ROCK-A-RAMA
Like a lot of English pop bands, the Jesus and Mary Chain has been a great singles group whose albums have always fallen short. Thus, it’s no surprise that their finest long-player yet is actually a collection of 45-only tunes, B-sides and home demos.
ROCK A RAMA
This month s Rock-A-Ramas were written by: Michael Davis, Jim DeRogatis, David Sprague, Brett Bush, Jill Blardinelli, Steve Peters.
THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN Barbed Wire Kisses (Warner Brothers)
Like a lot of English pop bands, the Jesus and Mary Chain has been a great singles group whose albums have always fallen short. Thus, it’s no surprise that their finest iong-player yet is actually a collection of 45-only tunes, B-sides and home demos. Without the conceit of trying to make a great pop record for the ’80s, the J&M Chain are free to have fun mixing ’60s garage rock roots with their patented wall-of-feedback-over-primaldrums. The results are awe-inspiring on covers like the Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA,” and Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love” and the Nancy Sinatra homage, “Sidevvalking.” But the best example of the Reid brothers charms is “Upside Down,” their first—and most demented— single. If you’ve ever had even a passing flirtation with frenzied feedback, this is the song for you, and it alone is worth the price of admission.
J.D.
SPOT 1019 This World Owes Me A Buzz (Pitch A Tent) ALICE DONUT Donut Comes Alive (Alternative tentacles)