And in a way they were. Their original combination of unforgettable melodies and abrasive, sometimes nearly unlistenable noise has marked many of the Nineties' supposedly seminal releases (check out Nirvana, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails - the list is long and getting longer). But where most of their peers bottled it, cravenly opted for the easy life (or death), The Jesus and Mary Chain went on and on, remorselessly seeking the perfect pop LP.
Now back with Creation overseas and newly signed to Sub Pop in North America, they release Munki, a superb collection of tracks written and endlessly refined over a three year period. Munki rediscovers and renews all those gloriously familiar Mary Chain trademarks - the stinging buzz of "Never Understand", the bleak, beautiful soundscapes of Darklands, the hardcore stadium rock of Automatic, they're all here: souped-up, speed-fueled and rushing bigtime.
Big sound, bloody minds. They might still be on Everest but they clearly mean to roll over any fucker in the way.
Many bands burst onto the scene with an explosion of hyperbole and expletives, seizing the imaginations of public and critics, tabloids and broadsheets. Most though just as rapidly implode or meander gracelessly into humiliating middle age. The Jesus and Mary Chain arrived, via Creation Records, in 1984, and threatened to change music forever. Their arrogance and vitriol, the mesmerizing aggression of their sound and the riots that seemed to punctuate their every public performance had many believing that they might well be right.
©1998 Sub Pop Records