Darklands

Before today, I had never heard of The Jesus and Mary Chain before. They are a indie rock/shoegaze band from Scotland. One thing I am learning through this 1001 albums exercise is how much I hate shoegaze. If you aren't going to be enthusiastic about playing your instruments or singing, then why the fuck are you making music? This is depressing, brooding music which is sung by someone who seems bored to be there. The guitar is played shittily with tons of distortion (maybe to try and cover up the lack of talent, but it doesn't work). Overall, this was a shitty album by a shitty band that I will never visit again. Only reason it's 2 stars is because at least it isn't fucking Joy Division. I have no idea what this could have influenced. Why it is on this list, I don't know. Different strokes for different folks I suppose. Favourite songs: Happy When It Rains, Cherry Came Too, Darklands Least favourite songs: Nine Million Rainy Days, On The Wall 2/5

I remember hearing this band’s name a lot back in the 80s but never listened to them until now. They sound like they’re appealing to a certain demographic that leans towards the goth side. Not really my thing. I gave it two listens but there really wasn’t anything that caught my attention or made me want to go back to it or check out any of their other albums. Moving on.

Fave songs: Deep one perfect morning, Happy when it rains, down on me, about you Just a bit one note and monotone 2/5

Meh, I liked the radio that played afterwards

Hat mich nicht begeistert. Die Lieder haben etwas zu wenig Energie um es mir öfter anzuhören.

Bit of a ho-hummer here for me. At times it sounded pre-grunge, which was a welcome change from the otherwise forgettable balance of the album.

yeah no yeah, it's OK - nothing wonderful in here though

Áheyrileg tónlist svo sem, ég ætti að fíla þetta alveg sæmilega, en hér er stærsti gallinn að ég fíla ekki þessar raddir. Bara alls ekki. Sorrý með mig. Þetta er eins og Courtney Taylor-Taylor án sjarmans. Skiptið um söngvara og talið aftur við mig.

It's a little slow for me. Like the antithesis of Grunge really.

Vous connaissez malheureusement la règle ; quand au lendemain d'un album on n'en a plus le moindre souvenir, c'est que sa qualité laissait à désirer voire qu'elle était lamentable.

Taken in isolation, some quite good songs, especially Some Candy Talking. But as a whole, it becomes hard to distinguish one track from another. little variation makes this a dull and forgettable experience

Typical 80s alternative. Nothing stood out I wouldn't skip if it showed up in one of Spotify curated playlists.

not bad.

This one was a miss for me. Just a lot of generic alt rock sounds and the use of drum machine definitely made it feel more hollow

Dull. I don't mind depressing music, but not dull depressing music

Not really my vibe

Didn't like it, quite dark.

Boring. And really basic. These guys have a pretty unmoving songwriting formula. Flip between two chords endlessly for the versus, and maybe a third for the chorus. And pretty much each song uses the SAME pattern. Didn't really enjoy this very much.

Kind of interesting, but very same-y throughout the whole album. Shoegaze isn't really my jam. Kind of fun alt-rock guitar (kind of like REM?) but the droning vocals were getting tiresome by the end of the album.

Solid 80s vibe sound with notes of Bowie and Sting. A little boring and repetitive at times, but not bad

I want to give it a 3, but it's just a bit "lacking something" for me - maybe will improve over time, but I can't see myself wanting to choose this

Strong 2, liked parts of it

This is kind of a monotonous and brooding album, but it is totally listenable in the background. Not much breaks through the hum. It is exactly what I think of when I think of this band.

Pretty good

ok for the first five songs but they all sound the same

Tämä on taas jotain kakkosen ja kolmosen välistä. Eipä tätä tule varmasti enää uudelleen kuunneltua niin painetaan kaksi*.

Aika diipadaapa yhdentekevä

Meh

I didn't really care for this. It was a real snooze. Sometimes sounded like boring pixies.

Much like a lot of the mid-80s goth rock NOT made by The Cure, I want to like this more than I do.

I loved JAMC when they first started out, and saw them live around the time this album was released. But they never seem to have captured that initial noisy soundscape by the time they started making records. They have since written some great rock n roll tunes without all the feedback, but this seems to fall between both stools - none of the whirlwind of sound of their early live stuff, and no standout tunes on here to compensate. This washed over me, I’m afraid, which was a bit of a surprise. I expected to enjoy this more.

My initial thought was: Aargh! Shoegaze again - what for? Happy to find it's much softer and more melodic than the previous impenetrable offering. Just like normal music, in fact. 'Some Candy talking' written in 10 different ways, plus a bit of the Beach Boys unexpectedly thrown in. I like it - but not enough to ever play it again.

**

Not my favorite. Very different but didn't love it.

Pop-rock cansino. Un 2.

A probable link between '90s grunge and '80s new wave. Apart from the sweet guitar riffs and some decent alt-rockish hooks (which are only in the first half, btw), this album is neither interesting nor enjoyable as a whole.

ponderous but rudimentary

Основатели шугейзинга не особо впечатлили. Есть пара песен, которые более менее понравились, но на этом все.

Getting past one’s expiration date is one thing, but this stuff is bland all over. Whiny borefest with tons of feedback.

As I recall, their first album garnered interest because of the feedback and production. That sound seems to have been stripped away, leaving them to be judged here on the vocals and the song writing, which I find dull and uninspiring.

I’m really done with Shoegaze. It seems that every other album that comes up is either Shoegaze or Brit-pop so this band is collateral damage.

Tän tyylinen masistelu ei oo ollenkaa mun juttui man

Found it quite plain. Pretty much all around, the vocals and instrumentation don’t leave much of an impression. 3/10

Uno de los grandes defectos de muchos discos está referido a que no es posible distinguir una canción de otra. Este disco sufre mucho de eso.

This album was confusing... 60s style songs, 90s style grunge but with 80s drum kit. The whole thing felt... "blah". Uninteresting, nothing standing out. No favorite track.

Meh

I guess I can see why this was popular in the timeframe it was released. I find it unremarkable though.

I need to go through the lyrics. Sounds to me like a phoned in album. Lead singer doesn't sound like he's even into it.

2/3

each day is getting better but we are not there yet, felt like generic 80's music.

First Listen. LOVE their sound. Every song sounds great. Can't wait to get to know this one better. 2/5 for now, but I can tell this will be higher, next time I listen to it.

33 tracks and a 1 hour 44 minute run time? That's a lot. First song has some vaguely U2 sounds to it. It's growing on me over time - there's a sort of campy Suicide meets the Doors feel to it. The Surfin' USA cover is suitably dark and gothic.

I know this band exists, and I know they are held in high regard, but I must admit, outside of Fool's Gold, I hadn't listened to much else. It's a nice enough album, a little 'of its time' for me. I'm sure the Brits still froth over it.

Another pretty heavy 80s sound. Tried to keep an open mind but wasn't really for me.

Meh

Hummmm paso sin ver

Boring

É possível perceber a importância, só não é suficiente para sensibilizar para mais audiências.

Pretty boring. Honestly didn't even bother finishing it.

It wasn't bad bad so it saves itself from a 1 star review, but man was that a whole lot of unmemorable nothing

Generic soundtrack music that all blends together.

I don't really have much to say about Darklands; it was mostly just background noise for me. Nothing really jumped out as I listened to it, and the lyrics were like a less grating, slightly-more-punk version of Morrissey. If I were feeling a little more generous, it'd probably be three stars.

while I actually love their first album, Psychocandy, I've never been a fan of anything else they've done. but, I said I'd give it a fair shot. the only thing I've really gleaned from this is that I suddenly realized where the Stone Roses got their influence. so following that influence line, without this album, there'd probably be no Oasis, which is either great or terrible news depending on who you are. anyway, decently catchy melodies, but in the end it's a very plodding and vapid stretch into the pop sphere which leaves me neither loving nor hating it.

Tja, het ging een beetje aan me voorbij. Niet slecht, maar ook niet erg spannend.

It was okay.

underwhelming

Nothing noteworthy about this album

Like the sound but too many weak songs.

I respect it but I’d never play it again

A solid proto-alternative album. But nothing really stood out. Was good in the background, but never demanded my attention. They made an impact on some though - apparently they are name-dropped in songs by Death Cab, Jimmy Eat World, and Shins, so it sounds like they were influential even though I had heard the name but didn’t know their music.

Meh

I find nothing remarkable about this album or this band. Although I knew their name, I'm actually surprised I'd never heard their music before. The music doesn't hit my 80's sweet spot. (Possible exception is the final track - the acoustic approach is much more interesting to me for their sound than the rest of the album.) It actually sounds more like some of the forgettable 90s bands, so maybe they were ahead of their time. But I haven't missed having them in my life and don't think I will.

kinda boring but there's some okay songs

ambient, good

It was fine. Just wasn’t all that interested.

Can tell they're British. At times the riffs sounded a bit like The Lightening Seeds. Pretty average though, some tracks were alright, didn't excite me much. 2/5

It's just so boring. Maybe I don't *get it* but it's just wailing over the same two chords for the whole album

Could probably give this another listen, but I'm starting to get pretty behind. Nothing special or particularly compelling, just decent alt rock

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: April Skies Cutting Edge: Happy When It Rains Overall Notes: Fairly one-note. I know their song Head On and that song is better than the entirety of this album. I can see how this would've influenced grunge and stuff but this album was just aight.

Nah

Nothing special.

Meh

Bit boring and samey

Tengo buenos recuerdos de este grupo, incluso alguna anécdota como el padre de un amigo diciendo que el vinilo estaba rayado que esas guitarras sonaban fatal. La cuestión es que es Darklands no me ha parecido interesante conociendo Psycandy, Automatic o Honey's Dead. Escuchable como complemento a sus otros trabajos.

I found this one kind of boring. Just felt like the same thing over and over Favorite tracks: “Down on Me”

Old style but wasn't the interested

2

Droned on for too long.

sleepy time, not bad - just not good

Pretty repetitive and not all that interesting.

not good, not terrible. kind of dated sound (80s drum machines and synths with tons of reverb), but it still works as background music. all the songs blend into each other.

Well... knowing the connection to Primal Scream helped a lot with context, but still not all that impressed.

Ok I guess

Again with the melodramatic

was ok igues neit speciaal

A few individual songs stood out, but each song sounded too similar to each other, i ended up getting bored half way through

Boring. 1.5

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

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

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

The areas of Hell.

favs: darklands rating 0.5/5

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

Käytännössä samat biisit ollu jo tän 154 levyn aikanaki jo 160 kertaa

★¼

Never liked them. It's like an overdose of quaaludes in band form.

Nope

proof that the drummer makes the song no drummer = no song

So boring I didn't even notice I was listening to it.

Terribly plain “rock” music with absolutely no edge. Mid-paced drum machines under generic chords and not a memorable line to be found.

The original shoegazers. Musically I found it pretty boring and lifeless.

turned ts off after like 5 songs. trash

Wat een onzin

Not good in my opinion. Very repetitive & slow. Not my kind of music.

Not a fan. Stupid songs, weird music.

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.

Sölig tråk-rock. Riktigt trist… Lyssnade inte klart

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

boring

Wow, this afternoon was even worse than I expected!

The only track I liked here was “Happy When it Rains”. The vocals are boring, guitar solos are uninspiring, and I couldn’t care less about the lyrical content. I’m getting tired of all of these 80s records that are a slog to get through.

bro this is just the same song forever

ja sama paska jatkuuuuuuuu äääääääää paska valuu ja valuu meikäpoika suu avoauki, apposen auki ottamassa vastaan kakkavettä.. päivästä toiseen tämä jatkuu niele gulp gulp niele niele älä lopeta gulp gullp guulp gulp gulp ahhhhhh lisää paskaa.... one of the most influential bands of their generation and beyond,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ei ole. hupsista keikkaa taisit laitta jotain väärin koska ei vittu ole. ketään ei vittu kiinnosta. hupsista keikkaa siinä hmm olisiko jonkinlainen transmutaatio tekstiin tarpeellista, koska siinä meni ehkä pikkusen ohi sen totuuden kertominen tälläpä kertaa jotain jotain virheellistä misinformaatiota taisi nyt pikkaisen näyttää kyntensä.... fall

This album is depressing dog shit 1001 album worthy: No - 24/43

Just the most boring forgettable album I’ve heard in a long time.

pre: I only know the name and have a vague note in the back of my head that people I respect respect them. nope nope nope. I recognize this period of this genre as important in linking music I like to music I like, but I do not like this specific period. I fully support everyone's right to be whiney about they emotions, but it needs to be better music for me to listen. Listened to the first two songs then sampled every other song, nothing for me here.

There were a couple cool guitar riffs, but overall it’s not really my style.

Can’t see how this is a groundbreaking album of note. Just normal stuff I’ve heard a million times before. There are at least 1001 albums better than this. 1/5 22/10/72

Not my style of music I guess. Wasn't too keen on the mix, and choice of feedback. But good at creating a vibe.

Geht so

This is a slow boring album. Definitely some Pink Floyd blended in, but I’m not a fan.

Piss

Sorry JMC busy with the JC album, no time 2waste

I enjoyed this, hit hair was nice and he sang very well, Clive aged 7

A small shit and a chain

I almost fell asleep

Couldn’t finish, not into it

Nothing really stood out for me, wouldn’t listen to this album again.

Tylsää settiä niin ajattelin testata laskeeko verenpainetta ja yhden haamutuloksen sainkin mittauksesta. En sit tiedä oliko kyseisellä bändillä mitään tekemistä asian kanssa.

Very forgettable, nothing really stood out to me but it wasn't painful. Just forgettable.

Fuck whoever put this album on this damn 1001 albums list. Some of the most bland, listless rock I've had the displeasure of listening to.

The Jesus and Mary Chain, what to say About You? I’ll say that I’m Down On you. This record is versatile in the sense that it’s just as perfect to put on when shooting heroine as it is when cleaning your heroine spoons the day after. The writing is pretty clearly On The Wall for me…it’s not great. I found the songs incredibly uninspired and boring. It may connect with some people, but not me. I don’t have any favourite tracks from this album. I noticed a few Bruce Springsteen-esque guitar riff rip-off’s, which was comical to me. So maybe those songs because they made me feel SOMETHING at the very least. In this genre, there were better songs created before this and after this. After the album finished on my Spotify it automatically went to some songs from The Cure, and it was Nine Million times better than this. And I don’t even like The Cure. Not quite sure how this makes its way onto the list. It must have been #1001. Quite unremarkable.

Similar to Primal Scream... not my thing. NEXT!

Boring.

Should come with a free rope

This is not something I will ever be interested in

Did not enjoy. Tried to listen to the album could not get through it.

Given my dislike of shoegaze, this isn't as horrible as I'd expected. But not something I'd choose to listen to, and not something I'll finish listening to today.

1.5

First time hearing and listening to this band. I dont mind 80s stuff but this album was quite boring.

This might be the most tedious album I've ever heard. Most of these songs are indistinguishable because they're mainly comprised of two chords: a root chord and then its major 4th chord, which they switch between ad nauseam. Once in a while there's a major 5th chord. Those are the 3 most basic chords in all of history. And they're played so lazily too. This album just oozes mediocrity. The singing is lackluster and the guitar playing is so dull; a below average 9 year old guitar student could've have written this music for all I know. I think I'd rather have no guitar at all than have to listen to this unimaginative, unimpressive trash. These guys have MORE THAN ONE album on this list, which is unfathomable. There is better alternative music from the 80s than this.

I just don't understand why some albums make it into the top 1001 whilst other less trendy singers/bands are out in the cold. Not even a sniff. Heavily biased selection in my view towards the 80's onward and towards glamorous groups with a few 00's Spotify plays. I don't mind this band but this album is just derivative and bland.

Boring

fuck off you rock fuckers

Nope

Darklands by The Jesus and Mary Chain (1987) It’s refreshing to hear baritone voices in a rock mix, but drum machine and lack of bass lines destroy this relentlessly boring attempt at music by two archetypically untalented sibling guitarists. Lyrics make you wonder what was on their alleged minds. Because they are ubiquitously expressive of completely numbed souls—delivered with an equally numb vocal tone quality. They sink this dud into a muddy abyss. Slowly. Don’t listen to this album before you die. Save it for Purgatory. 1/5

This isn't really all that good. Just dark and everything sounds the same. 3/10.

Jaren 80 bah

Couldn’t even finish it with a full dedicated 1.3/5

Das dieses nichtssagende Album in diese Liste aufgenommen wurde, ist eine Frechheit und ein Ärgernis. De Artikel über dieses Album in der englischen Wikipedia ordnet die Band zu allem Überfluss noch dem alternative rock zu. Es handelt sich um generischen Pop mit Gitarren.

Nope, not for me. Very tedious.

nice!

wow - where has this been all my life so far...sounds amazing. I am all in from the sound of the first song!

Okay