If the Jesus and Mary Chain had offered up Psychocandy in 1985 and then disappeared completely, we'd still be talking about them with reverence in our voices. There's something to be said for retaining a bid of mystery. The Reid brothers stayed away for 19 years between Munki in 1998 and Damage and Joy in 2017. The resulting album upon their return didn't exactly do much to the duo's mythos. Then they went away again. Now, after another few years off the grid, they're back wtih Glasgow Eyes.
This time around Jim and William Reid are embracing more electronic textures, enough that Glasgow Eyes has a neat sheen to it. That works to the pair's advantage on the highlights here, and immediately dates their vibe on others. "Mediterranean X Film" works up a nice fervor atop a fairly catchy hook, even while there's enough of the old sinister flair in Jim's vocals to let us know we're in familiar territory. Elsewhere, "Discotheque" churns admirably. The track is a highlight here, and proof of how much life is left in this duo, especially when they challenge themselves with new instrumental flavors and dashes of new styles. That this sounds like Primal Scream in their Evil Heat phase is a plus, especially given that that band's singer was once the drummer here.
Glasgow Eyes is an album where for every song that really pleases us long-time fans, there's something right after it that doesn't at all. "The Eagles and the Beatles" and "Hey Lou Reid" both seem overthought and forced to these ears, even as the simple "Second of June" did successfully take me back to the pleasures of Darklands (1987). The directly appealing "Venal Joy" earns its place as another highlight here by nodding in the direction of the straightforward charms of Automatic from 1989.
It's not that I expect a band to not change, but there are reasons I listen to a Jesus and Mary Chain record, and the more I have those reasons rewarded, the more successful the release seems to these ears. Still, I applaud the Reid Brothers for the chances taken here, as a few of these numbers do work as well as their best stuff. I mean, they're never going to top Psychocandy, but if they at least get us within sight of Automatic, I think we'd be pretty content with that.
Glasgow Eyes by The Jesus and Mary Chain is out on Friday via Fuzz Club.
[Photo: Mel Butler]