Album Review: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Glasgow Eyes

40 years after their first single, brothers Jim and William Reid of The Jesus and Mary Chain are still growing old disgracefully. 54 seconds into Glasgow Eyes opener ‘Venal Joy’, Jim is on about wanting to “fuck on the table”, over a pulsating electroclash breakbeat that’s all attitude and snarl.

Recorded at Mogwai’s Castle of Doom studio in Glasgow, this album sees the duo embracing synths and drum machines as much as fuzz pedals. For evidence, hear the dark electronica of lead single, ‘Jamcod’, the hypnotically weird and wonderful ‘Mediterranean X Film’, or the beat-busy ‘Discotheque’, which doesn’t really sound like anything in their back catalogue.

Normal service resumes, however, on the brooding ‘Chemical Animal’ and ‘Pure Poor’, the latter a slowcore grind of buzzing guitars that’s extremely heavy on the distortion, while ‘Girl 71’ utilises the Reids’ ability to couch ’60s-inspired bubblegum pop behind buzzsaw guitars to tantalising effect.

‘The Eagles And The Beatles’ initially recalls Joan Jett’s ‘I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll’, before it turns into a catchy, Byrds-ean paean to the bands the brothers grew up loving, while ‘Second Of June’ is similarly and surprisingly sun-kissed.

‘Hey Lou Reid’ is six minutes and 15 seconds of lo-fi indie, with more time changes than a horologists’ convention, as the brothers pay tribute to the former Velvet Underground founder and alt-rock legend with whom they share a surname.

The 2024 version of The Jesus And Mary Chain may be a little longer in the tooth, but they’re still unafraid to bite.

7/10