The Jesus and Mary Chain are revving up for an exciting new year with the release of their upcoming album “Glasgow Eyes” on March 8th, via Fuzz Club. Not ones to rest on their laurels (or perhaps just allergic to idleness), the duo, comprising the Reid brothers – Jim and William – have also unveiled their lead single “jamcod,” in a move that’s both a nod to their roots and a wink at the future. It’s as if they’ve taken their trademark style, given it a good shake, and flung it headfirst into the 21st century, with a sprinkle of futuristic Britpop for good measure.
In jamcod, dizzying electronica cozies up to William Reid’s gargantuan guitar riffs like old friends at a high school reunion. Meanwhile, at the track’s core, Jim Reid’s vocals swing between chant and call to arms, as if he’s leading a ritual to conjure the spirit of ’90s alt-rock. The result? A song that’s part throwback, part trailblazer – and all Jesus and Mary Chain. It’s a reassuring reminder that while the brothers might be celebrating four decades in the game, they’re not just spinning their wheels. They’re burning rubber and leaving a trail of revitalized, yet comfortably familiar, tunes in their wake.
“Hopefully people will expect a Jesus and Mary Chain record, and that’s certainly what Glasgow Eyes is,” says Jim Reid. “Our creative approach is remarkably the same as it was in 1984, just hit the studio and see what happens. We went in with a bunch of songs and let it take its course. There are no rules, you just do whatever it takes. And there’s a telepathy there – we are those weird not-quite twins that finish each other’s sentences.”
jamcod is accompanied by a video directed by Ben Unwin, who has conjured up a visual counterpart to the track that cleverly interweaves stock footage with shots of the band. The result is a glitchy, lo-fi transmission that echoes the song’s ethos perfectly. This kaleidoscope of imagery that feels like flipping through a particularly artsy, slightly off-kilter television channel. In this video, Unwin both captures and amplifies the essence of the band, turning what could have been a straightforward performance into a mesmerizing collage that’s as rebellious and unconventional as JAMC itself.
Watch the video for “jamcod” below:
At Mogwai’s Castle of Doom studio in Glasgow, a place that might sound more like a lair for a comic book villain than a recording space, The Jesus and Mary Chain have been busy. Here, Jim and William Reid have been stitching together their latest opus, Glasgow Eyes. This endeavour follows the smooth sailing that brought their 2017 album, Damage and Joy, to the spotlight as their most successful record in two decades.
What’s cooking this time, you ask? Glasgow Eyes marries their signature blend of sweet melody and searing feedback with a more profound homage to their musical inspirations like Suicide and Kraftwerk. Adding a pinch of spice to an already flavourful dish, there’s also a newfound zest for the spontaneous side of jazz. The Jesus and Mary Chain are watering their roots with something entirely fresh.
Track List:
1. ‘Venal Joy’
2. ‘American Born’
3. ‘Mediterranean X Film’
4. ‘jamcod’
5. ‘Discotheque’
6. ‘Pure Poor’
7. ‘The Eagles and The Beatles’
8. ‘Silver Strings’
9. ‘Chemical Animal
10. ‘Second of June’
11. ‘Girl 71’
12. ‘Hey Lou Reid’
jamcod and Glasgow Eyes not only extends The Jesus and Mary Chain story, but their back-to-basics approach feels like they’re also simultaneously going back to their roots. From the incendiary Psychocandy debut and its classic single Just Like Honey onwards, the Reid brothers steadily became the misfits who made good without ever compromising their sound or identity. They’ve returned to their legacy in recent years, with this year’s live album Sunset 666, reissues of the Munki, Damage and Joy and Live At Barrowlands albums on Fuzz Club, plus a limited edition 7” single release for Third Man Records.
The Reid brothers are strapping in for a tour that’s less of a routine jaunt and more of a triumphant parade across the UK and EU in 2024: a celebration of endurance and evolution. As they prepare to hit the road, they’re set to relive, reimagine, and rejoice in a storied career that’s spanned decades, influenced generations…and now, finds them at a creative zenith.
In addition to its digital release, physical formats include CD, vinyl and a 45 rpm double-vinyl with a gatefold sleeve. Fans who pre-order Glasgow Eyes here will receive access to a pre-sale for tour tickets, which opens at 11am GMT today and will be open until remaining tickets go on general sale from 10am GMT on Friday, December 1st.
2024 TOUR-DATES
- March 22 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
- March 25 – Dublin, IE @ Olympia
- March 26 – Belfast, UK @ Limelight 1
- March 27 – Edinburgh, UK @ Usher Hall
- March 30 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
- April 2 – Copenhagen, DK @ Amager Bio
- April 3 – Gothenburg, SE @ Pustervik
- April 5 – Oslo, NO @ Rockefeller
- April 6 – Stockholm, SE @ Munich Brewery
- April 7 – Malmo, SE @ Plan B
- April 9 – Hamburg, DE @ Markthalle
- April 11 – Berlin, DE @ Huxleys
- April 12 – Cologne, DE @ Live Music Hall
- April 13 – Paris, FR @ Elysée Montmartre
- April 15 – Geneva, CH @ L’Usine
- April 16 – Winterthur, CH @ Salzhaus
- April 17 – Milan, IT @ Alcatraz
- April 19 – Krems, AT @ Donaufestival
- April 20 – Heidelberg, DE @ Halle O2
- April 21 – Tilburg, NL @ Roadburn Festival
- April 23 – Brussels, BE @ AB
- April 24 – The Hague, NL @ Paard
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