Audio Addict Legends

Psychocandy (1985)

The Jesus and Mary Chain

Blanco y Negro

 

 

The infamous debut album from The Jesus and Mary Chain was released in 1985 to serious acclaim. The album was described at the time as ‘a great citadel of beauty’, and as the Scottish group prepare to release a limited edition version of the album for record store day 2015, it’s clear that Psychocandy is still highly relevant today.

 

When you listen to the album with today’s ears, it’s still incredibly bold and exciting - yet effortlessly simple. The album opens with ‘Just Like Honey’ and its Ronettes inspired drum beat, and from then on the album just gets louder as more distortion is added to the guitar of William Reid. This distortion - as rotten and horrible as it sounds - just works with the drums, bass and Jim Reid’s monosyllabic, angry vocals.

 

‘In a Hole’ is a prime example of all these elements combing to create something that will leave your ears ringing. Nothing today compares to the sheer cockiness of a band like JAMC that wanted to create an album like Psychocandy with its effortless hooks and arrogant aura.

 

Sure, JAMC opened the floodgates for various shoegaze bands such as Lush and My Bloody Valentine, but none of those groups were able to create an impact like they did.

 

The album does take you on a bumpy ride, but there are subtle songs that give the album depth and texture. Tracks like ‘Taste the Floor’, which has clean melodies inspired by The Beach Boys. The song is still beautifully simple with guitar sounds awash with reverb and no distortion, which proves that JAMC aren’t all about noise and destruction. They can create melodies, which have and will, cause emotion to be felt by the listener. They still have the ability to change the mood of the album to raucous whenever they want.

 

Psychocandy was released in 1985 and the album remains an iconic signal post in indie music. It’s an extremely inspirational release that is still relevant today.

 

JAMC are currently touring this album to celebrate thirty years since the release, in venues that have sold out - that is reason enough to say that Psychocandy is legendary.

 

9.0/10

Tom Staniszewski