Jesus & Mary Chain 21 Singles: 1984-1998 CD

Not content to get regular day jobs, Scottish brothers Jim and William Reid (both on vocals and guitar) founded the Jesus & Mary Chain. The band's first single, "Upside Down," issued in 1984, was a mission statement of sorts, with squalls of guitar feedback looming over cool, detached singing and a lumbering beat. The group soon became UK music press darlings, largely due to their volatile live gigs. Over the years, the JAMC lineup changed numerous times (even including Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie briefly), and the Reid brothers began relying less on distortion and more on melody.

This chronologically ordered collection touches on every phase of the Jesus & Mary Chain's career, initially focusing on their remarkable debut, PSYCHOCANDY, and its outstanding '87 follow-up, DARKLANDS. Highlights from this period include the pop-perfect "Just Like Honey" and the swaggering "Sidewalking." As the band evolved, they became increasingly pop-savvy, as best revealed by the energetic "Head On" (later covered by the Pixies) and the gentle "Sometimes Always" (featuring vocalist Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star). Although the JAMC disbanded in 1998, legions of artists have since cited them as a major influence, and 21 SINGLES shows exactly why this group is so revered.

This album links the bands UK and US singles, soundtrack cuts and key album tracks released on Creation, Blanco Y Negro/Warner Bros., Blanco Y Negro/Deaf Jam, and Sub Pop. Rarities include alt-rock favorites 'Just Like Honey', 'April Skies', 'Sidewalking' and 'Come On'. Warner Bros./Rhino.

Recorded between 1984 & 1998.

Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.

Jesus & Mary Chain: Jim Reid, William Reid, Hope Sandoval (vocals, guitar); Ben Lurie (guitar, bass); Nick Sanderson, Bobby Gillespie (drums); Karen Parker, Steve Monty, Douglas Hart, Murrey Dalgliesh, Alan Mulder, John Loder, Bill Price.

Mojo (Publisher) (8/02, p.121) - "...This strictly no-filler collection shows what a consistently impressive singles band they were and also that most of the songs sound like they could have been written at any point during the group's lifespan..."
NME (Magazine) (6/1/02, p.38) - 9 out of 10 - "...It's not just the songs that are immaculate...the release of a Jesus And Mary Chain singles collection is perfectly timed. Not that there could ever be a wrong moment: this is the stuff of rock and roll's essential lexicon....The trail they blazed has never burned out."