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8.0
94193
8.0 |
Mojo
The most rewarding Jesus And Mary Chain album since their prime. Print edition only
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8.0
94194
8.0 |
Uncut
Underscores the Mary Chain's strengths. Print edition only
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8.0
94227
8.0 |
The Arts Desk
Damage and Joy is a good deal more than might be reasonably have been hoped for from a Mary Chain that is thankfully not growing old too gracefully
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8.0
94328
8.0 |
The Irish Times
Who would have thought that with their 60s approaching, the Scottish brothers William and Jim Reid would deliver the best album of their fractious career?
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8.0
94406
8.0 |
DIY
These constant provocateurs aren’t losing an icy distance just yet
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7.5
94348
7.5 |
Under The Radar
The songwriting and playing here are more assured than their legendarily ramshackle live shows would lead one to believe
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7.5
94268
7.5 |
The Line Of Best Fit
The Jesus and Mary Chain are trapped in amber on Damage and Joy, untouched by the very different musical climate to the one they last sent an album out into. Good job, then, that it contains far more hits than misses
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7.4
94278
7.4 |
Earbuddy
Damage and Joy is a great reintroduction to The Jesus and Mary Chain. And if it’s your first experience with the band like mine, you may even want to seek out their past releases
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7.0
94298
7.0 |
The Quietus
A consolidation rather than a great leap forward
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7.0
94307
7.0 |
Exclaim
The fact that they've come back at all is a remarkable thing. But doing so with an album that lives up to expectations is all we could have asked from the Reids
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7.0
94349
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
Full of fabulously morbid gems
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7.0
94396
7.0 |
Spectrum Culture
Predictably and delightfully dark
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7.0
95519
7.0 |
Gig Soup
Manages to be both nostalgic and refreshing, making it accessible to a diverse audience
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7.0
94435
7.0 |
Drowned In Sound
Damage and Joy heralds the dawning of a new era in its creators' colourful history, providing a worthwhile addition to a canon of musical eminence in the process
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7.0
94441
7.0 |
The Digital Fix
Damage and Joy is a solid step towards believing in miracle
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6.7
94221
6.7 |
Pitchfork
The Jesus and Mary Chain pick up where they left off, offering their usual mix of feedback-spiked rockers and stoned ballads
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6.2
94196
6.2 |
Paste Magazine
Any Mary Chain follower will be grateful to hear a new batch of downer-pop from the Brothers Reid just as they’ll be relieved at their ability to reconcile
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6.0
94195
6.0 |
Q
A little more derangement would have been welcome. Print edition only
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6.0
94239
6.0 |
The Skinny
A near-faultless return to form, even if some of these 'new' songs are actually over a decade old
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6.0
94292
6.0 |
The Independent
There’s not quite as intense a contrast between the sweetness of the melodies and the antagonistic howls of guitar feedback on this first album in 18 years
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6.0
94331
6.0 |
The Guardian
It’s a lot better than it might have been, but not quite as great as one might have hoped
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6.0
94339
6.0 |
All Music
It might make their fans happy, but for a band that claims to be dangerous and rebellious, it goes a long way towards reinforcing the fact that the JAMC are no longer either of those things
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6.0
94495
6.0 |
NOW
The mirror JAMC are holding up to the mainstream nowadays is less distorted, but still fully engaged in sharp and timeless songcraft
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6.0
94514
6.0 |
Evening Standard
Regularly good but rarely great
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6.0
94970
6.0 |
PopMatters
A keen reminder of what the Jesus and Mary Chain naturally possess that too many newer bands lack: a strong and inimitable personality
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6.0
94371
6.0 |
The FT
Revives the chunky alt-rock chug and drawled Americanisms of the Scottish fraternal duo’s 1990s work
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6.0
94384
6.0 |
The Observer
If Damage and Joy isn’t quite the echo of their pomp, neither is it a disappointment
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5.8
94347
5.8 |
Consequence Of Sound
Everything proceeds much too predictably and with far too much caution and restraint
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5.0
95010
5.0 |
musicOMH
For a 19-year wait, this is a mild payoff indeed
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4.0
95142
4.0 |
State
There’s some nice lead guitar work on some of the tracks, the occasional decent melody but on the whole, it’s pretty turgid stuff
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2.0
94277
2.0 |
The Music
One giant cringe. Don't remember them this way
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