Psychocandy

Killer

imagina fazer um álbum que já inicia com uma das maiores pedradas da história eu sou 150% suspeito pra falar de tjamc pq tem um espacinho muito especial só pra eles no meu coração pedrada master 100%, um dos melhores álbuns já feitos, escutar isso jovem mudou minha forma de escutar música etc etc BRABO

esse aqui eh união sinistra entre BARULHADA e POPZINHO. como pode esse album ser tão bom e barulhento e gostosinho ao memo tempo?? eu fico doido demais, eh dos maiores do mundo memo. sem ele, metade das banda noventista que eu gosto nem existiria. devo tudo a esses irmão escocês. fun fact: eu sempre ESQUEÇO que esse eh mó barulhento em comparação ao darklands (que eu escutei BEM mais, inclusive). é sempre um choque, bom d+

We’ve been on a run of albums I know very well lately. Psychocandy is another great one. Shoegazy powerpop with an overlay of white noise and feedback. Very influential, and every time you play it in full it always sounds…exciting. Songs like Just Like Honey, Never Understand and The Hardest Walk are very well-known, of course. But the whole album has stood the test of time really well.

mind-altering substance

One of the few bands to keep me interested into the second half of the eighties. This is uncompromising and best listened to LOUD.

The Reed Brothers' debut is often considered their best to this day. They channeled influences from industrial and noise bands like Einsturzende Neubauten and The Velvet Underground into a shoegazy tribute to the 60s. In doing so, they carried the torch from New York band Suicide but made it a lot more accessible. Having had decades of cult status, the Jesus and Mary Chain got a revived shot of popularity when the stand out track "Just Like Honey" was featured on the soundtrack to Lost in Translation. It did for me anyway as it was the point when I realized I'd been sleeping on this great album.

9/10 The combo of great tunes with noise is almost always great and rarely grates. Bonus star for being one of the 5 semibal albums of my uni years.

Fond memories. Saw them live in Liverpool '87. On for 15mins, smashed equipment and then on their way.

Fav album growing up

This album is so fucking good oh my god! It turns out all you need to make the dime a dozen melancholy rock of the 80s sound unbelievable is to add ungodly amounts of distortion. Some real genuinely beautiful music on here. Really looking forward to their other album on this list.

Noise pop som lagde grundlag for noise rock bølgen også - altså f.eks. sonic youth. Ydermere var det også første gang man hørte noget a la en iteration af shoegaze hvor de lægger lag på lag af guitar. handler klassisk om kærlighed, død, ungdom osv. Det har jo en meget mørk lyd, forestiller mig sådan en efterfest sent om natten som varer indtil morgenen, hvor folk tager hårde stoffer og hygger. sådan lidt ubehageligt men også spændende. støj feedback og distortion er det som karakteriserer noise poppen. shoegaze delen er som sagt det drømmende atmosfære. sådan lidt hazy også. JEg kan egentlig meget godt lide det, men det er også meget specielt og egner sig vel til noget specielle anledninger.

This is one of my favourite albums of all time. And that’s saying a lot. I absolutely adore it. I LOOOOOOOOVE the sound, I just can't get enough. The feedback on the guitars really sounds soooo good to me I also really like the lyrics

Frábær hljómsveit sem hafði mikil áhrif. Póstpönkið varð að shoegaze.

A joyous combination of miserable love, fuzzy feedback, power pop melody, punk rock energy and lush noise.

Banger after banger

Far romantic than anyone would admit at the time, this is also a great, cool, noisy album and it contains Taste The Floor, one of the truly great tracks, like, ever.

Despite being an opening album track, my introduction to the first song on this album was when it was used to close out a movie. A film that, despite its international acclaim and awesome director, left me perturbed and uncomfortable. If I wanted to watch an old white man be racist and attracted to a woman way younger than him for 1h 41minutes, I might as well just go to Japan. Virgin Suicides is way more up my alley, don't read into that. BUT ANYWAY. This is not a film review. This is an album review. As a lover of shoe gaze since I was a pretentious 16-year-old, hearing this album for the first time all the way through, I can definitely see why people say they were pioneers. Especially because this album was released in 1985 and they were friends with the likes of Cocteau Twins and Slowdive. The guitar effects are awesome. Sweet melodies and distorted noises. I can now see why Sofia used them in her movie :) Seriously awesome that these Scottish brothers figured out how to make feedback, gave their drummer only two drums-- a floor tom and a snare, sang lyrics drenched in the selfish, mostly monosyllabic vocabulary of rock’n’roll, and somehow didn't sound like dickheads? Like the music is all so pretty and vulnerable. So yeah, 5/5. This shit rocks. JMAC supremacy.

Great call...loved that!

Loved this one. I can see how this informed a lot of the music I like. The contrast of simple almost bubblegum pop buried in really abrasive noise and texture really catches me. Already listened a few times. Favorite song: In a Hole

I love this album

The blueprint for just about every indie band from the 2000s.

The return of fuzz guitar and the three minute single that needs maximum volume to appreciate. Rock on!

Mesmerising!

Cool to hear the origin of shoegaze. Something’s Wrong is peak Edited to a 5 I’ve come back to the album multiple times already

This will always be a classic album. The best way to describe it is noisy psychedelic rock with a post-punk and goth undertone. If you’re into noise rock with abrasive distortion and feedback, this album will definitely hit the spot. Another great element is the 60’s-style psychedelic, ethereal vocals buried under all the chaos and noise. Even though the album leans into noise, it sticks to traditional song structures, making it listenable and easy to latch on to.

Groundbreaking

Incredible album. Old influences - rockabilly, Velvets, Spector girl pop but given such a new treatment that it was hugely influential. Shoegaze (particularly Loveless) but also stuff like Spacemen 3. With it's mid decade release could make an argument this was the pivotal release of the decade. Had a frustrating day yesterday, this was perfect antidote - lie down, headphones on and let the noise wash over you - there is definitely a nihilistic quality to some of these songs.

Magnificent

This beastie in in my top 20 albums of all time. Psychocandy on its release is one of those albums that reset the musical landscape. There was nothing like it beforehand, they had the idea of mixing a strange take of US surfer rock with the sound of Hell seemed like a good plan at the time. Think about what was coming out of Scotland prior to this, and you'll be thinking of the Jangly twee guitars of Orange Juice and Aztec Camera, or the stadium rock of Simple Minds. This band with their cool image, backstory of friction between them, and a broken fuzz pedal should have taken over the world with this and their later releases. [A Manchester band tried the same tactic about 9 years later, but with a working fuzz pedal, yawn] Thee isn't a band track on this, my personal favourites are 'You Trip Me Up' and 'The Hardest Walk'. 100% perfect begining of a legendary band.

An old fave. I like Just Like Honey enough that when they reprise it, I get excited, even though I *know* it's not the same song again.

A true classic of proto-shoegaze. A shimmering dream of an album. 10/10

Good

A favorite album by a favorite band. Take

Эталонный нойз-поп. Музыка не должна быть идеальной и сложной, чтобы цеплять. Лучшая песня - Just Like Honey.

Such a shame that I wasn't introduced to this band until hearing them in Lost in Translation.

Oh hell yeah. I feel like music or art that you come across at random just hits different than when something comes recommended by an algorithm or marketing. Not sure if this is true for others. BUT, in keeping with my somewhat spasmodic approach to art and life, I for some reason bought this CD in like 2004 when I was 14, in America, having never heard any music even of this genre and time period and part of the world before, for no reason other than I saw it in a CD store and thought it was a cool band name and cool album title. Brought it home and fucking loved it. The surly creepiness of the vocals. The huge, jangling chords. The sparse but haunting rhythms. I tried to write like 5 songs based on the 'Just like honey' drum intro, but it never really worked. Really curious to hear the groups thoughts on this - I can't be objective because I just remember 14 year old Frank (Spike at the time) feeling like I was the only person in the world to hear of this strange, menacing music, and that I didn't have to share it with anyone. "Eating up the scum is the hardest thing for me to do" - I had a feeling this was sexual when I first heard it but had no idea what it could possibly mean. I still don't. But every so often, for no reason, I'll hear that lyric in my head at random times. Doing the dishes. Driving down the street. Trying to make a point in an important meeting. Eating up the scum is the hardest thing for me to do. The brain is weird.

One of the rare debuts where one wonders how they Did That on the first try. Fewer songs than one thinks have the table saw guitar. So trebly. Such songs.

Psychocandy is iconic post-new wave / proto-shoegaze — there's enough reverb to dream in, enough fuzz to spark the imagination. With all that reverb and fuzz they take the simplicity of Motown R&B and run it through the Velvet Underground’s nihilistic haze. The Jesus and Mary Chain created something that to my ear is both a wash of nostalgia and an abrasive, inspiring look to the future. Nearly 40 years later, it’s a beautiful, sometimes detached and sometimes sneering mess that feels just as essential as when I was sitting in my room drawing a picture of these two from some glossy magazine photoshoot for Jr. High School art class while the cassette rolls on.

Classic

Classic shoegaze. But not as noisy s it was perceived at the time

The combination of wall of sound, surf and shoe gaze magic is simple and masterful.

crunchy and dreamy

The Jesus and Mary Chain is what you get if you take everything I listened to in the 90s in the amount I listened to it and put it in a blender.

This album kind of kicked my ass. Great sense of mood, thoughtful use of noise, and the obscured vocals work. I feel like I'm in a different place when I listen to it. And damn, they can write a hook--they have a 60s pop, Spector-minded approach to their arrangements that really works for me.

My second Jesus and Mary Chain album! It rules, I may even like it more than darklands

Considering this came out in 1985, it feels so modern and fresh. A surprising hit with me.

Fuckin great shoegazy album

Love this band and this masterful and highly influential album. They perfectly capture that 60s pop rock sound with just the right amount of fuzz. While Darklands may be more polished with slightly stronger songwriting, this album's raw edge gives it a special charm of its own.

Love love love this record. Fuzz-pop-proto-shoe-gaze-noise-rock… I don’t care what bucket this is put in, it’s brilliant distorted glory.

I should have listened to this earlier. I really enjoyed this album.

I think this might be my favorite The Jesus and Mary Chain album. I love the fuzz in the guitars mixed with dreamy pop. Love this album.

I really like JAMC - especially Jim Reid's gravelly vocals. Love the combination of melody with noise. Did not know that Bobby Gillespie was the drummer for most of this album.

even the boring songs are perfect

At first I had a hard time with the feedback sounds on some of the tracks, but the more I listen the more I love this! Tended to enjoy the dreamier showcase tracks more but the more punkish songs grew on me.

Solid

What a debut this release is. Jesus & Mary Chain bring a pop sound with some fuzz and we get such a pleasant listen on Psychocandy. Along with their fellow Scots, Cocteau Twins and Siouxsie and The Banshees, Jesus & Mary Chain are a pioneer of the wonderful genre of shoegaze. Pop music at its core is glossy, which is totally great in its own right but what J&MC demonstrate here is that the fuzzy distortion can bring depth to the music and there’s emotion in the harshness of it. There’s beauty in the imperfections and this album is a beauty for sure. 5 stars

Love me some JAMC - this is a classic.

East Kilbrides finest

Oh, I get it.

Would you press the button: the album is peak, but it nearly gives you a migraine with every song

This album is wild. It's no easy feat to combine softness and harshness with melody and dissonance and come out with a masterpiece. To my ears, that is exactly what's happened. I listened to this album, then Darklands, then this one again. The melancholic, ethereal vocals are very pleasing to me. There is brilliance in this album, if you take the time to find it. I spent a lot of the day listening to their catalog. The song with Hope Sandoval was a banger. The rest I heard is solid.

Fantastic, singular record. Nothing sounds like it. Especially some of that chainsaw feedback stuff like In a Hole and Never Understand. The latter almost takes off the runway in the second half. Definitely not for everyone. But it is for me.

Good vibes

A thick layer of sludgy noise over some 80s songs. The missing link into Nine Inch Nails.

Great... Definitely influenced by the Cure.

Just love ‘em. Such a distinct vibe.

Deliciously distorted and alternative. Me likey. Me likey A LOT.

Inventive as anything in 1985. Guitar tone is golden, low volume bit highly distorted, lashings of reverb and fuzz. A joy to behold, and interesting pairing with such catchy simple melodies. Jack this into my veins and give me all you've got.

This has probably been the hardest album to rank so far. I was quite off put by how noisy this album was on the first listen, and felt that the noise and pop structures were disjoint. For a few songs, I thought the noise was too strong, and the melodies too boring. I was ready to give this album a 2 or 3 at best. But then I gave it another listen. And another one. Now, I hear the noise and instrumentation mix together beautifully (most of the time), because I hear these opiate tones drag on behind it all. For the first time, I felt like I understood what draws people in with shoegaze. So many songs manifested this melancholic, numbed out, blacked out, sound that I couldn't pull away from. The noise and various effects really reframe the purpose of the pop oriented rock, and caused me to reinterpret entirely the emotionally felt senses that pop goes for. You know those cringey memes where people say something along the lines of "happiness is listening to the music, sadness is understanding the lyrics"? This album feels like the band wanted to bridge that gap, to create the body that feels the weight of the words it hears sung to it, while still remaining familiar at its core. I truly still don't know how to rank this album. In some ways I don't see myself listening to this regularly, and I still think the album as a whole is a little rough around the edges and simplistic at times. But at the end of the day, Psychocandy unwrapped some unexpectwled, brand new appreciation for a music genre I've been otherwise unsuccessful at getting into, and that feels well worth rewarding on it's own. I think I'll look back on this album as fondly as my other 5s so far, but it really stands out on its own for the effect it had on me. TL;DR I'm Frank Reynolds saying "oh my god, I get it"

For me, this was the peak for TJAMC, before they toned down the feedback and distortion a little. The simple song structure over a wall of white noise never fails to satisfy. I can hear so many influences, but more importantly, other bands who were in turn influenced by this sound. Spacemen 3 were probably closest for me, with Sound of Confusion coming out just a year later. There was also MBV, and a host of other shoegaze bands that followed on from where this album left off. Obviously it's a 5 star album, it's also a great discriminator, as people giving this album 1 stars obviously have a totally different idea of what music actually is.

listened on 08/05/25 whilst making my dissertation presentation :)

Love this album. Post punk vibes on top of the wild guitar feedback distortion makes this album hit for me. Make sure to turn it up.

pop rock songs emerging from goopy noise

Perfect noise for a rainy Tuesday morning. The sun came out just at it was ending and ruined my mood.

Spacious and dreamy throughout. I'm a big fan of this kind of shoegaze.

Best album

Piercing noise, swooning melodies, and caveman drums performed by the coolest Scots to ever walk the Earth

First time hearing this full through but I think I’ve gotta go 5. Just Like Honey is a killer debut opener. Love the high pitch noise in several of the songs. The Hardest Walk and Taste of Cindy were other faves. Kind of proto shoegaze. Need to soend more time with it but a great way to start the week.

Gets a bit samey towards the end, and not as polished as Darklands, but an absolute classic

Released in 1985, "Psychocandy" by The Jesus and Mary Chain is a landmark album that significantly contributed to the evolution of alternative and shoegaze music. This revolutionary work marries a unique blend of noisy, distorted guitar soundscapes with hauntingly sweet melodies, creating an album that remains influential and relevant to this day. 1. Lyrics (Pros and Cons) Pros: The lyrics of "Psychocandy" are often overshadowed by its groundbreaking sound, but they play a crucial role in conveying the album's themes. The lyrics are cryptic and abstract, evoking a sense of disillusionment, alienation, and desire. Tracks like "Just Like Honey" showcase the juxtaposition of sugary-sweet melodies with darker, introspective lyrics, creating a compelling emotional contrast. However, the cons lie in the album's intentional obscurity. Some may find the lyrics too enigmatic, making it challenging to decipher their meaning. Yet, this ambiguity adds to the album's mystique, allowing listeners to interpret the words in a way that resonates personally. 2. Music (Pros and Cons) Pros: "Psychocandy" is celebrated for its innovative use of noise and feedback, which was revolutionary at the time. The amalgamation of the Reid brothers' distorted guitars, reminiscent of The Velvet Underground, creates a dense sonic landscape. The album opens with the intense "Just Like Honey," instantly introducing the unique wall of sound that defines the band's style. The incorporation of classic pop melodies into a chaotic and dissonant sonic environment is a notable strength. This fusion of sweetness and dissonance, exemplified in tracks like "The Hardest Walk" and "Never Understand," sets The Jesus and Mary Chain apart from their contemporaries. Cons: The deliberate overuse of feedback and distortion may be an acquired taste. Some listeners might find the abrasive nature of the music challenging to digest, especially those accustomed to more polished production. This intentional rawness, while central to the album's aesthetic, may alienate some listeners. 3. Production (Pros and Cons) Pros: "Psychocandy" showcases a groundbreaking approach to production. The album was produced by John Loder, who successfully captured the band's vision of combining pop sensibilities with a cacophony of noise. The deliberate choice to saturate the tracks with feedback and distortion contributes to the album's visceral impact. The unconventional production techniques were ahead of their time, influencing countless artists in the alternative and shoegaze genres. The production also cleverly balances the dualities within the music – the soft and the harsh, the melodic and the dissonant. The result is an immersive listening experience that defies traditional expectations. Cons: The intentionally lo-fi and abrasive production might be off-putting to listeners accustomed to cleaner, more polished soundscapes. The decision to push sonic boundaries, while groundbreaking, may limit the album's accessibility to a broader audience. 4. Themes "Psychocandy" explores themes of love, disillusionment, and existential angst. The juxtaposition of sweet melodies with harsh noise reflects a nuanced commentary on the complexities of relationships and the contradictions of human experience. The album's title itself, a portmanteau of "psycho" and "candy," encapsulates the duality of its themes – the sweetness of life tainted by a darker, more unsettling undercurrent. The album's thematic richness lies in its ability to evoke a range of emotions. Tracks like "Just Like Honey" capture the bittersweet nature of love, while "You Trip Me Up" delves into the volatility of relationships. The overarching theme of disillusionment permeates the album, making it a cohesive and emotionally resonant work. 5. Influence "Psychocandy" stands as a pivotal influence on the alternative and shoegaze genres. The Reid brothers' innovative use of noise and distortion paved the way for bands like My Bloody Valentine, Lush, and Ride. The album's impact is evident in the sonic experimentation that characterized the late '80s and early '90s alternative music scene. The Jesus and Mary Chain's fusion of pop melodies with noise laid the groundwork for the shoegaze movement, where the emphasis on atmospheric soundscapes and dreamy textures became a defining feature. The album's influence extends beyond its contemporaries, shaping the trajectory of alternative music for years to come. Conclusion "Psychocandy" by The Jesus and Mary Chain remains a groundbreaking and influential album, pushing the boundaries of alternative music with its unique blend of noise, melody, and introspective lyricism. While its intentionally abrasive production and cryptic lyrics may not appeal to everyone, these elements are integral to the album's lasting impact. The duality of sweetness and dissonance, explored thematically and sonically, creates a timeless work that continues to captivate and inspire new generations of musicians. As a seminal piece in the alternative music canon, "Psychocandy" deserves recognition for its role in shaping the sonic landscape of the late 20th century.

suprised at how much i liked this music. didn't know it existed

A quite brilliant debut, up there with the best debuts of all time. Just Like Honey showed that beneath the noise there was a sturdy songwriting chassis that would enable them to evolve (a bit!).

This just rules. I have always thought that this band’s music is deceptively simple. Lots of simple, 50s style rock and roll, but through a unique lens. On this listen, I stated to think of what Suicide did and I think there are a lot of similarities, even if the sound is not a one to one connection. Anyway, great album.

i love noise. just walls of sound. just pure sound waves going into my ear snail.

Surprisingly good, thought it was going to be lame but i love the distorted sound combined with the 80s kinda goth vocals. Liked tracks: Just Like Honey, The Living End, Taste The Floor, In a Hole, You Trip Me Up

Oh what a beautiful record. End to end sparse and lush. Love it and loved it again after all these years.

If an aspiring rock n' roller in 1965 decided to take a twenty year nap, wake up in 1985 and booked a ticket to Glasgow, Scotland, this is what he would sound like. Psychocandy is a fever dream and then some put to wax. In a quest to spot and secure the future, it was fit to best represent the past and then-present with drainpipe jeans, leather jackets and unruly hair. All the while crafting music that mixed Phil Spector, the deepest depths of feral rock and roll and Glasgweian force. It is no surprise that Psychocandy is what many think of when they hear of The Jesus and Mary Chain. All you need to hear, when it comes to why, is that first song. Perhaps the finest and most pivotal hour for one of Glasgow's finest bands. Play it loud as nature intended.

One of my personal favourites. I can still remember how it was to listen to it for the first time. And it still amazes me

Wonderful grungy punk

I'd heard some of these tracks, didn't know who they were.

With (most) of the rest of you. 5/5. I remember when it came out and it sounding like nothing else out there. Still holds up.

Brilliant noise pop.

Fuzzy, swirly, lovely, screechy, goodness. Hugely influential to me. 5 / 5 stars.

An absolute classic, beautiful noise rock that paved the path for so many great bands the following years.

Sublime

OMG - takes me right back!

"Pyschocandy" is the debut album by the Scottish rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain. It is considered a landmark recording of guitar and noise with a pop melody. That's a good description. It was also influential for the future genres of shoegaze and alternative rock. More on that later. The band was brothers Jim and William Reid (guitar, vocals), Douglas Hurt (bass) and Bobby Gillespie (drums and soon to be leader of Primal Scream). There were many bands listed as influences/influential including The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, The Stones, Einstürzende Neubauten but the band standing out for me is Suicide. The drum bang and those anthemic guitar chords strike up "Just Like Honey." Jim Reid almost whispering. Great backing vocals at the end by Karen Parker. An 80's alternative classic. Is it about the difficulty of going back to someone and admit you're wrong or oral sex. Let's say both. I have to admit the first song that got me into this band was hearing "The Hardest Walk" in the movie "Some Kind of Wonderful." Let's hear it for John Hughes in the 80's. It's more melodic pop: the best example of this on the album. A searing guitar solo. Obviously about walking away from someone. "Taste of Candy" gets us back to the echo, constant white noise, feedback and a simple beat. A darker tone probably about taking speed. A lot of these songs are about taking drugs or at least you could draw that conclusion. The first single "Never Understand" starts with feedback but goes to a pop melody. About drugs and self-abusive behavior. A screeching, white noise, feedback, long ending. Suicide in the studio. The second single "You Trip Me Up" continues with the feedback and a guitar sounding like a buzzsaw. It's about....well, you know. The album ends with the Suicide-esque "It's So Hard." Haunting and whispering vocals. Mechancal noises. More feedback. There's a lot to like about this album. Short songs, none longer than 14 minutes, get to the point. The mix of guitar being louder than the vocals almost making them indecipherable but more mysterious. There is an obvious direct line from Suicide to The Jesus and Mary Chain to the shoegaze genre. And I'm a big shoegaze fan. I like their subsequent albums but none reach "Psychocandy" heights.

Excelente

Totally basis review as it’s a Scottish band but also love this album, love the distorted guitars the shoegaze sound and the vocals.

Rated Dark Lands as 4 due to a somewhat unfortunate comparison it to this album. Influential album (think Raveonettes, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club etc). Strong pop songs, buried under a big dosis of dust. Due to all the 60s pop references, it has a bit similar feel as those Ramones songs except that Psychocandy is no punk rock.

One of my all time fave albums

Thought this was going to be a 4 before listening to it again today, especially after Darklands proved to be plodding in places 35 years on. But this sounds just as sharp as it did when I bought it on release. A superb blend of the most basic elements, and I should listen to it more often.

Weird and noisy, and uncomfortable to listen to at points, but also awesome and unique. An influence on loads of bands I love, and interesting as the first album by one of the great, but underappreciated, Scottish bands.

Love this band and album so much! First discovered the Jesus and Mary Chain when they opened for NIN at a show I went to 5 or so years back. 80s hidden gem!

dead good. i went to see JAMC play psychocandy about 10 years ago and it was the first night on the tour. they started off by playing some of the big uns off their other albums and they sounded awful, like as bad as any gig i've ever been to. it filled me with pure dread that i was probably not going to have the stamina to see it through and lose a much loved band in the process. however, as soon as they started the psychocandy section it was fucking perfect, sounded brilliant. don't know if they were sharking us or if they just hadn't played the other songs in ages but i'm yet to see another band go from so bad to so good in a single set.

Kumquats! (Kumquats? Damn!) Call the po-lice, and the fireman, kumquats! (Kumquats, damn) This week's top pick's papayas, man Girl, who sent you for satsumas? (×4) Cos Upton fruit's gon' give it to ya Wednesday afternoon, usual spot TWO FOR ONE APRICOTS

really beautiful shoegaze a bit too screechy, I get that that’s the point but no matter what volume I put it at, it felt like I either couldn’t hear it or I was hurting my ears still super beautiful album, 9/10

Just like honeyyyyyyyy

so fuzzy one of most beautiful songs (ever) has the refrain “I’ll be your plastic toilet” Perfection

Much better. What a unique sound.

Love this. Not sure it should work but it does and gets better with age

This is fucking my ears in the best way possible. The Reid brothers. Legends.

There are songs on here that I love and come back to but I prefer them in small doses.

Crazy that this was 1985! Sonic Youth, Velvet Underground, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr... Curious what this would sound like without the distortion.

I live next-door to one of the drummers for three years, never was quite sure what his group was all about. Turns out they’re pretty good.

Seeing this being labelled as shoegaze, almost 10 years before Loveless, I was a little surprised. I knew my bloody valentine existed before Loveless, but I always considered it to be the birth of shoegaze. And having listened to this, I think that's still a fair assumption. This has a lot of the distortion and noise that is characteristic of shoegaze, but it doesn't go far enough. It's more like pop with distortion than real shoegaze. At its most daring it has its toes over the line, but they never take the full step. Regardless though, this is a really solid album. Favorites: The Living End, In a Hole, Something's Wrong

This was excellent. I felt like listening to this I could hear grunge, britpop and so many other alt genres that came after.

The Jesus And Mary Chain are the originally noise poppers. This album laid a strong foundation for what-was-to-become shoegaze. With all that being said, this is crazy noisy album. For example "In a Hole" is just like the "You Made Me Realise" noise section but worse and is throughout the entire song. There's a couple other songs like this. I was hugely intolerant to this album when I first listened to it in 2024, way before I got into shoegaze, noise pop and related genres. The second time was way more tolerable. These guys have a really nice sense of melody, they can make such ear-worms work so well with the unforgiving noise. Some of the songs that excel at this aspect are "The Hardest Walk" and "Taste of Cindy." I think this is one of THOSE, where I'll grow to like it. I'm still a bit iffy about it; it hasn't fully converted me yet. I have quite an affinity for other noise pop/shoegaze songs and albums. I believe eventually I'll like it. Highlight Song/s: "The Hardest Walk" and "Taste of Cindy"

Just a beautiful amount of distortion.

Liked it. A fine noise-rock album.

Cowards don't like this. Always cracks me up how tough the Reid brothers try to come across whilst looking like they do. Particularly as older men.

This really is the sum of its ingredients. Phil Spector, Velvet Underground, Industrial Noise and pop. This would be in the top 5 albums I'd whack on if getting into heroin.

I enjoyed this much, much more than Darklands. It's a similar style, but Psychocandy leans heavily into noise, which really suits my preferences. I appreciate the attempts to evolve your sound, but Darklands just felt like it was holding back throughout. Even with these mixing choices, Psychocandy is an emotionally potent album and it's a contrast that's incredibly well executed. In short, the name of the album is very fitting. There are a couple of clunkers here, but nothing truly bad, just a couple of moments where the whole thing becomes a bit repetitive. Thankfully, there are a couple of more peaceful tracks to relieve the pressure and they usually come at the right time. Sadly, the closer is easily the worst track and it slightly sours the entire experience. I think this is the first piece of music associated with Bobby Gillespie that I've enjoyed. Favourite track: Just Like Honey

I listened to Darklands a while back and absolutely loved it, wondering why I hadn't listened to The Jesus and Mary Chain more back in the day. I was excited, as well as apprehensive about this album, knowing it'd be more raw sounding. I mostly enjoyed it, though. Yes it was more rough around the edges than Darklands, but the same sound was underneath the more noise aspects. As the album went on I felt there was a sameness to it, but I liked it well enough that I wasn't bothered by that. Standout songs were Just Like Honey (awesome), Cut Dead, and Sowing Seeds. It's a 3.5 that will be bumped up to a 4.

These guys from Scotland were a pleasant surprise. They're kind of similar to U2 but they have their own distinct sound and lots of killer songs.

Loved the melodies, but the constant guitar feedback made it a pretty exhausting listen. Still a really cool and unique album. A solid 4/5.

One night on Peel I heard Never Understand and bought tbe 12'' the next day and loved the total noise, so got the album and wasn't disappointed. There are similarities with this LP and the Bunnymen and that's not a bad thing I don't think their later releases bettered this debut album, maybe musically they did but not for sheer bravado and impact

Big melodies, big noise.

Top track: My Little Underground This was pretty good

Pretty awesome. A nice mix between rockabilly and shoegaze

This is a delightful blend of melody with noise and feedback that would serve as a template for later waves of shoegaze and indie rockers. The spare drum sound alone would launch a thousand imitators. I saw them play this album on its 30th anniversary and it proved that this is best played loud and preferably experienced live.

very good early shoegaze

What would happen if Lou Reed chose to play in front of the Phil Spector Wall of Sound (with multiple tracks starting with the same drumbeat as "Be My Baby")? You'd get this album. The noise reverb action on the guitars is frankly an acquired taste. Vocally, I'm hearing a lot of Joy Division, in the somewhat flat but driving delivery. They're pretty economical with their songs; 14 tracks in under 39 minutes is efficient. I'm not sold on their lyrics and they aren't exactly my cup of tea, but I can see how them and this album had influence on the lane of shoegaze and noise.

Psychocandy sits at the cross-section of soothing dream-pop, abrasive noise rock, and artsy shoegaze; excelling at all. Such a varied record that shows beauty can come in very different forms song to song. I love their multiple interpretations of the Phil Spector beat (boom…boom-boom, BAP!) and how they look back just as much as forward. This is endlessly influential and essential listening.

I knew I liked that Honey song, but I ended up liking this quite a bit. Probably a three? But I think Just Like Honey is an all-timer.

Great melodies under heavy guitar and reverb, an evocative, cool alt rock album.

I tend to think about these albums with the baseline of ‘would I pick this up on vinyl?’. Which would be more pertinent if I had a turntable. As it happens I do actually own this on vinyl. A quite expensive, Third Man Records Vault 40th anniversary release at that. It’s still in its delivery box. I’d never actually listened to the album before now. I’ve had the chance to listen to it several times now. Which is more than I usually give these albums. That’s says something. But I still can’t work out if actually like it. I really like a lot of what it does. I’ve discovered I love a bit of that woozy fuzz. But there’s something about the particular production here that I can’t quite key into. It’s very … thin. Like all of the EQs have been leant on. But I like everything else. I don’t think I’ll be opening the box set (it’s live on EBay folks) but I’ve gotten enough out of it to give it a 4.

Big feelings in this one. They sound like a therapists nightmare. Pretty badass, though not the genre I prefer to listen to. They still get a 4.

Fuzz Lords.

4.0 An abrasive but fun listen. I have only really become somewhat familiar with JMC is the last couple of years and never listened to this album, I didnt really understand why they had some goth credibility, everything I had previously listened to was on the poppier side , now its making a bit more sense. I thought the drums sounded like dog shit though

70% of maximum thrash level Jesus and Mary Chain are so so good. The first half of this album over indexed on thrash to me, but the back half really saved it.

I've always loved the song 'Just Like Honey', but for whatever reason I've never explored The Jesus and Mary Chain further. I'm very happy to find on this album a lot of other tracks that are in the same style of Just Like Honey; I love the hazy electric guitar sound and the vocal style. I'm surprised to hear some of the more noisy tracks on here too, it made for a great listen. Favourites: Just Like Honey Cut Dead You Trip Me Up Something's Wrong

Pretty great, original album even if it’s not my first pick to give a spin

I love soft vocals and loud guitars ALMOST as much as I love loud vocals and clean, trebly guitars.

I liked it. I get what they’re doing and the melded rule the day for me. Always. Still. 3 meh songs. So 4 stars

dreamy

turned out a lot better than I was expecting Will I listen to again: 64%

Very good early Shoegaze. I enjoyed it, but I understand why others may not. Gotta respect the new sound for 1985 though. I may come back to this, but Im very glad I listened.

I think this record finally clicked with me. Not sure if it's because I was able to give it a closer listen, or if I was able to piece together the parts that have become familiar to me over the years. I caught a lot of Lou Reed, Mazzy Star, and My Bloody Valentine in this -- I realize that some of these may have come after, or were contemporaries, but this slid right in there. I liked it a lot.

Pioneering album that paved the way for bands like My Bloody Valentine, Lush, Slowdive, and more. A beautiful wall of static and noise.

Seminal for a lot of bands nowadays. Ahead of it's time? Maybe. Love the guitar tone, though.

i used to like this album a lot and guess what i still like it

Never really looked in the direction of JaMC before. Wasn't quite what I was expecting. Wasn't bad at all, but I think it could have been done better and was by other bands. A little samey at times, but overall not bad.

Rockin' 80s goth. I knew I should have listened to them a long time ago. LIke in the 80s. Missed opportunities, but I'm glad I caught up w ith them now. 4.5/5

Fun album! I added “Some Candy Coming” to my Generator playlist.

Not a lot to say that hasn't already been said.This is just a collection of great pop songs.Produced in a way that you either love or hate.But can't deny the influence. This would have been groundbreaking in '95 and it came out in '85

The only thing keeping it from being a 5 was the fact that the production was just dripping in reverb. Felt like I was watching a really cool house show in an empty indoor pool. Otherwise just super strong songwriting, catchy, quick, not a single note wasted.

Shoe gazer greatness!

Mixing 60's girl group production with their love of The Velvet Underground, their fuzzed out production is frequently considered the birth of shoegaze. There is beauty and melody to be found throughout all that fuzz and noise. Whilst this album can feel rather one-note with its thunderous pop songs, it doesn't feel too indifferent to the Ramones self-titled. They have an established sound and they get in and out without much variation on that sound. Others have even pointed out that the songs on here sound like Ramones tracks all reverbed up and slowed down. The other time when this repetitive style doesn't work in the record's favour is on 'Sowing Seeds' where the introductory drum pattern mirrors opening track 'Just Like Honey' and you might be left confused that the album is repeating itself. As one record store clerk famously stated, these guys picked up where Echo and The Bunnymen left off.

Just my type of thing. Looking forward to coming back to this one.

Hører sjeldent på The Jesus and Mary Chain, men setter bestandig pris på de når jeg gjør det. Det er bare som oftest andre plater jeg heller hører på hvis jeg er i humør til støyete greier.

Fikk en bra start på mandagen med den her. Mange godlåter her, men denne gangen var det Taste the floor som traff hardest.

I’m not a huge 80s guy, but Jesus and the Mary chain are an exception. 3.6

I like a lot of the descendants of this album. I don't like this album quite as much, but it is still strong.

Blast from the past

Great album, Golden Years amazing song.

Very good

idk how to explain this, but this album reminds me of the film The Crow (1994)

It’s not exactly my style but it is very admirable, artistic, and cool. It actually kinda gives me David Lynch vibes: a sweet, innocent throwback type of music played and mixed in such a manner that it’s kind of noisy and sinister and unsettling. It’s definitely a must-listen, #305.

snacka om att vara emo i gubbängen 2008! otroligt soundtrack att ha tonårsångest och längta bort till

One of the most accurately named albums of all time.

I dig this, but it can get a bit much if you're not in the mood. It feels kinda like Joy Division with way screechier distortion.

Still sounds great. Beautiful and menacing in equal measure

Glorious. Listened in an indoor trampoline park at half term. Thank you noise cancelling headphones….

I was not sure I was gonna dig this. I was aware of their influence, and.... the first track didn't do anything for me. But then that wall of distortion opened up and I loved it. "Just Like Honey" and "Cut Dead" are my least faves. Even then, the proto-shoegaze sound of "Cut Dead" is undeniable, I can respect it. If it were a longer album, those two might not have as much weight. As it is, a strong 4 for me.

Considering my musical taste, I should’ve listened to this before and love it, somehow I think I tried a bunch of time but it never caught me. Listening to it, I love the aesthetic, chainsaw fuzzy guitars with sweet jangly melodies on top and sardonic vocals. It just feels kind of uneven. When it works, like on The Hardest Walk, it’s incredible. I just feels not all songs are as strong and many fall short. So the album falls short of greatness.

Outstanding record

A whole lotta sound!

Noise popens far? Just Like Honey er perfeksjon, definitivt på lista over de 100 best pop-låtene i historien. (En dag må jeg lage denne lista for å se hvor tight det er å komme blant topp 100.) JMC var også klar over at de var inne på noe der, for Psychocandy inneholder flere låter som høres ut som forsøk på å finne akkurat den låta. Sowing Seeds er praktisk talt en reprise. I tillegg til Just Like Honey-likes, finner vi forsøk på å perfeksjonere motorsykkellåta. De begynner allerede på spor nummer to, hvor de ikke engang prøver å være subtile om det: "I get ahead on my motorbike / I feel so quick in my leather boots / My mood is black when my jacket's on". De kommer nærmest med å nå motorsykkelnirvana med In a Hole. Låta kan beskrives som om en produsent fra fremtiden har bestillt Joy Division, men det er shoegaze. Absolutt et viktig album, men selv om det alltid høres kult ut (de gikk hardt til verks for å være verdens kuleste band), er det ikke til å komme unna at det går litt på tomgang. Det er på en måte forsøk på å lage to låter igjen og igjen.

Psychocandy will be my second J&MC album to review, and also my last album of 1985, which happens to be the year I was born. I came into this project only knowing J&MC’s song “Head On," which I really liked, so I was excited to see two of their albums on this list. I enjoyed Darklands, and gave it four stars. I thought the guitar playing and distortion made Darklands a fun album, so I imagine I’m going to like Psychocandy as well. Like Darklands, I enjoyed Psychocandy. I thought the guitar playing on this album was really good, and I enjoyed the Jim Reid’s vocals as well. J&MC have a really unique sound, and that was full present on this album. I liked how there were these great melodies buried under the noise and distortion, rewarding the listener for giving their full attention to the album. The lyrics and vocals were pretty pop-oriented, and they reminded me of sixties surf rock in the way they were delivered. Sometimes though, I thought the distortion was too much, and that it didn’t add a lot to the sound; at those moments, it felt like the distortion and fuzz was just a layer you had to remove to get to the good stuff. Still, this album was a fun journey, and I felt like it got better as it went along. I really enjoyed being able to connect the dots from this album to the shoegaze albums that would come out in the late eighties and early nineties. While this album wasn’t my favorite, I definitely appreciate the artistry and influence that it had. As far as the best songs on this album are concerned, I really liked “Just Like Honey,” “The Hardest Walk,” “Never Understand,” and “Sowing Seeds.” However, I’d have to say that “Something’s Wrong” was my favorite. I loved the guitar playing, and I really liked the echoing and metallic sound to the percussion. The vocals were at their peak here too, and this song was just really beautiful. This was a fun album to dive into, and I’m glad I got to experience a couple of albums from these guys.

A great late night album.

This will always be a classic album. The best way to describe it is noisy psychedelic rock with a post-punk and goth undertone. If you’re into noise rock with abrasive distortion and feedback, this album will definitely hit the spot. Another great element is the 60’s-style psychedelic, ethereal vocals buried under all the chaos and noise. Even though the album leans into noise, it sticks to traditional song structures, making it listenable and easy to latch on to.

4.5

on the debut Jesus and Mary Chain album, The Velvet Underground once again prove themselves to be one of the most pivotal bands in recorded music history. the Reid brothers were very clearly inspired by the simplicity and memorability of many a classic TVU track when they wrote the songs for Psychocandy; you could make a drinking game out of listening for when they start rocking between the I chord and the IV chord, a very Lou Reed-esque move. that being said, you'd never mistake their band for a Velvets ripoff, on account of the near-constant barrage of distortion and (especially) amplifier feedback coating just about every track. the combination of catchy melodies and noise walls the J&MC cooked up here would go on to be a pivotal influence on the shoegaze movement later in the decade, with the heavy distortion taking on more of a dreamlike quality. it's interesting to compare that later stuff to an album like Psychocandy, which remains so resolutely dark in spite of the relatively upbeat songwriting on the surface. decent 8/10.

Fuzzy shoegazey noise rock goodness

Wasn’t quite sure what to expect but by the end of the album I’d added the band to my favorites

I like these lads. Simpsons: No

Just like honey. . .

4.0 stars I liked this one A LOT more on 2nd and even moreso 3rd listen. at first they sounded like a poor man's Stone Roses...but even if that were true (it's not) that's a pretty good thing. that said, they do remind me a good deal about the Stone Roses debut album. definite grower, might even go back and relisten down the road. Favorite track: Just Like Honey

vibed with

Lowkey this album was really hard to listen to, it sounds like I’m at a late 80s 7th and 8th grade semi formal most of the songs were horrible and maybe one or two good one I almost gave up on listening to the whole thing

I loved this album when I was in college. It was tailor made for my interests at the time. It's poppy new wave / post-punk with a ton of noise and dissonance. There's also a muted affect that reads as "cool" to young adults who still care about that kind of thing -- a bit of a C-86 vibe. And, of course, this album is one of the most obvious forerunners of shoegaze. But I also hear JAMC influence all over pop/rock music from Smashing Pumpkins to Frank Ocean and everywhere in between. I can't help but offer my one critique though...their formula is to layer a bunch of feedback and trashy noise on top of saccharine 60s-style pop tunes, which means the two elements never really integrate. They don't ever successfully make pop music FROM noise, it's always pop music PLUS noise. Nevertheless, it's very good and much more interesting than a lot of the shite their contemporaries were putting out.

If only for its influential sound, it’s up there. But yeah it’s the noise art that I love, especially the day after this supposedly randomized list gave me The Pixies

I respect the hell out of this, especially coming out in ‘85. I sort of forget about The Jesus and Mary Chain, even though I actually bought this tape twice because the first one got eaten by a tape player, and then the second one got eaten by the same tape player. So I associate a lot of unfair anger and frustration to this album.

Had no idea what to expect with this one but was pleasantly surprised. First half guitar distortion was a little too much for the rest of the sound but the second half was really enjoyable

Оооо хорошее

Fav tracks: the living end, the hardest walk

Just like that it’s 1985 again... I can almost taste the snakebite and black or smell the patchouli The rawness of punk, the feedback of hardcore on rock n roll at a walking pace . With out the feedback this could be the happy bop pop of altered images . Or the Ramones played at half speed . The beach boys if they grew up in Govan. Ironically in places this is more industrial than the Liaibach album I had yesterday

I remember the buzz when this came out and the marmite effect of trying to hear the music through the noise. I don’t know why I didn’t take to it, but I remember a friend going to The Royal Court in Liverpool to see them - he said they tuned up for 20 minutes, took a bow, and left. 1. Just Like Honey 2. Some Candy Talking (not on my album) 3. Never Understand

I liked this much more than I thought I was going to. And I’m not even really sure why. There are actually melodies here. And it’s not too showgqzy, which is a bonus. A surprising 3.5 rounding up to 4

I wish I listened to this decades ago. I feel like it is no longer novel or unique, so it's hard for me to rate it fairly. Nothing in particular stands out, but this is entirely my kind of music.

That's one way to produce an album. But in all seriousness it was really good. I listened to it after midnight, after a lot of stuff happening, at it was perfect.

Maybe it's sacrilege, but I'm going to give this four rather than five. I really like it, but for some reason my listening didn't push me into five territory. I gave Darklands five, and I'm not sure I could objectively say this is worse. Strongly suspect there are days when the scores would be swapped.

Soooo good

This was really solid. It reminds of an artist but I can’t quite place it. Kinda sounds a bit like some of the classic Aussie pub bands but there’s also some Nirvana in the guitar (obviously this was before Nirvana but it’s more of a comparison). Great album, solid the whole way through!

Psycho candy was Len Houmous’ pet name for his 21st wife. 3.5 1/14 Just Like Honey

Bit repetitive but I like the atmosphere

7 - GOOD

This was an all new one for me and I really enjoyed hearing all the artists I like that were influenced by it. From Nirvana to Belle and Sebastian I was getting all sorts of 90s alternative/indie vibes.

One of my old favourites

Bang up my street this, really enjoyed it. Heavy stuff but still musically minded. I would describe it as Britain's answer to Sonic Youth, very impressed. Definitely knew the name but didn't expect it to sound like this.

I love noisey ass guitars. Only problem with this is a lot of the songs blend together, I enjoyed getting my ears blasted 👍

3.5

Honestly this album would be so much better without all the hall reverb. I know this was a thing in the 80s, especially in goth recordings, but this feels like they ran it through the reverb two or three times for maximum effect. Tha fact that there's an actual damn good album under all this is keeping me from tanking this album. I'm actually glad the let up on the verb on subsequent albums. I need a mac and rubbers... Damn (8.1) ★★★★

Nice pop melodies buried under a wall of noise. 4 stars

I think this album was pretty ahead of its time for 1985 and there's certainly some cool stuff here, unfortunately, there's some stuff that doesn't work as well too. Ultimately, I appreciate it more than I enjoy it. Highlights for me are "Just Like Honey", "The Hardest Walk", and "Cut Dead". 4 stars.

Not as Psycho-randy as I've been for this in the past but overall this still holds up as a pretty classic debut and essential go-to record of the 80s that meshes tuneful lusty 60s Beach Boys and Spectorian pop with howling, scabby, punishing noise rock. Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie is on this and does a great impersonation of Moe Tucker on drums. High points include Tastes Like Honey, The Living End, Taste Of Cindy and Something's Wrong.

It’s the fuzz!

I really like Darklands, but had never heard this one and my initial reaction was not great, but as the album went, it grew on me. I can see why people unfamiliar with them would hate this album. It is very noisy, but underneath that, it is pretty straightforward.

I honestly thought the Jesus and Mary Chain was a 70's hippy psychedelic band! But they are not. They are an 80's alternative "college radio" band. And they are a very good one! I actually sort of loved this considering my allegiance to the genre. This is one of those "thank you 1001albumgenerator" moments for bringing them (probably BACK) into my sight. I don't remember any specific songs from this album from back in the day but it is highly likely I have heard, and liked some of their music. Good thing I listen on youtube so I could become a member of their content site. Got some listening to do!

Big noise - really hits the shoegaze vibe perfectly, and was a solid listen.

Really good, feels very shoegazey and interesting. Almost 5, but rounding down to 4

This was great, a sort of timeless, but of it's time sound

mmmm this is some pretty well done noise, first time knowingly hearing this band but I’ve definitely heard that first song before. Definitely see this as an inspiration for all sorts of shoegaze

A huge influence on both noise pop and shoegaze, and still better than most albums in those genres. The most immediately striking thing about the album is the noise slathered across its tracks, which can both give the songs an edge and wrap the listener in a fuzzy blanket on tracks like the standout "Just Like Honey." But what really makes this work is its pop sensibility. Without the noise these songs could almost be pop songs from the 60s - "Never Understand" sounds almost like early Beach Boys! And "Cut Dead" shows the melodies are lovely and work even without the noise. There's not a lot of variety in sound or songwriting here, but I think it works to the album's benefit. I'm not a big fan of less structured shoegaze, and the short rhythmic songs keep this from meandering. And it's short enough that it's over before the formula wears thin.

7/10 Favourite: Just Like Honey Least Favourite: Cut Dead

Rock music deconstructed to its most basic elements and drenched in fuzz is very much a good thing in my book. I had never listened to them before but will definitely investigate further and can clearly see where later bands like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club took their cue.

A welcome inclusion on the list and a nice one to revisit after a while. There are good melodies, it is well structured, with its standout tracks well spaced out, and its run time is about right given that it doesn’t have a huge amount of variation. I have always enjoyed how the guitar sound is both dirty and clear at the same time.

80s showgaze is close to peak, great stuff

Alt rock. Good album

🗯 Immersive, captivating, noisy, glorious, and influential as hell — like The Beach Boys shoved sideways through a jet engine. Psychocandy did more than bend the rules; it sandblasted them. The Reid brothers took ’60s pop melodies and rinsed them in distortion to the point of drowning, creating a sound both hostile and hypnotic. It’s feedback as philosophy — sweet harmonies hiding beneath pure chaos. It opens with Just Like Honey, one of the greatest album openers ever, and from there it’s a wall of fuzzed-out euphoria. The noise and melody fight for dominance, and somehow both win. This was punk growing up, shoegaze being born, and pop learning to get weird. Messy, romantic, and completely alive — the kind of record that sounds like it might fall apart any second, but never does. Verdict: Essential (feedback and feeling in perfect collision) For fans of: My Bloody Valentine, The Velvet Underground, Ride, dirty pop wrapped in reverb

OK, now here's something very interesting. I only found out about this band quite recently, last year. Big influence on indie and shoegaze and funnily enough this album to me sounds almost like a mix between The Pixies and MBV. Had a listen on my way to work and enjoyed it. At least 3.5/5.0 after first listen, just like a honey, an album opener, instantly stood out. On a few more listens, "Never Understand" also stood out. I get how some people might see it as noise but after listening deeply you really get immersed into this experience, and it feels very special like some 60s pop rock band completely engulfed by this sea of well controlled and arranged noise - basically Velvet Underground/Sonic Youth + Beach Boys.

You have to listen to this at the correct volume - too low and the vocals are muddied and too loud the guitars overwhelm everything.

beautifully ugly very aesthetic it‘s not just music it‘s art

Very solid stuff.

3.5 stars Surely the first noise pop album? The Reid brothers ran 60s girl group melodies through layers of reverb and screeching feedback, put it in a blender with Velvet Underground and Joy Division - and invented a new subgenre in the process. But more importantly (to me), they laid the groundwork for shoegaze, which would emerge in the coming years. I’ve been waiting for MBV’s Loveless to show up on this challenge, but Mary Chain is a welcome appetizer. I’ve never fully embraced this album (other than all-time classic Just Like Honey), and I think it’s because I can’t un-hear what came after it. I don’t like it as much as the bands they’ve influenced, some of which are my very favourites - MBV, Ride, Yo La Tengo, etc. This time I really tried to listen to it on its own merit and I have to say this album rules. I like this better than another highly influential band that was doing a similar thing around the same time - Sonic Youth. This album is noisy but it’s way more melodic. The formula of sweet pop song + waves of fuzzy noise is intoxicating. I do think the ratio of noise to pop is off on this album, and it’s why I like their successors much more. Other bands refined this sound in a way that I enjoy more, but I’m glad this album finally hit for me.

I’ve heard of The Jesus and Mary Chain but never gave them a deep listen. This was a welcome listen. I look forward to revisiting this album a little more and diving deeper into their catalog.

Groundbreaking album and so influential for so many bands to come!

lots of lovely and not lovely, but contexually lovely, noises

Ik was prettig verrast toen ik het aanzette. Het is soms herrie, maar wel goede herrie.

Super great album but the guitar feedback/distortion was a bit much for me at some point

Knew this already partially but great to give it more focus. Great album.

There's a lot of noise, but it was good noise. It actually felt surprisingly modern.

Interesting listen, I can definitely hear the elements of what would become shoegaze.

va bananas

Gasa assai, tra l’altro just like honey sta pure in lost in translation (filmone), sempre togo la new wave

I prefer Darklands, but man, Jesus and Mary Chain can do no wrong in my book. That reverb-soaked wall-of-sound...it would have been cool if they recorded with Ronnie Spector.

Mjög næs plet!

Great listen, lots of distortion and real throwback to 80s Britain

This is a band that was always on the periphery for me. I've been familiar with them for years, especially the song Head On (which is not on this album). I think this is the first time I have ever listened to an album by them all the way through. Interestingly serene and unsettling at the same time. It's probably listen again or check more of their work. I like noisy shit. 3.5/5 #162

Love this album

One of the first albums in the noise pop genre, fusing catchy guitar pop gems with layers of feedback and noise. Personally, as a lover of noisy bullshit and also a lover of catchy bullshit, this worked wonders for me.

Mama Mia do they have their sound figured out! Only issue with this album is that the best song is the first one and a lot of the other songs sound the same, and despite me liking that same sounding song, it gets kind of monotonous 3 quarters in.

I liked this but when Spotify played the next song on a newer album it was really good. I’m going to check out what else they have

Pre-listen: never heard of this group, but intrigued by the album cover. Listening: an early gateway to 90s era hard rock and grunge scenes maybe? This feels like a garage band jamming out with maybe a little more discipline? So far I'm not too into the mix. Maybe it's budget, or maybe it's how they intended or maybe it was just limitations of the time. The vibe is really cool so far, no stand out songs yet.. I really like that sowing seeds song.

The Jesus and Mary Chain Is one of those bands I've heard talked about throughout my life, but never took the time to listen to. It was immediately apparent as soon as Just Like Honey starts how influential this album was on the music I listen to. I'll be sure to check out the rest of their catalog.

Sonically opressive, melodically sugary

I really enjoyed this one for the most part but not enough to give it all 5 stars. I only got one listen in so maybe with a couple more it will go up. Top Track - Never Understand

First Listen: Apr 05 2025 listened to this right after i got darklands a couple months ago and was blown away by it. this is an incredible noise rock album much far better than darklands.

It dug a hole in my ears, i'd do it again

some of it is relaxing but there's other parts that are just kind of... noise. it's clearly trying to sound faraway and mysterious but that doesn't always work the best when combined with walls of guitars. some of this is really good and then other parts are kinda meh. favorite song: "cut dead" overall: 7/10

I remember vividly the day I bought this on cassette, got it home to listen to it and thought "what the fuck is this". The poppy distortion singles were only dipping their toe in the distortion. In those days, when an album was a month's pocket money, I had to give them a bit of a go. So I kind of forced my way into it. This, in retrospect, is a great album. A complete oral barrage overlaying a host of melodic songs. I know it won't be for all tastes but place it against a lot of the stuff in this project and it stands out. For all the reasons that people also hate it, I understand that.

I feel like I’ve heard all these songs at a bar after midnight 4.5

Hadn't listened to this band before and was pleasantly surprised! I'll be listening to this more and likely exploring more of their discography.

This album is fast, fuzzy and really cool

I would like to preface: I am an absolute noise fiend. I love thoughtful lyrics and beautiful arrangements and potent songwriting as much as anyone in kinder society. However, among the quickest ways to my heart of hearts is total sonic obliteration, and given this album's reputation I was ready to dish out the cut and dry 5: but does it truly earn it? We shall see. While artists had been experimenting with noise elements and pop songwriting prior to this, Psychocandy is, in the eyes of many, the archetypal noise pop album. The Jesus And Mary Chain push a vaguely goth-y vibe and simple, theoretically sugary post punk songs into uncharted territory by really overdriving the aesthetic here. This album has, more or less, two types of songs: firstly, songs like the standout opener Just Like Honey which harness unprecedented, "recorded in a cave" reverb into a dark and super dreamlike atmosphere. This content on the album was a large influence on the development of later genres like shoegaze. The other type of song here is where the album earns the "noise" descriptor. These moments, like The Living End and In A Hole get a little punkier, and drive the aesthetic much further. Here, the guitars sound like an explosion in a sheet metal factory as the band attempts to wrangle the searing feedback into the approximate shape of catchy riffs. Overall, these two facets of the album's sound work in a very complementary way, and I love the result. Everything just sounds huge and powerful and a little bit dangerous, like I can't emphasize enough just how much I like the sound of this thing. Unfortunately, there are some things going on here that didn't quite click with me. Firstly, the vocals on here are *extremely* deadpan, and its kind of hit or miss for me, there are songs where it works and songs where it doesn't. I will also say that the songwriting on here isn't spectacular. Without the album's aesthetic, I don't think these compositions could keep this from running out of steam. That being said, the aesthetic *is* here, and besides, these songs very rarely run longer than 3 minutes, so it isn't like you have a ton of time to get bored. Overall, I don't think this is the 5 that I was ready to hand out, but it is *really* good. The sound of this is still distinct and super cool, and the songs are a great vessel for delivering the experience of this album's sound to you. I like this a lot!

Incredible debut with fuzzy and shoegazy sounds all throughout. The precursors of the shoegaze genre compile a set of songs thar makes the experience, something you've never felt before. Absolutely recommended.

After reading some reviews of this album, I was expecting to experience a hideous noisefest, the end of which couldn't come soon enough. The actual experience then, was quite a surprise, because I enjoyed it quite a lot. I'm not a fan of the kind of flat, emotionless vocalisation, so it was that which bothered me more than the reverb and feedback, and which keeps me from ever wanting the album in my collection. But would I listen to it again? Willingly, yes!

That first track! Liked this album much more than I thought I would.

Oldie but pretty goodie

Psychocandy is pure noisy magic. When it dropped in 1985, it felt like something totally new—like punk met pop in a dark alley and fell in love. The fuzzy guitar wall hits you right away, but underneath all the distortion are sweet, catchy melodies that stick with you. It was a perfect soundtrack for the ‘80s outsider: moody, rebellious, but still tuneful. Songs like “Just Like Honey” still hold up today—cool, dreamy, and raw in all the right ways. If you grew up with The Cure or Sonic Youth, this album fits right in. It's gritty, loud, and emotional without trying too hard. A Gen X classic that won't disappoint.

Grunge before it was grunge.

i didn't know how what to expect going into this one, as my other experience with tjamc was fairly middling. i'm sure because of the amount of noise on this one, it's not very widely popular, but what i was really taken by upon listening to this one is the songwriting. really catchy stuff, reminiscent of a lot of pop-rock that has come before it. hooky and fun! like i said, i suspect the sound here is going to be something that most people dislike, but i liked it here. i would definitely listen again!

Good album 8 out of 10

Pretty good post punk

With a deft touch, the Reid brothers pushed the boundaries of what is included in music. The resonant baths of of fuzz and feedback this album contains while maintaining a hopeful tone is the definition of Shoegaze, and has a huge impact on the many Pot-rock bands that will begin popping up in the 90's

Like most people, I only knew Just Like Honey and absolutely love that song Psychocandy is really interesting for its time and definitely one that I want to come back to. The sounds are original and honestly not as abrasive as the reviews for this suggest I liked Sowing Seeds

I don't usually read other reviews before writing my own, but when I saw Frank gave this a 5, I had to look. I love that this is a nostalgia album for you - I really thought this would be more "pedophile music" - you renaissance man. I only knew Just Like Honey coming into this - great song. I guess these guys sound a little like other bands of their time - Replacements, the Smiths, the Cure - but just such a unique sound - I do love it. The Hardest Walk, Taste of Cindy, Never Understand, You Trip Me Up, Something's Wrong. This whole thing sounds like generic 90s tunes - like something you could play to open a multicam sitcom - but then the songs got thrown into a blender. You know where all of these songs are going, but you have to run through the mud to get there. I've listened to this album 3 or 4 times now, but definitely warrants some more spins - a grow-er not a show-er, if you will. I still have one more Cocteau Twins album in my queue, so I think I'm going to stay in Scotland a bit longer today.

Wow. I loved this. I'd only heard a few tracks from it before. This will now go in the rotation. I know people are hating on the feedback but for me that just lends awesome texture to pretty standard 60s pop sound. A great update to an older style.

I fucking love the noise. This album sounds like me trying to listen to a regular album at work, where every machine is fully running at the same time. 2nd half of this album is really strong

Noise! Some of the good kind, have to be in the right mindset for this one. Appreciate the influence

You won’t regret tasting this dark candy! 🍬😵‍💫 Another stunner of a surprise with this album, as my only familiarity with The Jesus & Mary Chain had been the Pixies cover of Head On (off their 1989 release, Automatic) and that the opening track on this one (Just Like Honey) was played during the end scene of the movie Lost in Translation. For some reason I was assuming this band would be sounding something akin to The Psychedelic Furs…boy was I wrong! Distorted guitars over bubblegum pop…think beach boys meets the velvet underground for a match made in abrasive heaven. What a truly gorgeous record. Aptly titled as these otherwise simplistic pure pop songs are shrouded in vitriolic guitar noise rock edge, resulting in far more interesting darker sound textures. Obvious core influence to the wave of 90’s Shoegaze and dream dream pop, with the likes of My Bloody Valentine being heavily indebted to the layered soundscapes that were masterfully created across these 14 tracks. It is astounding what young fearless musicians have the ability to create by not catering to the artistic norms of the time, which we continue to see shape and mold how musical genres evolve. 🎧 Classic Track: Just Like Honey 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: My Little Underground 🎧 Personal Favorite: The Hardest Walk The record also doesn’t overstay its welcome across the lengthy track list, timing in under 40 minutes! 🖼️ Album Artwork: ❌ would’ve been more effective minus images of the band members 💿 Absolutely worthy of holding a place in your vinyl collection! Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)

I generally like shoegaze but only knew Just Like Honey. This album is noisy yet somehow laid back. I dig it. Never Understand and Sowing Seeds are my standout picks after one listen, and I'm gonna go with a light 4 on this one.

Sounds like the bottom of a bar bathroom and I love it.

I can't believe I got 5 albums from repeat artists in a row. Throughout the past 5 days, I've gotten my 3rd Nick Cave album, my 2nd Pogues album, my 3rd Tom Waits album, my 5th David Bowie album, and now, my 2nd (and final) album from The Jesus and Mary Chain. However, I'm not complaining for one simple reason. I've really liked all of these albums, and Psychocandy is no different. This album's pretty good! I think I actually liked Darklands a bit more, but Psychocandy is still great, just in a different way. Psychocandy is a considerably noisier album and is seen by many as a landmark album in the development of what would eventually become shoegaze. However, this album takes the noise and blends it with some classic pop elements to make a very interesting album to listen to. It's a good interesting though. I like the style. Some parts are a bit too noisy for my taste, but I think the album as a whole is mostly good about this. Besides, I can't really complain too much when this album helped revolutionize this sort of music in the first place. The Velvet Underground influence is also pretty strong, which I can't complain about either because I also really like the Velvet Underground. I do feel that this album peaks a bit early, with its best song easily being the opener, "Just Like Honey." The singing fits the vibe well, and the writing is very solid. This is one of those albums that I think I respect more than I actually enjoy. I could definitely see it growing on me a bit in the future though. Good album. 4/5.

Love a rock album with some actual texture. Deadpan vocals mix with the guitars very nicely as well.

Excellent album, creative musical ideas throughout

Great on places

Damn fine noisy rock/pop. Take some 60s pop rock - slap a ton of fuzz, reverb, and feedback on it and make the vocals real stoner-y - and voila, you have Psychocandy. Hooky melodies under a wall of trebly guitar noise. It’s quite pleasant and abrasive. It’s quite wonderful.

Need more reverb!!!! In all seriousness though they have some awesome pop songs layered beneath lots of noisy reverb. I thoroughly enjoyed this album.

Man, I liked this The Jesus and Mary Chain album so much more than the last one. I really love the elements of noise rock, shoegaze and punk but all kind of under the guise of 50s rockabilly. Its really cool and interesting. Songs like "Just Like Honey" are so smooth and feel like 50s rock but heavier and noisier. Its surprising how clean this record sounds for how fuzzy it really is. My only complaint is that the trick kind of wears off about 2/3s of the way through. This could have been 3 songs short. I really enjoyed this!

Perfect for the soundtrack to an 80s movie I'll never make 👍

Iconic album. Solid front to back

Pretty good and eerie sounding

that’s much better than what I’ve expected from a 1985 album that is trying to blend pop and noise. Post punk sounding vocals, hypnotic guitar noises and catchy pop melodies. Great album

i have ambivalent feelings about this album. some songs are just horrible and unlistenable. the rest kinda slaps!! my favs: the hardest walk, cut dead, taste of cindy, sowing seeds.

The Jesus and Mary Chain is another post-punk/shoegaze band I've heard a lot about but haven't really listened to other than a song here and there. I enjoyed this album and have listened to it a few times since. That said, I know they're a hugely influential band, but I'm not sure if I really *get it.* Maybe it's because I wasn't there in 1985 when it probably sounded revolutionary, but to me it just kind of sounds like Joy Division's music with Echo and the Bunnymen's lyrics and the distortion turned up to 11. I guess it was innovative to put all those things together at the time, but to a 90s kid like me it just sounds like normal rock music (with a lot of feedback). In terms of the distortion and effects, I enjoyed this album more than MBV, because there are still strong melodies and hooks underneath the noise. There are moments where it's a lot, though — "Taste of Cindy" and "Never Understand" are a little painful to listen to with all the high-pitched feedback. And it tracks that these guys are Scottish, because the noise sometimes resembles bagpipes. All in all, it's a good album and I'll probably listen to it in the future (but probably not on headphones — god, that was a mistake). I'll probably check out some of their other stuff too. I'll give them their flowers for influencing the shoegaze genre, but I'm still not totally sold on it. 4/5

Very solid throughout 4/5

My first encounter with Psychocandy was a disaster. Through my laptop’s tinny speakers, it sounded like noise for noise’s sake—a band hiding behind feedback. Then I saw the reviews. People called the distortion intentional, even essential. So I gave it another shot, this time with proper headphones. Suddenly, sweet, almost bubblegum melodies started cutting through the chaos. I’d already heard Just Like Honey, and if that’s the most “accessible” track here, that’s saying something. But it deserves respect. Then, everything clicked. Taste of Cindy and Cut Dead stood out, but nothing here drags the album down. The more I listened, the more I heard its fingerprints on bands like My Bloody Valentine and Dinosaur Jr.—the alternative acts I’d go on to worship. Psychocandy isn’t an album to put on while sipping tea with your grandparents—but then again, neither are most of the records I love.