“Glasgow Eyes” – The Jesus and Mary Chain

Album: Glasgow Eyes

Artist: The Jesus and Mary Chain

Year: 2024

Genre: Alternative Rock, Post-Punk

Grade: B

Scottish noise rock pioneers The Jesus and Mary Chain — consisting of brothers Jim and William Reid — originally broke up in 1998 (15 minutes into a concert at the L.A. House of Blues, no less) and went their separate ways before reforming in 2015. A reunion album followed in 2007, which consisted of songs that had previously existed in some form or another, including discarded Jesus and Mary Chain demos and Reid bros. solo material, which thusly makes their 2024 album Glasgow Eyes the first LP of completely new material since Munki over 20 years prior.

As it stands, Glasgow Eyes is about what you’d expect from The Jesus and Mary Chain after 40 years of on-again off-again existence. Think reformation-era Pixies (but better) or reformation-era Royal Trux (but worse). It’s got some catchy alt melodies, some half-assed vocals, and some nonessential lyrics that live in the past. If you liked the band’s 1990s output, then you can rest easy knowing that The Jesus and Mary Chain doesn’t really sound all that different.

But for fans of the band’s 1980s output, don’t expect Glasgow Eyes to take you back to the glory days. You already know that the Reid brothers will never catch lightning in a bottle like they did on Psychocandy, and they’ll never match the minor triumphs of Darklands or Automatic either.

Even still, there are a few songs that sorta resemble “classic” Jesus and Mary Chain: the purposeful motorik beat of “jamcod,” the distorted guitars of the dirge-like “Pure Poor,” the melodic 1960s throwback “The Eagles and the Beatles.”

Luckily, Glasgow Eyes isn’t entirely a retread of the band’s trademarks, with the most notable difference being the emphasis on electronics offering a fresh take on their iconic noisy dynamics. It all comes together on the whirring “Chemical Animal,” an introspective slow-burn that is probably their best song in nearly 30 years. But if you’re looking to play a Jesus and Mary Chain album in 2024, might as well just dust off your copy of Psychocandy.

Ah 1985 … back when they could sing, back when they could write melodic tunes, back when they balanced pop and noise rock like no one else. The Jesus and Mary Chain was always a one-hit wonder, yes, but what a hit it was.

---