Some Songs Considered - Posts Tagged 'jesus and mary chain'

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Written by Brian Wall

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December 13, 2009

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

“Head On” – Pixies
(Words/music: William Reid, available on Trompe le Monde, 4AD 1991)

Even though neither Frank Black nor Kim Deal wrote “Head On,” it remains one of my favorite recordings by the Pixies. It’s not as lyrically twisted as many of the Pixies other songs, and even though Frank Black dips into the maniacal part of his vocal register, he doesn’t sound as deranged as he does at other points in their catalogue. Instead, it’s a two and a quarter minutes tearing through a Jesus and Mary Chain song played faithfully enough to please JAMC fans while still giving it the necessary Pixies arrangement to warrant its inclusion on their final studio disc.

Aside from running half as long (and at an increased tempo), the major difference between the Pixies cover and the original lies in the exaggerated dynamics. The original recording mainly stays at the same volume, aside from the part where the drums cut out in the bridge. While the Pixies cover never gets as whisper quiet as some of their other recordings (at least the ones where they earned the “loud-soft-loud” reputation that Kurt Cobain admired), the Pixies version pushes the needle into the red immediately. David Lovering’s drums set the pace immediately with a thunderous opening roll, signaling for the guitars to charge behind him. It’s Lovering again who sets the pace, first by cutting everything but his bass drum leading out of the chorus, settling into a solid groove when the song’s volume retreats, only to crescendo again when he opens his hi-hat. While the guitars provide the bulk of the volume (and Black’s tone provides the most tangible gauge), it’s Lovering’s drumming that leads the band through the song. His band mates follow along, making Reid’s song more explosive without sacrificing the melodic charm of the original.

More on Pixies: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm

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February 14, 2009

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

“About You” - The Jesus and Mary Chain
(Words/music: Jim and William Reid, available on Darklands, Blanco y Negro 1987)

Two decades after their debut, much of the Jesus and Mary Chain’s reputation revolves around their early incarnation – today, they’re best known for the buzzsaw distortion on Psychocandy and their early shows laced with a defiant stretches of feedback and belligerence. However, a closer listen to many of the Reid brothers’ songs reveals their ability to write a killer pop song (and anyone who needs convincing should start with the last eighteen tracks on their 21 Singles collection). The genius behind the Jesus and Mary Chain was less in how loud they could play, but rather in how loud they could play their 60s inspired melodies. Even still, they’re more than the Beach Boys run through a distortion pedal; there’s a sweetness and beauty to many of their songs.

While Darklands doesn’t have the same bite as Psychocandy, the songs and performances are much stronger. It’s easy to overlook how early fans would have been disappointed with Darklands’ smoother production when looking at the band’s work after they disbanded, but the best songs are on par with the best tracks on their debut. While “April Skies” and “Darklands” are among my favorites in their catalog, the final track “About You” sticks out to me with its minimal arrangement. A song with just acoustic guitars and tambourine was inconceivable after hearing the wailing wall of sound on Psychocandy, but it sounds right at home at the end of their second album. It’s unmistakably a JAMC song – the guitar style and chord changes recall a number of their other songs – but “About You” slows down the tempo, letting Jim Reid’s voice fill the air like a warm summer’s fog. His long phrasings and lower register gives the song, an homage to finding warmth in a loved one, just a touch of melancholy. If “Just Like Honey” is the obvious mix tape song in their catalog, “About You” is the song to include when you want to send the “I’m into you” vibe without being blatantly obvious.

More on The Jesus and Mary Chain: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm

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