Automatic
The third album: just the two brothers, a drum machine and synthesised bass.
The Jesus And Mary Chain, 1989
- Released
- 9 October 1989
- Recorded
- 1989
- Studio
- Sam Therapy, West London
- Label
- Blanco y Negro
- Producer
- Jim Reid, William Reid
- Length
- 43:26
Credited to the core duo of Jim and William Reid, it has a drum machine providing percussion and synthesised bass. The only other credited musician is Richard Thomas, who played drums on Gimme Hell and joined the touring band as a drummer. Alan Moulder engineered. The singles were Blues from a Gun in September 1989 and Head On in November.
Reviews were generally mixed on release, with the synthesised drums and bass the main point of contention. Pitchfork's 2006 verdict was that conventional wisdom wrongly calls it the dud, and that it feels like a career peak. It reached 11 in the UK and 105 on the Billboard 200. Pixies later covered Head On.
Track listing
- Here Comes Alice3:53
- Coast to Coast4:13
- Blues from a Gun4:44
- Between Planets3:27
- UV Ray4:06
- Her Way of Praying3:46
- Head On4:11
- Take It4:34
- Halfway to Crazy3:40
- Gimme Hell3:20
- Drop1:58
- Sunray1:34
Personnel
- Jim Reid vocals, guitar, synthesiser, drum programming, production
- William Reid vocals, guitar, synthesiser, drum programming, production
- Richard Thomas drums on Gimme Hell
- Alan Moulder engineer
More from The Jesus And Mary Chain
Psychocandy (1985), Darklands (1987), Honey's Dead (1992), Stoned & Dethroned (1994)
Sources
- Automatic (The Jesus and Mary Chain album), Wikipedia
- The Jesus and Mary Chain: Psychocandy / Darklands / Automatic / Honey's Dead / Stoned & Dethroned, Pitchfork (2006-08-04)