Incredibly, it’s been 40 years since The Jesus and Mary Chain released their first single, and the Reid brothers return with their first new material since 2017’s Damage And Joy (which was their first album in 19 years). They have released a brand new track from their forthcoming album, Glasgow Eyes in the shape of lead single “jamcod.” The single’s title is very likely not a reference to a weird Scottish delicacy( I mean come on, what sort of deviant would put jam on fish?) Instead, it is the band acronym JAMC with an added OD on the end. After waiting so long for new music, fans will be happy to OD on a tune which contains the band’s signature sound, with Jim Reid’s cool, laconic drawl juxtaposed with brother William’s explosive guitar sound plus some additional electronic flourishes which may hint at what direction the new album will take.
Jim and William Reid—also mark their 40th year in 2024 with an autobiography (published by Orion/White Rabbit) and a major UK and European tour. I interviewed Jim for Under The Radar magazine recently, in which he said (of the album), “It will be a bit different; it’s quite experimental and electronic. Not so much that you won’t recognize it as the Mary Chain, but yeah, we messed about with the sound a bit.” You can read the full interview HERE.
In the Glasgow Eyes press release, it mentions the album is informed by the Reid’s love of Suicide and Kraftwerk, “and a fresh appreciation of the less disciplined attitudes found in jazz.” Jim expands, “But don’t expect ‘the Mary Chain goes jazz.’ People should expect a Jesus and Mary Chain record, and that’s certainly what Glasgow Eyes is. 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.”
Glasgow Eyes is now available to pre-order HERE. Physical formats include CD, single vinyl and, for those who love the sound of vinyl at its purest, limited edition 45 rpm double-vinyl lavishly packaged with artwork by William Reid. Fans who pre-order the album before 10am on Friday December 1st receive priority access to tour tickets. Pre-orders open at 11am GMT today.
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
The Jesus and Mary Chain
Glasgow Eyes
(Fuzz Club)
March 8, 2024
Pre-order HERE
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’
Follow The Jesus and Mary Chain:
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Where can I get hold of the single “Jamcod”, didn’t it come out last month? (Dec 2023)