Automatic
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums:
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Automatic
- Artist: The Jesus and Mary Chain
- Rating:
- Release Date: 1989 10
- Total Time: 43:20
- Type: Lyrics are included with the album
- Genre: Rock
Review
The Jesus and Mary Chain's third studio album was a mixed bag, a touch rougher and more aggressive-sounding than Darklands, but still not the equivalent of Psychocandy for sheer kicks. Part of the problem was the actual studio setup; while soon-to-be superstar producer/engineer Alan Moulder did a great job on the sound, finding a way to mix thick guitar rumbles without sounding uncommercial, the fact was that the band was really just the brothers at this point. Like on Darklands, all drumming was courtesy of machines, and here the approach often felt monotonous; Bobby Gillespie's approach, for better or worse, really was distinct and individual, fitting with the style of the band beautifully. Meanwhile, much of the bass was also created via keyboards, another unusual switch. When Automatic was on, though, it was on, especially courtesy of another blazingly brilliant single. If "Sidewalking" was a T. Rex homage, "Head On" paid tribute to rock's eternal image of supercharged cool; one can almost smell the black leather as Jim Reid delivers the ultimate "Break on Through" lyric: "Makes you wanna feel/Makes you wanna try/Makes you wanna blow the stars from the sky." The music sure didn't hurt either; even the synth bass sounded perfectly right. Other songs, like the brawling "Blues From a Gun" and the aggro-sneer of "Her Way of Praying," suggest a new energy on the part of all involved, though likely enough they came across better live in the end with the Reids' then-touring band of the time. Meanwhile, there are definitely some sharp individual moments: the sudden massive feedback clang during the instrumental break on "Coast to Coast," the "Sweet Jane"-inspired melody on the nicely moving "Halfway to Crazy," and the hint of strings on the brief "Drop." ~ Ned Raggett, Rovi| Automatic (1989 Album by Sharpe & Numan) | |
| Automatic (2009 Album by Tokio Hotel) |
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:
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Automatic
- Genres: Rock
Biography
The alternative rock band Automatic were once known as the Spinouts. Bassist Matt Fenton, Alex Jarvis on guitar, drummer Leigh Marlow (who was replaced by drummer Danny Plant), and bassist Richard Taylor make up the post-grunge group. The band developed its unique sound by combining the styles of many different groups, and was influenced by such '80s and '90s outfits as the Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, and U2.Automatic began as the Spinouts when Matt Fenton met up with Alex Jarvis as freshmen in high school in 1987. The two attended Queenscliff High School in Victoria, Australia. Their professional career initially included social school gatherings and beach parties. Along with members of Automatic, several other influences graduated with the two, including members of Magic Dirt and Seaweed Gorillas. With their pop/rock style, Automatic strove to move to Melbourne, where their sound would be more widely accepted. After seven years, the band settled on members Fenton, Jarvis, and Marlow, and Taylor. In 1994, the band made its first album, Automatic, which was released independently. The album led to much success for the band and produced a new group of listeners. With its punk rock sound, the group signed with the Murmur record label in 1995. Their first album there was Sister K.
Under the guidance of producer Nick Launay, Automatic released their second album, Transmitter, in 1997. Launay produced such music legends as PiL, the Idiot Box soundtrack, Slits, and Silverchair and changed the sound of Automatic from pop/rock to a harder, louder sound, which paid off for the group. Transmitter includes such rock favorites as "Blown," "Does She Kiss Like You?" "What If...," and "Girl with a Million Minds." According to the bandmembers, the success of Automatic relies heavily upon the diversity of their songs. The group performs everything from hard rock to dance music. ~ Kim Summers, Rovi
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Automatic (The Jesus and Mary Chain album)
| Automatic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by The Jesus and Mary Chain | ||||
| Released | September 1989 | |||
| Recorded | Sam Therapy, West London, England | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 43:33 | |||
| Label | Blanco y Negro Records | |||
| Producer | Jim Reid, William Reid | |||
| The Jesus and Mary Chain chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Automatic | ||||
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Automatic is the third album by Scottish alternative rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain. The Mary Chain on this record is basically the core duo of brothers William and Jim Reid, with a drum machine providing percussion, and even a synthesizer filling in on bass guitar. The only other credited musician was Richard Thomas, who joined the touring version of the Mary Chain as a drummer. Thomas drummed on "Gimme Hell", and was a former member of Dif Juz. He also made appearances on Cocteau Twins' 1986 Victorialand LP and This Mortal Coil's 1986 Filigree & Shadow.
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Contents
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Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Pitchfork Media | (7.8/10)[2] |
| Q | July 2006 (p.122) |
| Robert Christgau | B−[3] |
Although released to generally poor reviews at the time (with the aforementioned synthesized drums and bass being the biggest point of contention), Automatic contains their most successful single up to that point, "Head On" (later covered by the Pixies). Critical and fan reception has improved with the passage of time. Pitchfork Media wrote in 2006: "Conventional wisdom wrongly calls (Automatic) the dud," of the JAMC's discography, but that in hindsight the album "feels like a career peak"[4] and has been a fan favourite.
The last two tracks, "Drop" and "Sunray", were initially only available on the CD release, and not the vinyl LP and cassette releases. Later re-issues on cassette and CD feature all 12 tracks.
Track listing
All songs written by Jim Reid and William Reid.
- LP (BYN 20), limited gatefold LP (BYN 20W) and cassette (BYNC 20)
Side 1
- "Here Comes Alice" – 3:52
- "Coast to Coast" – 4:13
- "Blues from a Gun" – 4:44
- "Between Planets" – 3:27
- "UV Ray" – 4:04
Side 2
- "Her Way of Praying" – 3:46
- "Head On" – 4:11
- "Take It" – 4:34
- "Halfway to Crazy" – 3:41
- "Gimme Hell" – 3:18
- CD (BYNCD 20)
- "Here Comes Alice" – 3:52
- "Coast to Coast" – 4:13
- "Blues from a Gun" – 4:44
- "Between Planets" – 3:27
- "UV Ray" – 4:04
- "Her Way of Praying" – 3:46
- "Head On" – 4:11
- "Take It" – 4:34
- "Halfway to Crazy" – 3:41
- "Gimme Hell" – 3:18
- "Drop" – 1:55
- "Sunray" – 1:35
Personnel
The Jesus and Mary Chain
- Jim Reid - vocals (tracks 2, 4 to 10), guitar, synthesizer, drum programming, production
- William Reid - vocals (tracks 1, 3, 11), guitar, synthesizer, drum programming, production
Additional personnel
- Alan Moulder - engineer
- Jamie Harley - recording assistant
- Lee Curle - recording assistant
- Dick Meaney - mixing assistant
- Richard Thomas - drums on "Gimme Hell"
- Ryan Art - design
- Steve Mitchell - photography
- Andrew Catlin - photography
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | UK Albums Chart | 11 |
| 1989 | US Billboard 200 | 105 |
| 1989 | Swedish Albums Chart | 42 |
Notes
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AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums
Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.
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AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists
Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.
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