorable imo.

Great music for when you're peeling out a 20 year old cat piss stained carpet from the basement of the house you were born in. Masked up, sweating, and thriving. 3.5

Echoey pop

It was good, some I really liked but a bit samy at the end of the day. Not wheel reinventing by any means, but good

Melodic and moody. Still a lot of interesting production ideas and textures, but not quite as adventurous or encompassing as ‘Psychocandy’. That being said, this represents some of the best of what the 80s pop sound could do for your rock and roll. It’s also well-written and kind of bleak, so obviously I dig it. I’d give this a 4.5 if I could.

Soft punk like Echo and the Bunnymen

I don’t necessarily dislike JAMC, but they are a band where all of their songs, regardless of which album, sound the same. I guess they have a “sound,” as they are very easily distinguishable, but at the same time, nothing really stands out here.

A perfectly fine album with dark elements Highlights: - Happy When It Rains - Darklands - Fall

Love this record and JAMC in general. Though I've heard this album dozens of times, I came to a realization on this latest listen: JAMC are kind of like Scotland's version of The Ramones. Similar attitude, vibe, effortless cool, musical vocabulary, delivery. JAMC slows those 60s pop melodies down while The Ramones speed them up. Just some food for though. 4/5

meh

Knew the name but that’s about it. Another album that I’m glad I listened to…faith restored.

Would have been better if they let the feedback rip

I may prefer Psychocandy or Automatic but this is still a pretty great album. Favorites: Happy When It Rains, April Skies Would I listen to it again: Yes

I loved it

great album great band

I often respect bands for trying something different. This album offers a completely new sound compared to their iconic debut, but it often fails to hit the mark. Quite a few of these songs are just straight up boring. “Fall” and “Down On Me” are pretty good, but they probably would not make a Jesus And Mary Chain top 10. The singles are passable, but not too memorable. Nothing here is terrible per se; it’s just a bit dull. A few half decent tracks, an honest attempt to shake things up and some decent rhythms make this an okay album. Thankfully, the Reid boys transform their sound again on the follow up “Automatic”, easily one of the best British rock albums ever recorded, so I can forgive this misstep.

It was fine. Nothing standout.

OK

Sölig tråk-rock. Riktigt trist… Lyssnade inte klart

Enjoyable quick listen, album flows well and I enjoyed the vocal style with the instrumentation, set a very 80s/90s tone in a good way

3

Fine but immediately forgettable

Every one of these songs is some alt kids dream "last song" in an 80's prom, but they never played it. It was always simple minds there

Ach, herrlich. „Darklands“ habe ich schon so lange nicht mehr gehört, dass ich es quasi vergessen habe. „Psychocandy“ gehört zu meinen absoluten Lieblingsalben, ich gebe aber zu dass ich den Rest ihrer Diskografie lange nicht mehr die selbe Aufmerksamkeit gegeben habe. Warum eigentlich nicht? „April Skies“ und „Happy When It Rains“ gehören doch zu den Mainstays in der Indiedisco meines Vertrauens, und „Darklands“ landet in meiner Wertung nur ein Mü hinter seinem Vorgänger. Die Melodien sind sogar etwas besser, aber es fehlt das Feuer, die Gefahr, der ohrenbetäubende Lärm. Will aber gar nicht meckern, das ist ein fantastischer Start in die Reise: Ein wiederentdeckter Schatz.

What a beautiful album to end my 4 and a half long journey of listening to 1089 albums on this website. Shout out to everyone who made this website list and who is actively using it. Will remember this experience for the rest of my life. Has 100percent changed my life. Love to everyone. Good night and good luck. ✌️✌️✌️

No live drum, kinda boring kinda okay

Not a bad album, I could forget it, but I certainly would like having any of it appear again out in the wild. April Skies does hit the mood of that era and genre so well. It's got this hazy 80s ambiguous rock vibe that would be fitting for a movie soundtrack. It did make me wonder... when will Guns N Roses be coming up... because it MUST be on the list. Turns out Appetite for Destruction was released the same year as Darklands.

This band rules.

Kaipaishan sitä vähän enemmän tunnelmanvaihdoksia, tässä on nyt vain joskus vähän vimmaa ja joskus ei. Happy when it rains toki kiinnittää huomion, muuten ei. Jos olisi enemmän sellaista, tää olis varma kolmonen.

Fine not amazing

Not bad at all. Shoegaze-core, a little noisy, all around pretty good.

I liked it overall, but got pretty bored halfway through.

Um, ... meh?

Kind of boring

I’ve listened to Psychocandy before. Is this one more upbeat or something? I have the loose thought that these guys are one of those bands where every song is kinda the same song (but it’s ok because it’s a good one). Did half the songs on this album have at least one element of Just Like Honey? Felt like it. Again, in a good way.

Beautiful and folky and rocky and good 80s/90s stuff

meh, it felt like it was trying to be the cure.

This album sets a powerful mood. It’s minimalistic, ambient, and ideal for rainy afternoons. I loved the stripped-back sound and its emotionally cold yet not hollow feel. However, it didn’t quite connect with my current mood. I can imagine revisiting it when I want to immerse myself in a quieter, darker mindset, but for now, it felt more like watching a storm than being in it.

this album is what happens when a band that used to sound like static and breakdowns decides to get a grip and put on clean clothes. unfortunately, i liked them better when they were a little feral and possibly unwell. not that the album is bad, because it's not. it’s kind of beautiful. the melodies are clear now, and the lyrics spiral softly instead of screaming. there's melancholy here, romanticism, a weird little longing that’s almost sweet. i get why people love it.. it’s introspective, restrained, and full of moments that ache in that soft, poetic way. but for me? it never quite unravels. and if you’re gonna make me feel something, i want it to leave a mark.

I’m more familiar with Psychocandy from JaMC, but I’m not sure I’ve ever listened to this one before. I was surprised to find this to be a superior album that I considered an easy 5 stars with just one listen. They’re a band I always expect to sound like The Cure (who I revere), but they’re closer in sound to R.E.M. or something like an emo-Springsteen. This album is fantastic from start to finish.

Solid 80s alternative rock album. Great guitar tone.

## The Jesus and Mary Chain's *Darklands*: An In-Depth Review Released in 1987 as the follow-up to their landmark debut *Psychocandy*, **The Jesus and Mary Chain's *Darklands*** defied expectations by stripping away the chaotic feedback that defined their early sound. Instead, brothers Jim and William Reid crafted a brooding, melodic masterpiece that emphasized songwriting over noise. Reaching **#5 on the UK Albums Chart** , the album polarized fans but cemented the band's artistic evolution. Here’s a focused analysis: ### 🔍 1. **Lyrics: Vulnerability in the Shadows** *Darklands* trades *Psychocandy*'s youthful snarl for poetic despair and romantic fatalism. The Reids’ lyrics explore: - **Existential Dread**: The title track declares, *"As sure as life means nothing / And all things end in nothing"* , framing existence as a bleak pilgrimage. - **Twisted Romance**: Tracks like "About You" offer stark vulnerability (*"I’d break my back for you"* ), while "Cherry Came Too" juxtaposes love with violence (*"The trigger itch of the killer’s hand"* ). - **Gothic Imagery**: "Nine Million Rainy Days" merges apocalyptic weather with doomed devotion: *"All my time in Hell was spent with you"* . The writing is more exposed without feedback camouflage, revealing a **raw, literary depth** that influenced 1990s miserabilists like Morrissey and gothic rock. ### 🎸 2. **Music: From Noise to Minimalist Mastery** The album’s sonic shift was radical: - **Drum Machines Replaced Live Drums**: After Bobby Gillespie left to form Primal Scream, the Reids used a **Roland TR-707** . This created a mechanical backbone for tracks like "Happy When It Rains" and "April Skies," lending a cold, hypnotic pulse. - **Guitars: Clean, Not Caustic**: Feedback was largely abandoned for precise, ringing arpeggios ("Deep One Perfect Morning") and distorted-but-melodic riffs ("Down on Me"). The Velvet Underground’s influence is palpable in the minimalist grooves . - **Vocal Clarity**: Jim Reid’s deadpan baritone and William’s occasional leads (e.g., "Darklands") sit prominently in the mix, amplifying lyrical intimacy . Standouts like "April Skies" balance **motorik rhythms** with soaring choruses, while "Fall" offers a rare callback to *Psychocandy*’s noise. ### 🎛️ 3. **Production: Polished Yet Polarizing** Self-produced by William Reid with co-production from Bill Price (The Sex Pistols), the album’s studio approach sparked debate: - **Pros**: The crisp, reverb-light mix spotlighted the brothers’ songwriting. Subtle details—like the layered guitars on "On the Wall" or the haunting strings on the alternate "Darklands" —reveal meticulous craftsmanship. - **Cons**: Critics lambasted the **"cheesy ’80s drum machines"** , arguing they clashed with the organic guitar work. Others felt the cleaner sound sacrificed the band’s danger, calling it "lethargic" . Jim Reid later admitted the production was a deliberate risk: *"We didn’t want to make ‘Psychocandy II’... We held our nerve"* . ### ⚫ 4. **Themes: Alienation and Dark Romance** *Darklands* navigates: - **Isolation**: The title track’s narrator drifts through a desolate mental landscape, seeking meaning in a "world that keeps turning the screws" . - **Love as Curse**: Relationships are depicted as mutually destructive ("April Skies": *"I’m just your long-time curse"* ) or tragically fleeting ("About You"). - **Defiant Nihilism**: Tracks like "Happy When It Rains" weaponize apathy, masking despair with pop hooks. This **"minimalist miserablism"** resonated with outsiders, framing the Reids as existential poets in leather jackets. ### 📣 5. **Influence: Blueprint for Shoegaze and Beyond** Though less cited than *Psychocandy*, *Darklands*’ impact is profound: - **Shoegaze Prototype**: By merging drum machines with ethereal guitars, it preserved My Bloody Valentine’s textural experiments without obscuring melody . - **Career Longevity**: Proving the Reids could thrive beyond noise, it enabled their genre-hopping future (e.g., the electronic *Automatic*) . - **B-Sides as Art**: The era’s non-album singles (e.g., "Sidewalking") are now cult classics, showcasing the band’s freer creative side . ### ✔️ Pros & Cons at a Glance | **Pros** | **Cons** | |-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | **Songwriting maturity** - Hooks shine without feedback crutches | **Drum machine sound** - Dated, "John Hughes-esque" percussion | | **Lyrical depth** - Gothic romance and vulnerability | **Lacks *Psychocandy*’s innovation** - Feels like a "retreat" to some | | **Production risks** - Clean mix emphasizes vocal emotion | **Inconsistent energy** - Mid-tempo pacing drags on deeper cuts | | **Influence on alt-rock** - Paved way for shoegaze/dream pop | **Missed shoegaze potential** - "Buried" under restrained guitars | | **Expanded edition B-sides** - Essential tracks like "Sidewalking" | | ### 💎 Conclusion: A Divisive Masterpiece *Darklands* remains The Jesus and Mary Chain’s most polarizing work. Its departure from noise alienated fans craving *Psychocandy*’s chaos, yet its **emphasis on songcraft** revealed the Reids as timeless pop auteurs. The album’s fusion of mechanical rhythms, lyrical bleakness, and melodic clarity created a **proto-shoegaze landmark** that balanced accessibility with artistic rebellion. As Jim Reid noted, decades later, fans still flock to hear it live—*"job done"* . For those willing to wander its stark landscapes, *Darklands* is a testament to beauty born from restraint.

So good

# Album Name: Darklands # Artist: The Jesus And Mary Chain # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Honestly, this album just passed me by. Very average. Very forgettable. Thankfully, it didnt pierce my eardrums. # Top Tunes: No idea # Would I listen to it again? No

dang, how have i never heard of these guys before. this is legit some pretty good proto-shoegaze and all that. I can see the influence that these guys had on a lot of music going forward.

This record is so forgettable I can't remember it and I finished it half an hour ago.

Was drifting in and out of the room for Darklands and On the Wall but other than that steadfastly listened to the whole thing...with difficulty. Very dull, except for Nine Million Rainy Days and About You which are good.

Nothing really exceptional, but musically sounded alright. The vibe was brooding (I mean, there's a song literally titled Nine Million Rainy Days. WE GET IT GUYS!) which is not what I really want on a Friday. It picked up some steam at the end, but not much to change my opinion. Low 3.

Only songs that stood out were April Skies and On the Wall. Otherwise this one has mostly washed over me without grand effect. It makes for some nice background music if nothing else. Fine enough 3 in my book.

This one was a music album for sure. Not a single thing stood out about this album. There were some moans and groans which was noticeable.

Just another drubby fuzzy post-punk album that we have heard many of times on this list. Nothing at all stood out to me on this.

Actually really digging this. It has a certain sound to it that I can't put my finger on, but sound familiar af. The vocals could be better no doubt but the instruments are very fuzzy and lush. Not my absolute favorite or anything but gonna put this one in the lower 4's.

Kind of reminded me of a slowed down Dandy Warhols maybe? Overall not too bad for me.

Softer than I remember, sounded good.

6/10 Evokes no emotion.

Good album to chill to

This one was a pleasant surprise! I expected just another bland album that would leave me wondering why it’s on this list, but I have to admit I really enjoyed it. "Darklands" has a captivating sound that made me doze off into my weekend bliss. Definitely a solid listen that exceeded my expectations!

было грустно утром - и попало в меня

9:27pm train from Glasgow Central in the rain

Joseph could’ve made this more interesting (2.5/5)

Was very good background music, and pretty decent pay-attention music. Rock, 80’s rock. I enjoyed it.

guter alternative rock, mit etwas wenig ecken und kanten. aber geht.

Gefälliger Indie rock

The first song caught my ear. 2

Already heard April skies, assuming it will be more like that but idk Darklands sounds good so far with the self titled song I had heard some songs of psycho candy before and it sounds much different, a little less of that early shoegaze style

Telling you now. This is one of those albums where I gave it a four because overall it's very good, but doesn't make my all timers, but it's probably one of my personal favorites and my favorite from The Jesus and Mary Chain.

This album kind of foreshadows the grunge movement in a lot of ways, with the some of the darker themes you see in Soundgarden, Nirvina and Alice in Chains. It doesn't have the heaviness or energy though--this is pretty depressing. That doesn't mean it's bad, some of the songwriting is pretty good. I just don't think I'd listen to this a bunch.

This is my kind of music. Not as great as Psychocandy, but still a very good alternative rock/shoegaze album from the second half of the 1980s.

More droney 80s nightclub music

It was okay. Nothing great, nothing bad.

The Jesus and Mary Chain is one of those groups where I've heard the band name, but hadn't listened to their music until now. They're a Scottish alternative rock band whose only consistent members are the songwriting brothers Jim and William Reid. They are considered progenitors of the shoegaze and noise pop subgenres, and after listening to Darklands, I can see why. This album boasts the jangly, distorted guitars, droning effects, drum machine, and the brothers' hazy vocal deliveries. All of these elements coalesce into a blissful noise that feels laid-back in its presentation. Pair that with some vaguely dreary lyrics, and the vibe is set. That does lead me to my main issue with this record - the lyrics are simply there, and don't offer much in the way of detail outside of setting the mood on a cold, rainy day. It certainly works in that lane, but it could have afforded to be a little deeper. Still, Darklands was an enjoyable record from the Jesus and Mary Chain. This album, and by extension the group, certainly holds up well in light of later acts to follow.

First time listening to them. Pleasantly surprised by this album. Found out about them first when Death Cab sang about the JAMC in one of their songs and I looked them up. This is right up my alley and what I was hoping for when I started going through this list. 5/5

i really liked the earlier songs on this album

A solid album that really emphasizes melody and atmosphere. While their debut was chaotic and noisy, Darklands is much more restrained and focused, almost like a dark pop record wrapped in a foggy, rain-soaked mood. The vocals are cold and detached, but they suit the melancholic lyrics and slow pace perfectly. It’s an album filled with loneliness and quiet desperation, yet delivered through simple, beautiful melodies. A strong and stylish record with a unique atmosphere. 4/5

I was expecting something I wouldn't like but, while it's not the sort of music that I gravitate towards, it wasn't without merit. As with a lot of albums of genres that I don't usually listen to, there were no standout tracks that made me sit up etc. It was all just a bit monotonous.

Honestly just felt like another Jesus and may chain album. I'm a bit of a fan of them but I didn't find anything better about this album than others

Quite enjoyable, but nothing outstanding

Really liked this one. Will check out more TJAMC. Simpsons: No

I thought this was really good. There are other albums I’ve rated lower that I liked more but I couldn’t say anything bad about this album.

ive not yet heard psychocandy (oops!), but its my understanding that this more commercially successful followup doesnt sound much like u would expect considering the pedigree. no longer in full shoegaze or noise pop mode, it settles for Merely being incredibly texturally involving , somewhat languid rock music. not sure how distinctive it is ultimately, or even how independently great the songs are, but i eat this stuff up, this was one of the best music stims ive had in ages...rainy, sleepy, soft as the pillow u hug in place of an actual person. i know everyone ultimately experiences composition Through timbre, but stuff like this makes me think that applies Even More to me than it does to most ppl lol, its just my flavor of autism. i know me liking this is probably not a guarantee ill like psychocandy, but fingers crossed! definitely filing this one in my memory

Ah sweet. A huge name I've not really listened to. Expecting something solid. Solid seems absolutely right. Really nice relaxed feel. Cool songwriting, nice diatonic feeling chord progressions. Tones are reverby in a really interesting way. I feel like this sound has been appropriated for some lukewarm indie that I really don't like but the cool feel here reassures me that's not what's happening here. Bass sound in particular feels like it has been used elsewhere for evil. About you has an interesting quirk on Spotify. I wonder if it's part of the track on all formats? Seems like the first 0.2 seconds of the track has been put at the end. Like a chill ramones.

This band has popped up in my recommended a few times, though I've never bothered to check them out. I guess maybe it's the clunky name? By all accounts this is something I'd probably at least appreciate. The song titles and the album cover makes me think it's gonna be something pretty dark sounding. But in all honesty I don't really have many expectations heading into it. Darklands I like the guitar quite a bit, gives off a bleak and dreary sound. Very distinct vocals. Nice progression on the chorus. The general sound of this reflects the era quite well. Depressing lyrics. Good. 4/5 Deep One Perfect Morning Don't love the vocals, they sound a bit unclear and muddied. I really like the longer guitar passages. Solid chorus. Decent. 3.5/5 Happy When It Rains Sounds kinda nostalgic. Really like how the guitar elevates the chorus. Decently romantic. The atmosphere of the really fits with the lyrics. Genuinely sounds like one of those sudden satisfying mid-summer downpours that never seem to last long enough. Great. 4.5/5 Down on Me I can appreciate the faster tempo, but the sterile drum machine sort of lacks any sort of life to it. I like the reverby guitar. The layering in the final minute is really good. Sounds large and satisfying in conjunction with the guitar. Decent. 3.5/5 Nine Million Rainy Days Kinda don't like the vocals here, sounds a bit dead. Decent bassline. I like the distortion on the guitar. The additional vocals help make the track a bit more dynamic. The moodiness builds up into a really powerful ending, where the vocals work much better against the more lively and dynamic instrumental. Decent. 3.5/5 April Skies The main guitar has a sentimental sound to it. Awesome solo. Great chorus, the following guitar section is really satisfying and catchy. Again quite nostalgic sounding, they really seem to catchy that cathartic romantic sound which would fit right at home at the end of a coming of age movie. Great. 4.5/5 Fall The buildup is a bit slow, but when it finally hits it really hits hard. Great ending section, though the rest of the track isn't to memorable apart from a few moments where the guitar really shines. Fine. 3/5 Cherry Came Too Really like the way the vocals change to fit the tone of the instrumental. Decent solo, follows the general tone if the song well. Boring bassline. Fine. 3/5 On the Wall Feels a bit meandering. Uninteresting vocal melody, feels really repetitive. Don't mind the backing vocals. I like the distortion in the background. Bleak and moody. Fine. 3/5 About You Has a bit if a soothing quality to it. The two guitars play well off each other. I really like the lyrics here. I enjoy the non descript and unceremonious ending. Fits really well with the rest of the album. Decent. 3.5/5 Romantic and moody. Has all of the late 80's indie charm without any of the pretentiousness. The songs are easy to understand with this charming almost nostalgic sounding atmosphere which takes you back to a simpler time. I'm a sucker for the repetitive basslines and the loud and clear guitar riffs. The mood they manage to create with a fairly limited sound is both consistent and at times quite carthartic. I ended up really appreciating the catchy songwriting both instrumentally and lyrically, and while nothing mindblowing it really encapsulates the era it came from. And while it has its flaws, mainly stemming from lifeless drums and a few uninspired sections in some of the songs, it's a fun time when you're in the right mood for it. Could definitely see this growing even more for me, but for now it's something I'd return to once in a while. 3.5/5 rounded up to a 4/5.

Me gustó hasta ahi.

Good but a bit ambient

I went into this not expecting much, alternative post punk is generally not my thing but I was very pleasantly surprised with this one. The first song is great and honestly one of the worse ones on the album. The next three are excellent, the second half is also quite good, I especially liked “Cherry Came Too” I think what makes this one better than this genre normally is for me is that the vocals are a lot more melodic and the record’s sound is a lot more fun than this genre usually feels.

It's fine. It's the noise rock/indie rock type of album.

I never really knew the Jesus and Mary Chain. It sounds like other 80's bands: Cure, U2, etc. The sound is OK but none of the songs hook me.

Like MBV if they traded in some of their wall of sound esthetic for a little more pop sensibility. I think there's legit arguments for that being both a positive and negative. For me, this was a good, solid, enjoyable album that never really grabbed me and convinced me of it's greatness.

This exercise has been interesting for illuminating influences in music that's (somewhat) more recent - e.g. Bowie on Janelle Monae, Kate Bush on a lot of contemporary women artists, the Beatles and every British rock band in the 70s. I knew Velvet Underground had influenced a *lot* of bands, but it was hard to hear Jesus & Mary Chain without constantly thinking of Lou Reed's droning, heroin-spaced-out style (and I mean that in the best way.) This might have ultimately also been a little too influenced by my bloody valentine as well, because it mostly droned over me. Not unpleasant but despite multiple listens, it's just not really sticking.

Honestly super boring. Was disappointed with this given the interesting album title and cover.

Very cool, haven’t heard it before.

Probably great. Definitely boring.

Moody. Will listen again

I liked it, and would revisit it. Some fun post new wave noise pop.

Its like a quiet banger

Kind of a run of the mill late 80s album.

Pretty unmemorable.

This was really cool! I had listened to some of this band's songs on random playlists, but I had never really stopped to listen to them. It exceeded my expectations, very good. 4 stars.

All of my friends loved this when it came out, but I never listened to it. It was like a very 80s brain of a Velvets album, and I enjoyed it

synes det er rimelig godt. Ikke noget sådan mega specielt. Det lyder sådan lidt shoegaze agtig men helt sikkert også fra 80'erne kan man høre. Der er lidt joy division over det fordi det har en lidt mørk atmosfære og vokalen minder også lidt om. åbenbart meget anderledes ift deres debutalbum som var noget helt andet, men det har jeg ikke hørt endnu.

oh, these guys again? okay. a plus side to this album is that it's not under layers of static, which is pretty refreshing. despite the clearer sound, it's pretty identical to the last one i've heard. mumbly drawled vocals, very fuzzy and with that typical echoey "alt" 80s sound... at this point i have to wonder why there's so many of this dreamy, weird groaning alt new wave "jangle" slop on this list. it's not a genre for me at all. sorry.

Yeah a lot of it sounds similar but I can't get enough

A really good album, it was a relaxing listen. I liked Nine Million Rainy Days and On The Wall the most.

The tracks sound like intros/ montage backround music. I swear I've heard Darkands in a film- also why is it 5 1/2 minutes long. I like the singer's- William Reid (?)- careless sound. kind of resembles Lana Del Rey in a sense. I like Nine Million Rainy Days lowkey hard to get through- idk like im not entertained- not rlly sure what im looking for. OVERALL RATING: 2/5

I really wonder if the drum machine is the main reason why The Jesus and Mary Chain didn't become better known. They were riding high on the praise from their debut album, "Psychocandy" when Bobby Gillespie left to form Primal Scream. Rather than replace him, the Reid brothers opted for the aforementioned drum machine and kept going as a duo. The result is a bit closer to New Order than My Bloody Valentine, but still sort of inbetween. It has a bleak seriousness that New Order more or less abandonded when they lost Ian Curtis and embraced Italian disco. And MBV always desperately needed just a little more pop in their style to be anything other than a band you listen to when you're in the mood only. "Darklands" didn't achieve the fame they deserved, despite some amazing songs. "Down on Me" is severely underrated in my opinion. With apologies to Bobby Gillespie, I kind of didn't notice he was gone here. The Reid Brothers alone managed to prove they were more than just another shoe gaze band.

How did I not listen to these guys back in the day? I really liked this album a lot. The song “Darklands” is going on some of my playlists. It’s a 4 1/2 star album for me, but I’ll lower it to 4 here.

Blahhhh it didn’t sound bad it sounded like nothing

Not bad. One of those late 80’s early 90’s bridge albums that doesn’t quite fully fit into either decade’s style. I can see this being well known among record store clerks and with the “cool kids” who smoke cigarettes and hate anything popular. 3.5 ⭐️

Not great...but not bad. Truly middle of the road for me. 2.5 rounding up because I would listen again.

Evolutionary biology does not enjoy popular opinion. Popular opinion does terrible things to necessarily complicated ideas. It clings to linearities, teleologies and binaries; it isn’t that popular opinion makes of a mountain a molehill, but that it fails to care about the beauty in either phenomena. Evolutionary biology is always asking you to think rhizome. Neat visualisations of apes picking up their dragging knuckles and walking toward a good posture are, flatly, the preserve of imbeciles. Life doesn’t sit on tracks. Life is a tangle of roots moving in every direction all at once. Life is perfection snatched at, momentarily gained, then lost in however long it takes to be lifted from the ground, carried high and then dashed against the rocks by a somehow now slightly faster predator. Life is brutal and always, always taking something from you. Evolutionary biology thinks a concept like the “missing link” is a naïve fiction suitable only for soothing the contemptuously loud and dangerously inept. And it’s for that reason that I’ll say that Darklands is the transitional fossil linking The Velvet Underground and the Stone Roses. I will say that while such evidence of evolution is clear and obvious, the extent to which it branches out – every direction all at once – can be fiendishly difficult to pinpoint. And I will say that the high cost of the taxes we pay to time is something TJAMC seems to understand in their very marrow. What might sound like a bit of jangly guitar and some whimpered vocals is, if you look at it within its full historical context, really a sort of musical Archaeopteryx. A complex word for a complex thing. And while it’s unlikely that TJAMC and a bird-like dinosaur from 150 million years ago ever crossed paths, I’d be willing to bet that if they did there’d be mutual respect flowing in every direction. Shame that popular opinion can’t keep up; but then again, life is brutal.

Initially listened and was bored out of my gourd… guess i shouldn’t have listened to it at work. Listened again later and loved it especially nine million rainy days

Strummy! Much respect.

Meh

Enjoyable. Would benefit from multiple listens. Work from home.

Average 90s fare. Worth a listen or two.

Enjoyed it. Standout songs: Deep one perfect morning Nine million rainy days

J’ai aucun souvenir de l’album, seulement un arrière goût pas déplaisant. 🚨Clément, j’ai répondu à ton message sur ma critique d’Hunky Dory!🚨

Nothing really stood out to me here.

i do wanna know why the Jesus and Mary Chain seemed so deadset on making the wrong aesthetic choices at all times. with fuzz and reverb, they'd created one of the most iconic and influential sounds of 80s indie rock, melding 60s pop and 80s post punk in a TV static bath. one of the things that kept me from fully loving Psychocandy was how so many of the songs sounded so much alike. surely, on the next album, they'd fix that little bit of disappointment, but keep the strong suit of their revolutionary wash of noise. well, to make a long story short, the Reid brothers are either fucking stupid or just really wanted a hit. maybe they're both. this record sounds like everything else that was coming out at the time, but with the dull songwriting from last time around wholly untouched. for the brief moments where the band actually comes up with a new idea, like "Happy When It Rains" or "April Skies" -- a song with great bones and a genuinely great track respectively -- it feels stunted by having the same sonic palette as The Cult. every jagged edge that made the band exciting and dangerous is now ground down to nubs of indie teen prom rock. listen, i'm not one of those people who gets irrationally mad when a band changes sound. it can be fun to shake things up, and it can be a necessary evolution. but when you take away the noise, you realize just how shallow an act JAMC are. whoever called them a one trick pony for their noise and not their slavish dedication to this sleepy musical formula, you're a monster and i am unsure how you can sleep at night.

Never heard of this band. I liked it! No particular songs stood out good or bad, nice vibe throughout. Listened while driving which was great.

I don't remember thinking much of this back in the day, but I actually quite liked it this go around. Nice little post new wavy rock thing.

- I liked this one even more than I remembered! Jesus and Mary chain are always awesome, and this one is incredible.

Gear: Hifiman Arya Artwork: 📸👋🙍‍♂️ Production: 🤔😐👍 Music: 🌑👟😖🍭😴🤷‍♂️ Rating: 👋(👋)/5

Something about the sleepy distorted guitar tones with the delicate vocal delivery really works for me. This feels like proto shoegaze. The pieces don’t quite come together for me, but there’s lot of good material here.

Solid album. A bit too downtempo and ultimately monotonous across the full album, but still a good listen. The title track was my standout here.

Goth rock masterpiece.

It was okay. Didn't hate it but it didn't grab me are make me want to listen again.

Das Album Darklands wurde unter anderem in den Londoner Wessex Studios aufgenommen. Die Band stammt aus Schottland und veröffentlichte mit diesem Werk ihr zweites Studioalbum. Im Unterschied zum noiselastigen Debüt Psychocandy ist der Sound hier deutlich klarer und stärker vom melodischen Pop der 1960er Jahre beeinflusst. Typische Titel des Albums sind „April Skies“, der sich auch kommerziell behaupten konnte, sowie „Happy When It Rains“ und der ruhigere Schlusstitel „About You“. Stilistisch bewegt sich die Musik im Bereich Alternative Rock mit Einflüssen aus Post-Punk und leichtem Shoegaze-Vorläufer-Sound. Darklands markiert einen stilistischen Wendepunkt im Schaffen der Band, bei dem Songstruktur und Gesang stärker in den Vordergrund treten. Es gehört zu den Werken, die trotz reduzierter Produktion eine konstante Atmosphäre schaffen.

This was solid rock. It was a little "dark" for me at times. A little grim if that makes sense. Not bad tho. There are some solid tracks here. I LOVE the guitar tone. The vocalist tends to drone on and on tho. Liked Songs: "Deep One Perfect Morning" , "Happy When it Rains" , "Down on Me" , "April Skies" , "Fall" , "On The Wall"

Not a lot happening here. It's decent, but not particularly engaging. 2

wow, really loved this one. fuzzy, noisy, dark, and beautiful.

literally 5 of these 10 songs mention rain or skies in some capacity. i know the UK is rainy, but this is ridiculous! they should've called this album wetlands! (pause for laughter) also the song darklands is just love vigilantes 2 jesus and mary chain? more like newer order! cherry came too? i sure hope she did! ...oh wait, that's exactly what they were going for here. hmm. anyway, thanks folks, i'll be here all week. remember to tip your waitstaff! favorites: darklands, happy when it rains, down on me, april skies

I found it a very short and simple record, a very consistent 80s UK indie rock/pop sound, instrumentation and vocals just on par for the genre. It's not bad, but it's certainly not outstanding either. It's very stripped down, a bit minimal even. My favourite song was probably Darklands.

I did not use a private Spotify session for this one. 80s music on Benadryl, boring.

Darklands is everything that Psychocandy should have been. I always thought that Psychocandy had some pretty good sounding guitars and melodies but that album was mainly held back due to it's very poor production but this album fixes that exact issue. Gone are the awful ringing noises while this album still has the guitars and melodies i liked from the prior album. This album obviously is not perfect, it's generic nature does kinda make the songs feel a little sluggish but i never thought that the songs were bad. This album still is an enjoyable listen and is quite a massive step up from Psychocandy. Best Song: Happy When It Rains Worst Song: Darklands

boring

In contrast to their debut album 'Psychocandy', The Jesus and Mary Chain recorded a more pop-oriented sound on 'Darklands' by reducing the noise and heavy reverb. This album also marked a shift as they replaced their departed drummer with a drum machine and incorporated synthesizers alongside bass lines. The result is 'Darklands' showcases a greater variety in sound and style, with a stronger focus on intricate chord progressions. The tracks I enjoyed the most include 'Darklands', 'Happy When It Rains', and 'April Skies'. "Darklands' is a very good album. Makes me miss the 80s.

soort poppy kruising van Sisters of Mercy en VU... niet mijn ding

Great record and great songs.

Honestly? Was pretty bored. But this is the problem with rushing day by day . This of the kind of album that I'd probably love with many multiple listens. Maybe. So it can have a 3 but I found little i enjoyed first time.

Sad but in a summery sort of way. Very enjoyable after a few days of slog. Some songs making it on to my big ass playlist

The Jesus and Mary chain are great. Every so often I wonder if their stuff is too simplistic, but it's just sooo good I remember that is a stupid thought. I think of them as like a rockier New Order. Love it. Psychocandy is better album, so this can only be 4/5.

Not sure it will crack my regular rotation but good intro to a band I had heard about but never listened to. April Skies is a standout.

This album is sonically so different from their debut Psychocandy it must have come as a shock to fans and critics alike. Having lost their drummer, who went off to Primal Scream full time, they replaced him with an 808, leaving just the Reid brothers and Douglas ‘2-Strings’ Hart. They decide to shuffle off the hype and let their songs do the talking. Bad idea. What this album reveals more than anything else is that the Reid brothers are pretty mediocre songwriters. On the first album the whole thing was wrapped in an original and highly entertaining package, part Joy Division, part Ramones. Take that away and it’s just third division teen angst predictability.

just not melodic enough for me. quite like some of the guitar sounds. don't like the beat machine.

Better than I expected.

I’ve listened to The Jesus and Mary Chain a bit, but it took me until this album to get the dark Beach Boys vibes they have, which I’m kind of into.

Bland shoegazey rock, not very interesting or inspiring. Execution is ok

I didn't ever really get into The Jesus and Mary Chain until recently. Maybe not until starting this list, I don't quite remember. But they're definitely right up my alley. Dark and vibey, good lyrics, interesting music. What's not to like? I do like this album a bit better than Physchocandy which I found to be produced a little unevenly. This record is much better produced and recorded and is just better to listen to all around. You can really hear the influence this record had on indie bands to come in the 90s, even some of the grunge bands seem to have borrowed from this a bit. 4/5

One note and just kinda there.

Not to be harsh but man, this is forgettable.

The calm I needed this week

I’ve listened to this before, good album

Had this album at a 3, but after reading about their influence on other bands I had to bump it up to a 4.

Not my bag. Nothing special.

Ok. Wouldn’t listen to again

Needs more listens, but can see how 90's indie bands would have been influenced by this

Tinny and dreary.

There's some highlights here and there for me but I'm not too crazy about The Jesus and Mary Chain sound or song structure. Reminds me of when I listened to that dark moody gothic vibe on Pornography by the cure. And I get the aesthetic is there, but it just feels watered down, and far more repetitive. Like a depressed Bruce Springsteen. Idk, not a bad album by any means, but I'd rather listen to other artists in this field like the cure, the smiths, new order or whoever else. Also it gets bonus points because the album cover is so sick

Good but the sound was a little repetitive.

It sounds like every song is being performed at the back of a very long cave. I don't think the heavy use of reverb helps the songs at all. Some of them sounded like they had substance, but then it got lost in the reverb. Didn't hate it, but probably wouldn't put it on again.

The first track reminded me a bit of U2 (not a compliment) but it grew on me a little from there. I don't think I'd listen to it again, but it was ok,

While I am familiar with this band (and have seen them live) it's the first time I have listened to one of their albums in detail. I was surprised by the convergent evolution (I guess) with Brian Jonestown Massacre in this album, especially songs such as Ninety Million Rainy Days - hadn't picked that before.

Every song sounded the same…

Not really my kind of music

Didn’t finish it, the doo doo doo song got stuck in my head and I didn’t like it to begin with and it made me angry