Jesus and Mary Chain Hate Rock'n'Roll
Dave Thompson / Alternative Press
11.1995
11.1995
Oh, and it's always said such nice things about them. But here they are again, railing against institutions a-go-go, the BBC and MTV, as though either has anything whatsoever to do with whatever rock 'n' roll might be these days. Like Costello's "Radio Radio," and Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing" (a stab of cracking satire, though you'd never believe that today), the Chain don't so much bite the hand that feeds them as rip it off at the wrist, and impale it on a spike.
For what could be more Institutionalized Rock 'n' Roll-ish than to put out a compilation of previously available tidbits, but make the faithful buy it by slipping in four new songs? Most of Hate comes from recent b-sides and remixes and odd things like that... "Snakedriver" from The Crow soundtrack, the U.K.-only "Penetration" flip, blah bah, we can forget them for a start.
What about the newies, though? Well... "Lost Star" is one of those lovely overfuzzed guitar ballads which the Chain pull out all too seldom. "Life ain't so bad," it begins. And as it happens, it ain't, because "Hate" itself is a jewel as well, churning in on too much bad acid, and a guitar that thinks it's real big and tough, then proves its point before you hit the first chorus. Mugged by the Mary Chain-it's been years since that last happened.
"33 1/3" sounds like a third album Love And Rockets outtake, again shot through with trademark guitar assault, and it all leads up to "Bleed Me," classic Jesus-in-the-Garage, possibly the most self-affirming song the Chain have recorded since the still-epochal "Sidewalking." All of which means, on four songs' evidence, they're back on course, and Stoned And Dethroned has been stomped and debunked, just like we always hoped it would be. Welcome back. (American)
For what could be more Institutionalized Rock 'n' Roll-ish than to put out a compilation of previously available tidbits, but make the faithful buy it by slipping in four new songs? Most of Hate comes from recent b-sides and remixes and odd things like that... "Snakedriver" from The Crow soundtrack, the U.K.-only "Penetration" flip, blah bah, we can forget them for a start.
What about the newies, though? Well... "Lost Star" is one of those lovely overfuzzed guitar ballads which the Chain pull out all too seldom. "Life ain't so bad," it begins. And as it happens, it ain't, because "Hate" itself is a jewel as well, churning in on too much bad acid, and a guitar that thinks it's real big and tough, then proves its point before you hit the first chorus. Mugged by the Mary Chain-it's been years since that last happened.
"33 1/3" sounds like a third album Love And Rockets outtake, again shot through with trademark guitar assault, and it all leads up to "Bleed Me," classic Jesus-in-the-Garage, possibly the most self-affirming song the Chain have recorded since the still-epochal "Sidewalking." All of which means, on four songs' evidence, they're back on course, and Stoned And Dethroned has been stomped and debunked, just like we always hoped it would be. Welcome back. (American)
