Review
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Damage and Joy

Ever since The Jesus and Mary Chain came on the scene in the Mid-80’s with their tapestry of sound Psychocandy, and onto their 90’s fame recording with Hope Sandoval, the band has always reminded me of a couple of stoned uncles. You know, the ones your mom doesn’t think to highly of, but they are the coolest thing around because they let you get away with just about anything… That’s The Jesus and Mary Chain. They just released a new record, their first in 19 years, dubbed Damage and Joy, it’s more of the same lush, electric, dance-groove that the band have come to be known for. And... that’s OK, but I think that I set my expectations high, too high.

And that’s not to say Damage and Joy doesn’t have its moments. The slow roll of “War on Peace” gives way to their signature wall of sound and an upbeat singalong. “All Things Pass” is the head bopper upper-echelon Jesus and Mary Chain Scottish-Pop that we love, with lyrics of reflection, “Each drug I take is gonna be my last”. Sky Ferreira tackles vocals on “Always Sad”, and “Song As a Secret” as an homage to one of their biggest hits with Hope Sandoval “Sometimes Always” with the latter singing almost the same melodic hook. “Get On Home” dances on the Scottish bogs with a “heart full of evil, and a soul full of rock n roll”. “Can’t Stop the Rock” floats like a California wave… and so on…

Damage and Joy is a decent record, with pop-hook laments. Guests abound including Linda Fox, also known as Sister Vanilla, Isobel Campbell, and the aforementioned Ferreira. I’m not sure where my head was when I began listening to the record, but after 19 years, I am just happy the Reid brothers are back to making music, still the cool, stoned uncles, but maybe a bit crankier than I remember.