Brian Jonestown Massacre: Classic or Dud?

who IS that dressed as Joel? this is in 'the back' at Amoeba btw.

ha ha, brilliant costume ^^^^^^^ Joel is such a dude, he's awesome.

New album Who Killed Sgt. Pepper = pretty nice, almost a spiritual successor to Methodrone given long songs, heavy instrumental focus, less emphasis on live rock in favor of studio creation, more electronic than garagey in many ways. Vocals de-emphasized or set back in the mix -- really not what I was expecting from the return of Matt Hollywood as well!

Kind of curious to hear this one, though I never did get around to the last one either.

The bits and pieces I've heard sounded interesting. I'm looking forward to sitting down and hearing the whole thing.

It's my fave album of theirs in a long time and the Methodrone evocation is spot-on. Full circle after all these years, who woulda thought? Still wondering if Will plays on this.

Press guff said he did unless I completely misread it. If that's him he does a good job; nearly every song is driven by rhythm rather than melody.

If that's him he does a good job; nearly every song is driven by rhythm rather than melody

Of course, it's Will!

And all is well. Or Will.

Wow wow wow this is exactly the album I need right now.

What are these guys like live these days? Seeing them in Boston in June.

I saw them live last summer and really enjoyed the show. There's tons of their live stuff on youtube, of varying quality.

What are these guys like live these days? Seeing them in Boston in June.

If the eight-piece line up is continuing (crossing my fingers that they will), they're more gritty shoegaze sandstorm than various wrecks of attitude-aspiration. Their set from Coachella 2009 is here: http://webinfront.net/?p=1963 - even after years of seeing them there were a couple of "whoa" moments (if anything, skip directly ahead to "When Jokers Attack" - this might just be their finest moment ever)

For those who like this, it may be worth returning to JAMC - Honey's Dead, too.

Just found out The Young Sinclairs will be opening up the for the east coast leg of the U.S. tour.

Via their myspace

http://www.myspace.com/theyoungsinclairs

Jesus Christ, I'm not into this album at all, and I liked My Bloody Underground quite a bit. I guess I just like their garage side better (actually, Bringing It All Back Home Again is probably my favorite), but this is just way too far into the electronic realm for me. A couple tracks a like, but overall, blech.

This is, I think, quite possibly the best album "they" (and I use that term loosely) have done in a decade.

I see your point about it being sonically closest to Methodrone, that kind of claustrophobic fuzz-laden darkness, as the jangle is bannished in favour of wall-of-sound Sonic Textures (tm).

I like the continued electronic influence (even though several times, I can spot the exact sample loop that's been used) - it's integrated much better and - most refreshingly - Anton discovered where the "Quantise" button was, so the songs are nowhere near as messy as they were. (Another friend "in the know" says that it's more because Anton has given up drinking - that *he's* not as sloppy, so the songs are more clear, focused, in time. He's in control again, and it shows.)

And yeah, I like the bass-driven aspect of it, but Carruthers is a genius (don't tell him I said that).

And quite frankly, I love the idea of post-Dig! BJM fans getting disgusted by all the electronics and walking away. Yes, I recognise that's a terribly snobbish thing to say, but... hey.

Five months into 2012 and so far Aufheben is my favorite album of the year. Somehow Anton has managed to corral all the traditional "messiness" that's endemic to a lot of BJM albums and got them pointed in the same direction and working together. Who Killed Sgt. Pepper = transitional. Aufheben = realized statement, goal post, etc.

Hmm, noted, still haven't gotten around to it but that's high praise!

I really like "Spacegirl and Other Favorites" a lot, after not caring for much by these guys for a long, long time. What's a good next album to check out?

Maybe Methadrone?

I'd go with the last one (Aufheben)

i only have the 2 cd best of (local charity shop purchase !!!!!) ..
is this representative ?

That 2xCD is a pretty good start... I think pretty much everything is on YouTube at this point if you want to check out the recent stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3G8oIz_EWY

So I like "Revelation" a lot.

But the production and occasional drum machine is making me wonder if they just recorded a couple of thousand songs in the early nineties and have been slowly doling them out a dozen at a time...

It's hasn't pulled me in that same way that Aufheben did, but it's a damn fine album.

First heard "Food for Clouds" and thought "hmmm... I think he's been listening to The Cure again" and then the vocals come in.

"Days, Weeks and Moths" live is a A+++

@antonnewcombe
The biggest company on earth wants to use my work to make money for 3 months and pay me nothing - of I say no,I'm banned

I hope the poor decide that law has no value and burn the Bay Area to the fucking ground starting in Cupertino

After looting all the techies McMansions

Give San Francisco back to the Gays and the Indians

http://crackmagazine.net/2015/06/anton-newcombe-hassled-by-apple/

damn, so i had avoided this band for years because of their name and album names but i heard "revelation" playing in the store the other day and i had to pick it up. and now i'm hooked! what are the must-have albums? i've read through the thread but looking for fresh opinions.

You can't go wrong with the two-disc compilation 'Tepid Peppermint Wonderland'. It's missing their newest stuff, but it covers the sustained brilliance of their first decade or so.

I haven't heard revelation yet but Tepid is a great intro. Spacegirl is my long time favorite but really anything from their peak (1995 - 2001) is excellent. Give it Back! probably has the most 'hits' of any of their albums from this time

The song "Telegram" is my favorite thing they've done.

Of the Bomp records, I'd go with Take It From The Man and Give It Back. Of the recents, Aufheben.

the song "don't get lost" is my favorite (recent) thing they've done

Methadrone is totally classic

About half of Take It From The Man is classic

"assignment song" also rules

I haven't listend to methodrone in a few years so i put it on this morning. it's a masterpiece. the distorted megaphone at the end of the last track that sounds like guitar feedback is one of my favorite things ever. and i had completely forgotten about she made me and everyone says which are both incredible

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MKRAzCkJfM

Unquestionably the greatest thing they’ve ever done. The bit at the end where he sits on the guitar amp as the audience pelt the falling stage curtain with beer had me howling.

was this all over a random member of the current live band saying something re red meat/politics ?

no idea who is who, so, is it that main man Anton who sits down on the speaker at the end ?
so far, he has not said anything as to this on his twitter groove as far as i can tell.

lol this is so embarrassing. aren't these guys all in their 50s?

was this all over a random member of the current live band saying something re red meat/politics ?

no, newcombe had spent the whole tour antagonising the audiences and arguing with some of the band and fights had nearly broken out at some of the previous shows apparently. newcombe was apparently in a terrible mood after the promoter had held him at knifepoint (?!) earlier and was barely able to sing that night, and kept antagonising the audience (who heckled him back) and left long gaps between songs. the fight was apparently only a handful of songs in

the bandmember speaking at the start i think could be making a veiled criticism of newcombe/the audience antagonising each other but he isn't the one involved in the fight.

Anton has been off the wagon for a couple years now and its effects on the current tour has mostly been like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txvL98lmhTU

too much floppy hat energy in one band

Lol

10-15 years ago a friend of my dad’s showed up to one of their concerts hella early and Anton was milling around outside drinking from a large jug of vodka

Also, longtime BJM manager Ted Gardner passed away at the end of 2021 and without him around keeping the BJM ship sailing is damn impossible

this is a heartwarming video