W/e 29/03/24 - The Jesus and Mary Chain, Elbow, Gossip, Waxahatchee, The Who

A middling week. No-one felt moved enough to award an 8+ which is unusual.

Gossip just nick it from JAMC and sneak into our top 10 for the year. They have TOTW as well for Real Power.

Elbow improve on their 2021 offering by a hundred+ places in our chart.

It's quite a moment… Mark has his first 😀 in almost a year! Erol ends up the ☹️, his first of 2024.

The Who are in good company on the classics, nestling up to the Smiths and INXS

Andy

The Jesus and Mary Chain - I was never a big Mary Chain fan back in the day so don’t really have a great frame of reference for this. It’s a lot more, maybe unsurprisingly, in a Primal Scream stylee than I expected until album closer Hey Lou Reid gives us more of that JAMC vibe. A bit confused that they plagiarised Weezer’s Beverley Hills. Alright 6

Elbow - Not sure what rattled me so much about their last album to give it a 2 but this didn’t irk me that much, even though Garvey’s vocals are still wet AF. Good Blood Mexico City was a decent tune 5.5

Gossip - I rather enjoyed this, Beth Ditto has a strong old voice and there’s a load of catchy numbers in here. Pleasant enough 6.5

Waxahatchee - Delightful bit of country tinged modern songwriting. Wednesday’s MJ Lendeman was asked to help out on Right Back To It and was such a hit he stayed for the whole album by all accounts, you can definitely hear that influence. Lovely stuff 7.5

TotW - Right Back To It

The Who - an absolute ripper of a record, how dare they start with Baba O’Riley?!? Lots of lovely tunes on here, kudos to MKE for sneaking an 80 minuter on to the list 8

Guy

Jesus and Mary Chain – They were never the same once Bobby Gillespie stopped playing the drums in my view. This is no Psychocandy, but then what is? The best tracks are the ones where they get the feedback going in time honoured fashion such as Jamcod – 7.3

Elbow – I was prepared to give this lot another chance – particularly since it was described as more upbeat. But sadly, I was disappointed yet again. I know they are musically very highly regarded but boy are they dull – 5.5

Gossip – This was easily the album of the week. Some top vocals from Beth and some super dancy 90s style tunes – all with real drums which makes it so much more enjoyable – 7.9

Waxahatchee – This had both country and western in it. Neither was my cup of tea. She’s got an OK voice though. Shame she flexes it in a C&W style – 5

The Who – Baba O’Riley and Won’t Get Fooled Again are two absolute belters so this was always likely to hit the spot for me. Nice to revisit – 8.7

TOTW – Gossip - Real Power

Simon

Jesus and Mary Chain: still retains some of the swagger of old, particularly on those tracks where they go a bit industrial - does lose momentum after a strong start though, and gets bogged down in places. 7.2

Elbow: definitely a step up from their previous effort, the more up-tempo numbers work well although there's a couple which are still a bit pipe and slippers. Not everyone's cup of tea clearly, but I enjoyed it. 7.5

Gossip: Beth Ditto's voice is certainly a force of nature, although I find it a bit hard going when she really lets loose - a few nice tracks on here but can't say I'll be rushing back for more. 7

Waxahatchee: don't like country music at the best of times, and whilst at least this wasn't the full Billy Ray Cyrus it did nothing for me. 5

The Who: book-ended by two all time classics, David Hepworth in his book 1971 thought this was probably the best album released that year - high praise indeed, and who am I to disagree. 8

TotW: Elbow - Good Blood México City

Sam

Jesus and Mary Chain : still sounds good to me . I like a bit of variety. 7.5

Elbow : despite what Simon and various music publications said I thought this was dull as shit as usual . 4

Gossip : skipped along quite nicely but didn’t really grab me . 6.6

Waxahatchee : love her voice . Great lyrics . For me there is lots more than just country and western on this album . 7.8

TOTW : Jamcod by JAMC

The Who : never been interested in them at all . However this was better than I expected. 6.2

Jim

Jesus and Mary Chain 6.5

As most observe, the more intense ones were good, very PS Vanishing Point. But there were a few plodders, and it lacked the variety needed for a 50 minute offering of this genre.

Elbow 4.5

With you Sam, mostly lame although the 🇲🇽 track was good.

Gossip 7.5

Slick soul and disco infused pop . Really enjoyed this.

Waxahatchee 6.5

Thought this was Ok, the country twang helps and gives it a feel of early tay tay. I’m with you on the Wednesday influence Andy that spiced up a few in the first half in particular.

TOTW: Gossip - Tell Me Something

The Who 7.5

I’ve never invested a lot of time in them. Don’t mind a bit of Rock Opera , shame more weren’t up there with the superb last track.

Matt

The Jesus and Mary Chain - still got the anger but on a more low key Primal Scream trajectory. 7

Elbow - a kitchen sink drama of an album. 7.2

Gossip - stood out with its 60s slash disco inflections in an otherwise low key week. 7.5

Waxahatchee - Radio 2 country. 6.4

Totw Real Power Gossip

Erol

JAMC - for me, an album of two halves. This was hard going until the Beatles and the Eagles and then it nicely finds its groove. 7

Elbow - anodyne Radio 2 Sunday afternoon music. I don’t mind Guy Garvey but I tired of this quickly. 5.5

Gossip - I saw Beth Ditto on TV at Glasto a few years ago performing Standing in the Way of Control and she was fantastic. Her vocal strength really comes through on this album and the first half is a super slice of 70s retro with a disco vibe. The second half is noticeably weaker though, and am not sure her powerful pipes are so well suited for the softer emotional numbers. 7.3

Waxahatchee - I’m quite partial to a bit of country music if it’s done well but this was rather limp, I’m afraid. 4.5

TOTW - Real Power by Gossip

The Who - I know they are rock royalty but I was never massively into these guys. There’s just not enough bite in their music. Granted, there are a few outstanding numbers on this but the rest washes over me. 6.5

Mark

Jesus & Mary Chain - they can't be knocking out sets of 20 minute feedback forever, and I like this more mature power pop side to them, plenty of really good Glasgow meets California indie rock tunes -7.5

Elbow - a welcome increase in tempo from their last few albums, and Good Blood Mexico City is a cracker - 6.5

Gossip - she has a hell of a voice, sometimes a bit overpowering so prefer it when she reins it in a little, but I thoroughly enjoyed this, would like to see them live - 7.5

Waxahatchee - I love this kind of nu-country / Americana or whatever it's called, and she's got a great voice, kind of a mix between Alanis and Suzanne Vega in places - 7

TOTW - Girl 71 by the Mary Chain

Justin

JAMC - not the usual JAMC but I enjoyed the Primal Scream sound 7

Elbow - not as bad as the last one and as a fan of prog should like it more, but it never seems to get out of 1st gear. 5.9

Gossip - enjoyable power indie 6.9

Waxahatchee - bit dull but I do have a bit of a soft spot for female Country and Western 6.5

Totw. Turn the card slowly - Gossip