The Jesus and Mary Chain - Amputation

1. Who are The Jesus and Mary Chain? 

The Jesus and Mary Chain are one of the finest bands to ever walk God's green earth. An iconic alternative rock/indie noise-pop band from East Kilbride, Scotland. The Jesus and Mary Chain are a fucking line in the sand; if you don't like 'em you can fuck right off. The brothers Reid started making music in 1983 and are still going strong. Amputation (Dec’16) is the first single from their seventh album Damage and Joy (March’17). 

2. What kind of tune is Amputation? 

Amputation is typical of the Mary Chain's later period when they were all swagger, menace and razor sharp riffs. Balanced against the reverb, caste-iron riffing and swirling noise are the usual coos and harmonies while they sing about “Fucked-up girls” loving “drugged up guys.” Not a love song then. But the legends are in great form.

3. What bands sound like The Jesus and Mary Chain? 

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, My Bloody Valentine and Dinosaur Jr. 

4. What have the righteous press said about Amputation? 

“The music still feels raw” – Paste.  

“It’s got the Mary Chain stamped all over it… cloaked in reverb” – Fact.

“Like something off an indie soundtrack from 1996” – Consequence Of Sound.

5. Which bands inspired the almighty Jesus and Mary Chain? 

Some of their influences are The Velvet Underground, The Sex Pistols, The Beatles, The Shangri La’s and The Stooges. 

6. Why should I give Amputation a listen? 

Because it's the fucking Jesus and Mary Chain and they've lost nothing over the years. Because they are the alternative of rock'n'roll. 

7. What are The Jesus and Mary Chain's best songs? 

Sidewalking. The song you play as she gets in the car, you put on your shades and floor a V8 down the highway with a half drunk bottle of whiskey between your legs. The song is rock'n'roll. Here Comes Alice and April Skies are just a few more of the brightest gems in JAMC's crown. 

8. Any more words? 

Damage and Joy is produced by Killing Joke bassist Martin Glover (The Verve, Marilyn Manson, James).

The brothers Reid are joined by the Lush bassist, Phil King< and Fountains Of Wayne drummer, Brian Young, on the new album and on tour.

 “It’s just like a grape in a bottle,

It’s wine today but piss tomorrow”

The Shins are an iconic indie pop band from Albuquerque, New Mexico. They started playing together in 1996, have recorded five albums together, and have been both commercially and critically successful. TheShins are similar to Belle & Sebastian, The Decemberists and Neutral Milk Hotel.  They are influenced by The Beta Band, The Jesus & Mary Chain, and country and western. Mildenhall (Feb’17) is the third single from their fifth album Heartworms (March’17). Paste called Mildenhall “a slice of warm and fistful folk-pop.” It also has strong elements of Americana, lashes of honesty, and a lyric to make all JAMC fans sit up.

“A kid in class passed me a tape,

A band called The Jesus and the Mary Chain”

White - Living Fiction



1. Who are they?

White are a Scottish indie disco pop band from Glascow. Living Fiction is a 2014 song re-released in January 2016 as a stand alone single.

2. What does Living Fiction sound like?

Middle of the road indie pop rock with a fat slice of funkiness. Modest ska guitar with short lead guitar lines add a modicum of bite and precedes a big 80's pop chorus that is as sticky as a slaughterhouse floor. Smooth and accomplished and ultimately with as much nutritional value as sugar.

3. Who do White sound like?

Living Fiction sounds like Bryan Ferry backed by The Police with a side dish of 70's disco. Contemporarily, here's looking at you The 1975 and Love Me.  For something left field I was minded of the indie disco of San Cisco  and the synth pop of Harriet's Irish Magaritas.

Generally the band have said they make a link between 70's to early 80's music with today and their music has evoked comparisons with David Bowie, Spandau Ballet, ABC, Franz Ferdinand, The Rakes, Hard Fi and Associate. 

4. What have the cut and paste jackals got to say?

They are falling over themselves in love and White are considered a 'buzz band'. The Daily Record hailed the “...incredible fusion of arty 80s pop and pummelling punk-funk dance groove” of Living Fiction and summarised that they are “...about to blow up big with this hit.” Scottish Fiction said Living Fiction is “a fantastically catchy song”. The Guardian made White band of the week saying Living Fiction has “... a real chance of success...” and Crack In The Road called White, “Scotland’s most exciting band right now.” Poor old Scotland, still you've suffered worse I imagine.

5. Who do White get their groove from?

In short Roxy Music, David Bowie, Chic, Franz Ferdinand and LCD Soundsystem. They have mentioned liking Talking Heads, loving David Bowie and seeking to emulate LCD Soundsystem.

6. Why should I listen to Living Fiction?

Listen for pure hedonistic pleasure. The chorus is so contagious as Hollywood should be looking to make a disappointing movie out of it.

7. Do White have any more good tunes?

Future Pleasures doesn't suck donkey dick and Blush isn't mingin.

8. Anything else I should know about White?

They were all in prior bands and have manufactured their emergence to the maximum.

The song Living In Fiction is about perfection through fakeness. Nailed it lads.

Stirring the custard is a palate cleanser, the Scottish indie rock legends The Jesus and Mary Chain and the monster groove that is Side Walking (1988).

“Got ice in my fire, got the heat in my wire
Inject a little heat, I'm burning up the tires”



The Best Indie Songs of 2015 - Maudlin Strangers

Maudlin Strangers Aim (Jan’14) is one of the best indie songs of 2015 because of its nasty groove. A sun shining down on a sidewinder on the blacktop, slithering speedily towards you as you get in a convertible with your sunglasses on, no glance back, smile at thes tunnerr sitting in shotgun and then ease that V8 on out of there there in a hail of loose stones with the stereo blasting hard rock, drinking whiskey from a bottle and snorting coke while you drive. That type of groove.

There’s no teasing here.  You either like the start or you won’t be feeling this tune because that’s the good shit right there and there isn’t much else happening. The guitars do wind up a bit to justify the ‘rock’ in the genre title but it’s that dangerous groove that’ll get you back for more and more you junkie fiend.

Jake Hays is the man with a band, Maudlin Strangers. Aim got pushed off their debut Overdose  E.P.  (Jan’15). Mr Hays comes sashaying out of Agoura Hills, California.

Shit you didn’t need to know:

Jake Hay’s Mom is the singer in The Runaways (yes that band with Joan Jett) and his Pop’s is an actor (the pilot in Airplane!). So no silver spoons then.

The E.P. is a re-release.

Jake Hays describes himself as ‘dark’ indie rock.

He has said he feels the force listening to Pink Floyd, QOTSA, Mutemath and the Arctic Monkeys.

Agoura Hills is a small town right close to Los Angeles famous for popping out Linkin Park, Foxygen and Incubus.

 

Nefarious deeds goes to this song...

... Darth Vader's gym music...

... a monster fuckin groove...

... the Scottish lords of alt rock...

...bow before the majesty that is...

... The Jesus and Mary Chain and Sidewalking (1988).

 

 

 

 

 

And check out that fucking hair. Brilliant. You don’t see enough of that today.