Album Review: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Damage And Joy

Legendary Scottish noiseniks The Jesus And Mary Chain have certainly taken their sweet time making this record. Having reformed in 2007 after a decade-long hiatus, they’ve taken another 10 years to finally get around to releasing a new album.

In the best possible way, not much has changed. Jim Reid and co. are one of those unique groups who patented their own sound – a mix of buzz-saw guitars and sweet melodies that has proven enormously influential over the years.

It’s truly wonderful to hear them back in business on Damage And Joy. The likes of ‘War On Peace’, ‘The Two Of Us’ and ‘Get On Home’ sucessfully reach the giddy heights of past gems such as ‘Just Like Honey’, the tune which famously soundtracked the classic final scene in Sofia Coppola’s Lost In Translation.

Damage And Joy is released into a rock climate unrecognisable from that in which the Mary Chain started out – their subversive style stands out vividly amidst the bland background of contemporary UK rock. All the better to have them back then.