Darklands

Un côté romantique et sombre, bien que ça reste léger, avec des guitares amples.

Good but nothing that special

I remember these guys from back in the late '80s, but never listened to them. They never made it onto the radio or my radar. I admire the pop-rock guitar band. Obvious bonus points for real drums and guitars. I get hints of the Raspberries, Beach Boy melodies, early REM. But the energy level never rises to the point of my caring about it.

The Reid brothers wrote something here that sounds somehow both sad and not despondent. Dark but hopeful. This is pop in the vein of the Velvet Underground, Jonathan Richman and Elvis Costello. It's rhythmically straight ahead (no heavy syncopation or West African polyrhythms, here) -- melodically pleasant, familiar and harmonically just a bit darker than those predecessors. It's layered: the arranging and production give it a Cure or Smiths feel but the Jesus and Mary Chain are more hopeful than either of those. It's dead-on, masterful pop with 80s layers, fuzzy guitars and a depressive but sunny edge. This is the gentlest application of cliched 80s production I've ever heard. The slightly-overdriven, chime-y, reverby guitars and very reverb-ed drums (particularly the snare) are mixed to precisely the levels where it's unmistakable but not irritating. All that said, while this is an album well worth a listen, not a single song stuck with me when I was done. I'll probably come back eventually but I wouldn't assume that everyone will. A good album and an influential entry into this pop tradition, but not an essential full of sing-along bangers or mind-blowing epics.

First listen for me, and I found it Peaceful. Felt like I was going nowhere fast, spaced out in the grocery store to these tunes. Really hit when he said do do, do do do, do dO!

Listening to this while driving around made me feel like a misunderstood 16 yr old boy which was kind of a nice escape from my current existence

Growing up is realizing all your favorite bands from your youth were just aping bands from an earlier era— I’m looking at you, Chris Owens of Girls.

This didn't do a lot for me, generally This band has failed to make much of an impression on me. Middle of the road alt rock.

Don't dislike any of the songs but none of them stood out to me. 5/10

vibes

everything in me is screaming to rate this higher but the fact is the JAMC are kind of a bore

This wasn't what I expected. I thought this band was one of those "louder faster" sort of situations -- this is kind of psychobilly or some sort of honkypunk. It was OK, but I wasn't moved.

Darklands has one of the obvious month songs; It's been in partial and regular rotation for several years. Still, can't dive totally in the whole album. Combined are pop structures with minor keys and depressive instrumentation. All loves. All simply there. It's a more static landscape, fine to visit every once in a while.

3.5 This is one of those bands with a handful of chord progressions, but they have good ones. Phil Spector's influence is all over this thing, especially in the booming trademark intro drums. Transmutating 60s bubblegum into black licorice. The singer's languid baritone exudes cool partially due to its resignation. There is numb pain here. It’s a dim light in the fog. This one doesn't have the razorblade guitars of Psychocandy. More pallatable, less harsh.

Gemütlicher, bodenständiger 60‘ Rock

Okay enough.

Enjoyable. Will have to listen again.

Seems like a slightly better produced re-tread of Pyschocandy, which I still enjoy much more.

has some catchy guitar hooks. overall pretty melancholy

There’s something missing from this album. The feedback of Psychocandy made their sound more interesting, this album is a little too predictable. Not enough variation between the songs, not abrasive enough like their first album or lush enough like dream pop.

Just ok.

Alt-Rock/Post Punk Jesus and the Mary Chain are form Scotland. I really like their sound. Something different. I've heard this album a few times now and it has grown on me. Standouts: April Skies, Darklands, Happy When it Rains Above average 3.5/5

Darklands is the second album by Scottish alternative rock band the Jesus and Mary Chain. It remains their highest-charting album after reaching #5 on the UK Albums chart, and it's certified gold in the UK. This alt rock album used a drum machine because the drummer of the band left for a new band before recording began. I enjoyed the simplicity of the post-punk, alt rock music on this album and believe most others would like this album too.

Eh, meio the cure demais pra mim mas nao eh ruim

I liked this a lot! The title track is my favourite.

I remember seeing Jesus & Mary Chain on the Lollapalooza tour in 1992 and thinking this new grungy raw sound was awesome. Turns out, J&MC were grunge before grunge was a thing. 3.5/5

I liked the sound of it. There was something of the pixies and the stone roses about it, however I didn’t enjoy it as much as those bands. I thought the songs melted into each other a bit and there weren’t any stand outs.

It was forgatable.

Down on me muito boa

I quite enjoyed listening to this at the time I did. It was good background music for what I was doing. However I probablywoukd never seek it out. 3*

One of those albums that sits on three stars because it was good but not good enough for four.

Pas si mal dans le genre. 3

Average album. Sounded decent but went in one ear and out the other. Good focus music

Major velvet underground energy. I liked it

A little of mixed feelings on this one. Good? Sure. Great? No. 3/5

not bad, slower and kinda haunting

This is cool. unfortunately it never shifts out of this peddling midtempo like your mom's new dirt bag boyfriend sort of cool.

I liked this better as the album went on. The title track is probably the worst on the album

Not that great. I had heard of this band talked about in high regard, but I just don’t get it.

I liked the overall feel of this group.

Kinda boring, but also entertaining. Somewhat original, but not exciting. 3/5

Love the opening strains of the opening song. But by the middle of the second song I was starting to get exhausted. I just got back from a weekend trip to Edinburgh yesterday and Scotland is perfectly nice; buck up boys. I don't hate this album, it's pretty, but I don't know when I'd ever feel like listening to it again. 2.5

Very listenable, but nothing really caught my ear either.

Very chill, easy listening but nothing ear catching

Cool

Reasonable.

This band made better music but also the shoegaze genre has better folks out there. It is all a bit too similar for my taste.

This was okay. Definitely better than a 2, so 3 stars it is, I suppose.

I am very indifferent about this

I didn’t hate this but I found it pretty dull and monotonous.

More of the same but when the formula works…

Good album and probably my favourite band from this genre. The album gets a bit repetitive/samey but that's my only criticism.

I've only heard the debut previously. This is a lot more radio friendly (as they say) Keeps the Beach Boys type melodies. Keeps the dour lyrics but drops the waves of hissing feedback. Pleasant.

This album is fine, it just doesn’t really do much for me.

Alright, Darklands. Now, I know what you're thinking: "Surely an album with a name like 'Darklands' must be awesome!" Well, let me tell you, this one is a doozy - if you listen to the original album and not the extended version, which unfortunately is the only one available on Spotify. Because while the first 10 tracks on the original album might lull you into a false sense of security with their catchy riffs and moody vocals, things quickly take a turn for the worse if you keep on listening. The extended album drags on and on like a never-ending audition for a vampire movie. It's like they took all the energy and excitement that went into the original album and replaced it with a handful of sleeping pills. So, my advice to you is this: If you're looking for some great music listen to the first 10 tracks, but if you need to rock out for a longer time, stay far away from the extended version. Unless, of course, you're having trouble sleeping and need a lullaby to help you drift off. In that case, put it on repeat and let The Jesus and Mary Chain sing you to dreamland.

3,5

It sounds like a soundtrack to an 80s teen movie

Its...okay, not really much to say about it

Pretty decent early alternative rock.

More like a 3.5 but it was a bit too same-y and for me. I can see how this could be your favourite album though!

HL: "Happy When It Rains", "April Skies", "About You", title track 3 for the dreamy atmosphere, but pretty much every song follows the same formula, also heard in the one J&MC song I was familiar with prior, "Just Like Honey"- root chord, 4th, root, 4th... March 27, 2023

I’ve known of this band for a long time, but never really knew their music. Just Snakedriver from The Crow soundtrack. I expected something more industrial and pretentious. This was actually pretty good. A little monotonous, but there’s a lot of monotonous stuff I love. Crazy they were doing this in 1987. 1 - bad 2 - average 3 - good 4 - great 5 - outstanding

Unoffensive but nothing special. Kinda meh.

Hmm. I'm sure it was groundbreaking and cool and they use the F word. Now do all bands sound like them, or do they sound like all bands?

I really like The Jesus and Mary Chain. Gloomy, jangly, post-punk definitely hits for me.

Decent, some good vibes and songs, would need to be in the right mood for it as it has a very droning sounds.

Definitely won’t be putting this on any gym playlist. A real moody feel. Normally enjoy my 80’s music a bit more upbeat and cheesy. But I could see this being enjoyable on a calm rainy day.

Very 90s. Not great, but not horrible! Won't listen again though. I'm like the clock on the wall.

Good enough

was ok

it was alright. first couple songs hit then it gets boring

Fun … like if I had a dream that seemed really cool, then suddenly ended …. Sudden ending working major in favor. Would rather listen to this alone over hearing it played out anywhere else or live.

Liked but not enough to buy

i love this genre

catchy!

Influential like nothing else in the genre and really early to the Party. Groomed a steady and loyal fan base that spread over generations. Although tight and with melancholic tunes you like to listen to the album stays a bit to close to being a Velvet Underground cover thingy. 2.5

Meh. Nothing too exciting in my opinion.

Overall I really liked the aesthetic (big drum machine sound, jangly hollow-body guitars, broody vocals, bells/tambourine on everything) - it sounds like something that would have played at Central Perk! But there were really only 2 tracks worth listening to again: - Happy When It Rains - April Skies

3.5

Tf is this?? Actually this is pretty good!!

Acceptable alt rock. Interesting to see the use of a drum machine because their old drummer left to form a different influential band.

They have a great sound. If I try to find and listen to the extended version, I'd live forever!

Nice and sad

Re escuchar

Quite pleasant. For some reason I always thought they were heavy. The name sounds heavy?

Pretty nice sounding. Not super exciting or anything but just solidly pleasant to listen to.

The last album we listened to this band (Psychocandy) was so drenched in feedback I couldn't hear anything. Fortunately this album is less atonal. Maybe since this was the second album? I don't know. Still, it's a step up. There's that jangly guitar on a lot of the songs, though. Ugh. Vocal range for a lot of the songs is not much, a slightly more melodic Lou Reed? Again, not saying much there. So yeah, it's better, but I was hoping for a little bit more range in the vocals, and I am not hearing it there.

I thought this was going to be better. In reviewing their debut album I noted how later albums like this one were less abrasive. But listening to it in full, it's missing an edge or uniqueness. I don't need all the feedback and experimentation from their debut album but this album feels a bit average. I know it's a link between shoegaze and grunge alternative but I think there are better or more ambitious versions of that to put on this list (Catherine Wheel maybe?). I don't dislike the album and its three singles / more popular songs (title track, Happy When it Rains, April Skies) are still solid, but nothing really to write home about.

Doesn't quite resonate with me in the same way Psychocandy does, but it's a good moody album

A bit more nothing than I was hoping for. A pretty perfect three. My favourite song was About You.

3.5

I listened a bit and it was fine. probably worth listening some more

Very atmospheric and anthemic in a compellingly-low-energy kind of way. But the singing and drums do get a bit boring sometimes

Meh.

LAright listen

This album wasn’t bad but it wasn’t mind blowing either. Just felt bland in every song. This is the type of music that I would put as background noise while I’m doing something. It didn’t catch my attention in anyway. But they did good with the whole vibe they wanted to create.

Bit too dark and brooding for me. But was different to what I was expecting.

Had a listen at volume and it’s OK.

Atmospheric Rock music clearly inspired by the Velvet Underground and New Wave music. While not the most original or unique sound, it is a valid representation of the genre and style.

Couldn't get through the whole album, not my bag of chips. I can definitely hear how it influenced the sound of early 90s alt rock though so that's neat

Enjoyed it; really moody and laid back album with lush intrumentals.

this was cool. darklands was a fitting title, it had a nice dark vibe, i liked the moodiness and the parts that were noisier. cool album art april skies was prob the most catchy but i did like the sound on some of the others, like happy when it rains and fall

This album starts off really boring in a way that the corny-wanna-be-loud-but-failing-at-it 1980s was, but about halfway through the groove seems to change and before one knows it, they are on a second listening. The sound starts to capture the classic hangout films of the decade, where now the album earns it place as a wonderful backdrop to work, or just easy listening. Sure, there is nothing mind-blowing here, but what there is, is what became an album worth listening to at least twice and being okay with that.

Not bad, very listenable. Bit slow

Sort of easy listening soft rock. Fine as background music, the sort of thing you would hear in fashion boutiques or trendy wine bars, but not something to actually sit and listen to, nor something to sing along to. Some of the music as highly reminiscent of other better known songs, but only reminiscent. Painless and, for me, uninspiring

this album's genres are hard to pin down. punk always has a very distinct sound, so even though this album isn't pure punk, that comes to the forefront for me. despite the punk, darklands is very easy to listen to--i'd go so far to call it charming. there's just a general rock/pop vibe. "cherry came too" has such a sixties pop sound, similar to the beach boys. the jesus and mary chain explored and pushes genres, and it made for an enjoyable listen. 3.5

I enjoyed this

Sometimes it is a good album sometimes it is a bad album

Similar to a few other albums, I had never heard this album or this band, but it still feels nostalgic as sounds of my childhood. It's like gunge pop? In the late 80s and early 90s it was cool to do less and not try. This sounds a bit like that. Also, the song Darklands sounds very similar the David Bowie song Heroes.

3.75

Meh. Wouldn't immediately turn off if playing in the background. Pleasant sound but completely forgettable. Would watch their amphetamine-fuelled backs for 20 minutes. Extra points for About You. Many negative points for god-awful rhyming.

Eh

Cool

Hm. I think I miss the grinding. I found this kind of boring and generic. (Sorry.)

After PsychoCandy I had no desire to hear another Jesus and Mary Chain album again. I was not happy to see this appear. On the plus side, it seems like they were able to record during the machine shop’s off-hours to avoid most of the horrific grinding and screeching that drowned out the music on the preceding album. Now that I could better hear them, these tunes have a sort of dark beach vibe to them. Some of them were downright catchy. There were a few highlights but it also seemed a bit drab for me. Much improved, but still not enough to make a love connection.

i liked the sound and it was a pleasant listen, I will not be revisiting 6/10

Melancholy rock sound.

C'etait sans surprise un album dénué d'intérêt. Petit point sur l'avancée du projet JBL. Je vous rapelle que j'ai pour projet d'installer une enceinte de 4 mètres par 3 dans les locaux de mon entreprise, et ce juste derrière mon poste de travail. Après de longues négociations, le projet a finallement été accepté par mon manager. Les premieres mousses acoustiques ont été posées hier dans la journée, et j'attends aujourd'hui l'arrivée de deux énormes basses de 2 mètres de diamètre.

I don't know, not a bad listen. Didn't blow my skirt up or anything. Wasn't objectionable either.

minne ein del om galaxie 500, ganske nice

Wish I’d known about this rock-band-with-drum-machine when forming one with Simon & friends back in the day! As for now, a pleasant enough listen but nothing to bring me back for more.

I was a big fan of their debut album, Psychocandy (1985). I loved their use of feedback. I remember a friend visiting me while I was playing that album on a portable cassette player and advising me “why don’t you tune that radio properly?” For a while they could do no wrong. Darklands was what would have in 1987 been called their very difficult second album. Never easy to follow a classic release. It never thrilled me like Psychocandy did. Not sure how much that had to do with the replacement of their drummer with a drum machine (one of the 80’s notable scourges), but it probably didn’t help. It’s still a good listen. I always liked April Skies.

A pretty good, more mature and certainly more restrained album than Psychocandy. But, for me, it doesn't have the visceral thrill of their amazing debut album.

They were ok. Typical 80’s not a bad album, just uneventful for me.

It was okay

Not bad, in fact very enjoyable. Never really listened to TJAMC, I might revisit them in the future. First Listen?: Y Fav. Tracks: Deep One Perfect Morning, Happy When It Rains, April Skies Rating: 3.3/5

Another day, another average album

pretty mid ngl

How dull. It seems to move in the same circles as things I would like and the sound is reasonably ‘clean’ (last album by them was a real mess) but it’s all a bit miserable. The Smiths auto played after this finished and felt much more fresh and uplifting - which is really saying something.

first listen sleeeeeepy

Nice songs, cool sound, but nothing really stood out 3.5/5

Just a plain average album. Not bad but nothing really stood out in any way

Not the worst 80s music I've listened to, but certainly not the best. Overall, I would say it's average, kind of boring.

I really enjoyed this album. I wasn’t familiar with The Jesus And The Mary Chain. Dig that velvet underground vibe. Jim Reid has a cool playlist of his current favorites on Spotify.

Much more pleasant than I was expecting from the reviews of ear splitting squalling feedback at Jesus & Mary Chain gigs in their early days. I remember the April Skies single quite fondly against the usual pop trash of Top of the Pops and the UK top 40 charts. Interesting to see where Bobbie Gillespie has been influenced with his more laid back guitar-led songs. I’m not a converted fan, but the album is ok indie jangly guitar music that’s not so heavyweight.

As the sweat pours from my brow due to raving along to this for the past hour, I find myself very, very excited. I haven't felt this way since I lived on a farm in North Yorkshire with my good friends Mickey the Paedo and Brian Bracewell-Richards. We had a lot of farming adventures involving animals and ploughing. We ploughed animals. We had sex with farmyard animals. Every day. For 13 years.

Bit dark and deep, enjoyed it more than most rock - 3.3

+++

Interesting sound and very moody. I feel like this album would benefit from repeated listens and I feel I'd enjoy it more if I were able to pay more attention to it (Doesn't feel suited to a background album). Nice variety in sounds throughout surprisingly.

Eh, felt a bit like it missing something. Songs are fine but nothing too catchy and memorable.

Didn't really catch my full attention but it was some fine melodic post-punk.

Quite a pleasant album to listen to. Quite liked the softness, but not boringness of it. Wasn't blown away though. Contemplating between 3 and 4, veering slightly more to a 3 at the moment.

This was pretty good, but overall it just didn't really grab me. I might revisit it in the future, but for now it gets 3 stars.

Era molt difícil definir una continuació d'un disc com 'Psychocandy'. Els anglesos ho van fer de forma intel.ligent, canviant de concepte, mantenint l'actitud, però amb unes cançons més accessibles, tot i conservant l'essència de la banda. Part de la màgia es va perdre, però el disc és digne i va mantenir a la banda en primera línia

it’s aight

Not that bad

Not bad, not great, really just makes me want to hear the Head On cover...

pretty cool

Good

A pleasant album. Not much else to add, just that I enjoyed listening to it

Drudge drudge drudgey

My friend in high school had a weird obsession with this band and would basically never stop listening to them. I thought they were ok then and ok now.

Solid, betri en ég átti von á. Fengi 3.5 ef það væri hægt en slefar ekki upp í fjarkann hjá mér

I'm a fan of the dark environment they create in their music. Sometimes you need a little darkness in your life, and this one hits the spot.

I had heard of them, but don't remember hearing their music. This album was released when I was in college, so I probably did hear some tracks given the band's college-radio-friendly sound (that's not meant as an insult; just reminds me of the music I'd hear back then on college radio stations). Not only am I glad I got to hear them, but it's also cool to learn things like this band is primarily a pair of brothers from Scotland. I like Jim Reid's guitar playing, especially when he plays clean - sounds like a Tele to me, and I love clean Tele sounds (not so much chicken-picking, but arpeggios and melody lines), but honestly, I'm way too much a beginner to really know; I'm just going with what's familiar to me. I mostly love that he doesn't overdo it on his guitar. The restraint is admirable and totally enhances the atmosphere of the music. Truly nails it. They write very well. Nice sense of melody, good balance of light and dark, and smart use of harmony. Not so broody and moody that they sound like tons of other broody and moody 80s and 90s bands, but enough dark texture to draw my ear's interest. Some of the songs get downright experimental, and if the whole album were like those tracks I doubt I'd like it so much, but I hear it as part of the overall feel and it's fine with me. I really like this album. So glad I was introduced to it!

Decent vibes

A rare 80's pop rock album that isn't incredibly dated. It's also not super memorable in any way. Best track: Darklands

It was ok. Not as bad as expected

3.5/5 This one is more accessible then the other album I rated. The sound trough out the album stays somewhat the same, but it’s good. Favourite songs: - Darklands - April skies

3,5; classic and smooth rocking, great guitars, nice vocals, I enjoyed it very much

some good melodic tunes, too long and too many songs sound the same.

This album was short and sweet and captured some of the essence of J&MC. "April Skies" is a standout, but the overall tone, earnestness, and emotion of the album is strong. Yes it's a bit mopey and emo, but what do you expect?

Ну неплохо так, задорно

pretty forgettable

I remember seeing The Jesus and Mary Chains at Loopaloza 1992. They were a middle of the day act and I believe Ministry came on after them. They had a much more edgier style which makes since with this album being their second release and in the 80's still. I was not in love with the first few songs of this album but started to feel more like the band I saw as we got past song number 10. Not a bad album but I think that out of their whole catalog there may have been a better representation of the band.

Reminds me of velvet underground but not as good

De va swag!!

Pleasant soft noise pop tunes

Kinda swag... men galninggodis ärbättre

This is absolutely decent. But I really can't wrap my head around what could make this album relevant enough to warrant inclusion on the list.

7/10

Boring but not bad.

A solid proto-shoegaze LP filled with lush chord vamps and looming vocals. Spoiled this one a bit by knowing J&MC's later work - this album does feel a bit stuck in second gear when every song is centered at the ~90 bpm mark, especially when this band can really crank it out on uptempo tracks.

I used to listen to this band and had one of their albums back in the day. I probably would not have ever looked them up to listen again. Not that I disliked them. They were a product of their time and were influenced by 60s and 70s rock and roll as well as late 70s punk. They produced a decent sound and generated some excitement but not enough to get to the next level.

Huge Rolling Blackouts vibes from track one and then scattered throughout.

I really dig this, totally a vibe. Will have to check out more of their stuff.

A pretty decent alt rock album. Never listened to this band before but their sound wasn’t too unfamiliar. Their choruses were pretty good on some of the up best songs. The lyrics are a bit deeper and darker. Some of the songs felt a bit too melancholy and gothic but overall it had songs I’d listen to again. 6.4/10

A bit of a surprise that this album is from 1987. It clearly was early and/or inspirational for some of the 90s sound. Shoegaze is an appropriate category.

JAMC resonoi kyllä vahvasti oman musamaun kanssa ja tälläkin levyllä parhaat biisit ihan huikeita. Kuitenkin n. puolet vähän heikompaa.

ok

Rock alternativo.

Solid alt rock.

Nothing particularly exciting but enjoyable

It was pretty boring. Enjoyable enough to not skip but having it on in the background nothing really stood out and made me stop and think about it.

I was waiting for something exciting to happen on this album and it never did. I certainly didn’t mind listening to it, I don’t think I’d go back to the whole album though. Darklands was good and finished up nicely with About You.

Pop tranquilo. Pocos acordes. Tranquilo de escuchar. Buena voz. Muy de la década de los 80.

Not quite fun for all the family. I never quite figured out the fuss about JaMC in the "mature" music press back in the day. Older and "mature" myself now, I sort of get it. Sort of.

Brings me back to high school. Not the greatest album but I enjoyed listening to it.

3.5. Pretty good.

Certainly a lot better sound than one that I was imagining, quite pleasant to listen to. I certainly hear overtones of the Beach Boys in some of the tracks which came as a bit of surprise. One I would possibly listen to again

3.5/5. I mean, it’s a vibe I guess but they didn’t have to make Just Like Honey every song

pretty good introduction to new wave/post punk.

Inevitablemente surge la comparacion con psychocandy y queda claro que se nutre de ese, sin embargo, este es mucho mas pop sin dejar de ser oscuro, como seria de esperar

Decent album. Bloody loud live!

Another unknown, and another cool album. It's similar in spirit to the two '80s alt rock albums that we started this week with, but it feels more refined. I enjoy the singing more on here and some great melodies. I swear I've heard "On the Wall" before, but it may just have been a similar tune. This one was really enjoyable. Favorite tracks: Darklands, Happy When it Rains, April Skies, On the Wall. Album art: Really solid framing/text, and the picture is decent. Not super memorable but I like this one. 3.5/5

Doesn't hit the heights of Psychocandy for me.

It was ok. I enjoyed the original release tracks more than the 2011 expanded additions. Stand out track: Happy When It Rains

New wave 80s, not impressed.

Dreary and Moany. Interestingly enough, while that usually strikes me strongly, this one missed me to some extent.

When you listen to this you realise how influential they have been. So many bands today, especially American indie bands, Sound like The Jesus and Mary Chain. Enjoyed this album.

No, this is not doing it for me. Wouldn't mind having it playing in the background, but it sounds lethargic at times and overall leaves me cold.

Sleepy, sparse, and subdued. Short, I was surprised when it was over. Has that 80s/90s production that I hate, where everything sounds like it was recorded in a tunnel. I like the ideas, but there's nothing I'm crazy about here. Favorite tracks: "Nine Million Rainy Days", "Fall"

Not very memorable

Slow, sad 80s. It was fine, not my favorite.

Not a massive fan but it ain't bad

Feels like one continuous song called "Rainy Day" and It's one really nice day :) Nothing special imo, but at least it's not punk

An album with a proper start middle and finish. Came to love the Jesus and Mary Chain in the last few years bug never got to hear it when its contrast to Kylie and Jasons shite was the mainstay of popular music in the UK

Pleasant enough to listen to, but monotonous in some ways and somewhat simplistic, laid back, but just kind of average

When I was a naive, church-going 13 year old, I thought this band and The Jesus Lizard were probably satanic. They seemed way more out of reach than Metallica or Slayer to me. Pretty funny to find out they're pretty much just dark pop. There isn't a standout to me on this album, but I do like listening to all of these.

I’ve always wanted to like this band because they are undeniably cool. The music itself though… I could kind of take or leave. In hindsight, I feel as if I should have listened to it much louder than I did. Suspect it would make a greater impact. Also, I saw them live at Lolapalooza the same year as the Chili Peppers. They played at like 3 in the afternoon which felt wrong on every possible level.

30th September 2021 Listened in the morning while getting ready for work which I'm finding is the best time to listen to these. I knew GMC from just like honey and thoroughly enjoyed this. Pulp meets the National.

Cool dreamy vibes, grungy but melodic. Was very surprised they're Scottish as it's a very American sound - nice guitars and vocals.

Good but samey. Prefer PsychoCandy

Klint nogal vaag

Inoffensive 80s Indy. Nothing overly catchy. Good background slower pace music

Not sure

It was alright, more good than bad but not thrilling

Decent music for a cloudy rainy day.

Rating: 5/10

nice to listen to but a little too simple

Als tiener ooit al eens begonnen aan deze band, maar terzijde geschoven om toen onduidelijke redenen. Die blijken nu ineens veel duidelijker te zijn; gewoon te saai!

Niet heel goed kunnen luisteren, maar wat ik ervan mee kreeg was niet onaardig.

Aanvaardbaar.

Ok .., hear the Scottishness in some of the melodies …. More pop than i thought it might be

Top 3 1. (1) Darklands 2. (8) Cherry Came Too 3. (6) April Skies

Eh. Nothing about it catches my attention. It's inoffensive, though, so not a terrible grade. Just nothing special.

If this were the first rock album I’d ever heard, I’m sure I’d love it. But it isn’t, so it shall be added to the ever-growing pile of OK basic-rock albums I’ve heard and forgotten about. Fav track: About You

3 1/2

Decent but nothing out of the ordinary

Old school 80's melancholy alt-rock

Best Song: Down On Me Worst Song: Nine Million Rainy Days

New to me, neutral

very meh neither bad nor good yk

Decent.

I suspect JAMC might be a little too cool for their own good. I appreciate that it's got some teeth, and there are a few real standouts on this record. It's not quite as good as Psychocandy and a gets a little repetitive at points, but still an enjoyable listen I'll likely come back to. Top notch driving music. Favourite songs: "April Skies", "Happy When It Rains"

3.5 thanks

I liked it.

Better than expected

Hm. Had some cool moments but was a bit boring overall. 6/10

Guys where’d the edge go...

Sounds like a cross between Primal Scream (even though Bobby Gillespie had left by this point), Dinosaur Junior, New Order and the Stone Roses. It has an overall gloomy vibe but on occasions builds to more euphoric moments. I would prefer more of these. Quite a few of the songs seem to be about, or are evocative of, bad weather. An acceptable album but not one I will revisit. 3/5.

Szkocik z kolejnym albumikiem, klasyczne rokowanie bandy braterskiej, bo glownymi czlonkami sa bracia Reid, nazwisko chyba skads kojarze, ale skad nie potrafilbym powiedziec dokladnie, albumik w orginalnej wersji, to klasyczny epek 36 minut, 10 trackow, ale spotifajowa wersja zawiera ultra miod delux, gdzie sa jakies czwarto wymiarowe strony vynyla i nigdzie indziej nieujawniane traki i trwa to wszystko godzine i 44 minuty, ale nadal trzyma poziom i nie ma sie uczucia, ze jest to meczony odsluch, niektore surowe, niekonwencjonalne wersje odkrywaja dany utwor na nowo, swietnym przykladem tego moze byc otwierajacy i zamykajacy darklands, w orginale jest to stonowany kawalek oparty na dwoch gitarkach, ale po dodaniu tam dodatkowych smyczkow i nadaniu surowosci wokalu przez jego lekkie podbicie kawalek wchodzi na nowy poziom, dlatego znajdzie sie dla niego miejsce na plejce, jedynymi kredytowanymi artystami sa gitarkowo wokalni bracia Reid, za drumy odpowiedzialna byla drumiaca maszynka, wiec tez wplywa na to jak je slychac, dobra pozycja na sluchansko nastawione na gitarki, ostatnim trakiem jaki jeszcze plejkuje to on the wall, jakos wiliamowe wokale bardziej przypadly mi do gustu, ale najczesciej obaj pojawiaja sie na traku jako back upy jeden drugiego

Better than I expected, only heard 1 of their albums before

Nothing bad but just boring. 6

A little slow in tone but a easy vibe

Eh it's a pretty good pop album but it's so much worse than Psychocandy. 7/10

Never heard this before. I like how they created a ‘sound’.

Decent but not life changing

Was not aware of this band. Thought it was ok. Their guitar sounds made me think if the Raveonettes, the way they almost sound uplifting if they weren't soaked in reverb as if playing from a dark empty dungeon.

middling

Never heard of Jesus and the Mary Chain before, but really liked this album for its 80s-fused feeling to a lot of the instrument sounds and vocals, with catchy lyrics. Spotify continuous play introduced me to "Orange Juice", which is another great 80's band with some great tracks. Highlights: -Darklands -Happy When It Rains -

I enjoyed this. Never listened to them before.

early albums way better...

80s rock

Meh was ok

Pretty chill but was just sort of "there" for me, I do like the slow-dark delivery though.

Great sound!

A nice album from this (alternative) rock band. Music I can listen to. Maybe I wil listen to it again.

Another classic 80's rock album, liked it but nothing particularly outstanding about it.

Appropriate for the time, not a bad album, just slightly tough to recall at the moment

A little too mellow. Not really sure I get it. I like the couple hits on the album, the rest fell a little flat.

A cool alternative discovery.

Pretty interesting stuff. Kind of laid back and easy to listen to. A solid 3.5 stars.

This album surprised me, actually enjoyed it.

Nice album, love the genre. However, I didn't manage to 'fall in love' with any specific song...

Steady, liked some parts better than others but felt like loud noise for the most part.

Hm...this is a tough one. I enjoyed it for the most part, but nothing really stood out. I'd have to give a second listen, but would be welcome to check out the rest of their discography since "Just Like Honey" caught my ears first. 3.5?

Not my Jam, but ok

I hate it when I like gen x nonsense like this. it's catchy and every song feels like I've heard it heaps of times, but it's also complete gen x crap. lol.

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

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

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

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

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

Not a fan of these guys

Not really my jam. 2.7

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

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

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

Just another loud alternative album.

Cool

I wanted dark, I got sad boy Simon and Garfunkel

scotlandddd

Not for me

Alternatiivista rokkia.

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

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

Budget 80s Lou Reed.

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

Not bad.

Kinda like a soft rock. It was okay.

Not Great!

Nothing bad about but not very exciting to me

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

It was ok. Soft rock album

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

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

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

eh, not offensive, totally forgettable

Meh