TockTockTock

Honestly, I think Darklands is somewhat devoid of creativity and originality...

Here's why:

1. Monotonous/repetitive song structures (which is found in most JAMC songs).
2. Annoying, typical 80s-style production.
3. Simplistic and uninspiring lyrics.

Psychocandy, in my opinion, is more appealing in that it presented a more pop-driven take on noise music... which inevitably helped inspire the shoegaze movement. All Darklands did was rip-off The Velvet Underground's sound (like many other early alternative rock bands) and presented it in an extraordinarily boring fashion (with their debut sort of doing the opposite). Honestly, though, while I somewhat enjoy both albums, I find that there are far more interesting and entertaining ones out there as far as 80s alternative rock is concerned. Jesus and Mary Chain are just an okay band in my eyes...

This probably could have doubled as both a JAMC post and an Unpopular Opinions post, but... eh.

Howard the Duck

strong melodies

no allergy

just hate over-analysing

detracts from my enjoyment of music

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

Engine

fucking bullshit

say something substantial

for a change

Honestly, I've never found those two factors to be necessarily important to the process of judging whether music is good.

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Like an arrow,
I was only passing through.

Howard the Duck

how substantial?

i'd say the songcraft is brilliant, the hooks really sink in deep, the structures simple yet compelling, it's very romantic

and there is very few actual plagiarisim of the Velvet Underground, unlike the first album, which was mostly based on the somewhat noise-like viola of Heroin

there is however a complete rip-off of Beach Boys' Surfin's hook on one song on Darklands

and i ain't bullsh!tting - i think too much why i like it, i enjoy it less

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

slatesphanboi

Darklands is just a typical 'sophmore slump'. It happens all the time to new acts, their 2nd album just is not that good because they have used up almost all their good ideas on their debut.

NOOOooooo!!

Psychocandy is a great album. Heck I just listened to it earlier this week (I really like noise rock) and it alone cements JAMC as a great band in my mind!

duga

I can see how it isn't everyone's cup of tea...especially for people who really like Psychocandy...but I'd say it's anything but a sophomore slump. I'd say they realized they covered the noisy aspect of their music and wanted to change. This is evident in the fact that one of their later albums is called "Honey's Dead". You can even hear hints of the Darklands direction in Psychocandy.

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Confusion will be my epitaph...

Howard the Duck

^^+2

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

TockTockTock

But Psychocandy isn't noise rock. It's noise pop. And that's fine that you think they're great, I just feel (like someone said earlier) that they found a formula and stuck with it.

Howard the Duck

yep, different

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

TockTockTock

Are you being serious or sarcastic?