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Our recommended essential tracks are now being teasingly added gradually to a new YouTube channel with suggested playlists by year.
Head over to YouTube to find out for yourself. Be sure to search for CRITICALWAX rather than CRITICAL_WAX though! NO SPACES SIR!!
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Unfortunately, following comments made by Anton at a gig, the review for BJM's new album Something Else was never published. Here it is in full... THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE – Something Else (4/5)
‘Something Else’ is the first of two 2018 albums from the prolific Anton Newcombe’s the Brian Jonestown Massacre. While 2017’s ‘Don’t Get Lost’ saw Newcombe dipping a toe into a huge variety of styles for a wide-ranging double album collection that was arguably his most creative yet, ‘Something Else’ – BJM’s 17th full length release – sees a return to the core 60’s influenced psychedelic guitar based sound most familiar to fans. Opener Hold That Thought features an addictive beat, a distinct, track-defining drum pattern and organ chords alongside Newcombe’s familiar vocal tones. Skin And Bones again features notable, pummelling drums as Newcombe’s vocals descend into them alongside a characteristic tambourine presence but as with so many of BJM’s past glories, the meandering 60’s psych guitar weaves a hypnotic, melodic spell that owns the track. The only problem with this and many other tracks on the album is, admittedly, a selfish one – it’s all over too damn quickly at just over three minutes. The slower My Poor Heart plods along with an unusual, hopping drum beat, the timeless melodic guitar line this time complemented by reverb heavy touches. The even slower My Love is a pleasant surprise, being the closest thing, perhaps, to a full on love song that BJM have released to date, the cut bereft of its usual snake-like weaving guitar and replaced by a mellow twanging hook that leaves you wondering how Newcombe can produce something so familiar yet still so fresh. At eight minutes, closing number Silent Stream is a sprawling, droning effort to test listeners’ patience that reminds a little of a stretched out version of Sailor, a Cryan’ Shames cover released on 2001’s ‘Bravery, Repetition and Noise’. It’s the most psychedelic, haze-induced track on the album and one that hints at Newcombe’s drug-fuelled past. But the true strength of ‘Something Else’ clearly lies in the ease at which they continue to knock out mesmerising, psychedelic jams driven by those trademark guitar tones. Psychic Lips is classic BJM while also reminding of Echo and the Bunnymen, the guitar melody backed by a subtle wall of drone being the key ingredient. Who dreams of cats opens to shimmering cymbals before launching into another typically outstanding guitar based cracker and Fragmentation features more 60s psych-revival guitars for another winner. The second 2018 album promises to be an eponymous release, something Newcombe decided upon just for people to ask, after 18 albums, “why now?”. With rapidly produced songs being stockpiled into two distinct categories at the rate of a track a day, the next album is likely to be another more experimental effort that first and foremost pleases its creator. ‘Something Else’, though, is one for the fans. Instead of looking for a needle in a haystack we'll tell you which it is....it's PARANOID by BLACK SABBATH from 1970....what CWax rating did it achieve? Go and find out...
After less action than you'll see from drying paint, yet another year of essential tracks goes live. As usual, send your abuse via the contact page along with any sensible suggestions where we've missed your favourite stuff but please, we know Russ Abbott's Atmosphere was a 1984 top ten hit but we've already ruled that out for many, many, many reasons...and some more after that too.
After last week's bonanza of newly added tracks, we've slogged away at some more. 1983 recommended listens now uploaded. Bung some more that we've missed our way via the contact page and we'll either add them or ignore you entirely as they fall short of the overall marks required from the large panel of well-respected and revered judges.
After much in-house fighting, a list of recommended tracks covering years 1976-1982 inclusive have finally been added to the essential tracks section. Before letting us know your disgusted thoughts via the contact page, bear in mind that the squabbling resulted in a couple of shiners, a few bruised ribs and even a broken nose. If for a miraculous reason your suggestions for additional tracks are accepted after careful scrutiny, you might even get a nod of acknowledgement from the webmaster. Alternatively, we may all just roll around the floor laughing.
As regular visitors will know, we're not exactly the most prolific content uploaders. So, for those of you who do visit more than just the once (until you realise that the site's about as interesting as the last minute football transfer deals on deadline day for your club as you watch each and every other club sign about 5 world class players while your own club does sweet FA) this is just to let you know we've brought the review sections up to date...for now at least,
Psychedelic masters The Brian Jonestown Massacre graced Brighton's Concorde 2 with their presence last night, getting in first before their old mates The Dandy Warhols arrive in town in July. Anton Newcombe and the band were in fine form, with not a single restarted number in sight (Anton's professional approach won't settle for anything less than perfection). With typically solid leading contributions from Matt Hollywood (despite his glasses going AWOL at one point), Frankie Emerson and of course Joel ("being Joel"), Ricky Maymi, Rob Campanella, Collin Hegna and Dan Allaire completed the line up for one of the venues most memorable moments of the year as they trawled through old favourites such as Anemone and Wisdom whilst adding several new numbers from this year's new album, Revelation. Catch them at Glastonbury TODAY! Even when Mr Ware forgets that legendary snapping tool of his, he still manages to snatch some close up shots of hardcore action with his trusty iphone backup - see these pics of The Darling Buds from their London gig last night as evidence... It's been a while since Mr Ware flexed his snapping tool muscles but here we are again: right at the front of the intimate show Blood Red Shoes performed at Resident Records in sunny Brighton just last month... |
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