Mary Quite Contrary

Thirty-two years ago next month, The Jesus and Mary Chain, a band created by Scottish songwriting brothers Jim and William Reid, released its debut album Psychocandy.

On one hand, the album did little more than update for the dour, Joy Division generation the psychedelic garage rock of bands like The Troggs or The Seeds. Even the band’s haircuts — dyed-black bangs over eyes, framing permanently frowning mouths — seemed themselves like cartoonish, goth rock updates on Beatle-bangs.

Psychocandy sounded like it was recorded in a Scottish castle — cavernous and echoing. And lots of bands had played around with guitar distortion and feedback, but the guitar sound the Reid brothers slathered on tunes such as “The Living End” was more like hot lava poured down your ear canal, scalding from point-of-entry to the brain stem.

The album sounds awful, but there’s nothing on God’s green Earth that sounds quite like it. And rock ’n’ roll shouldn’t sound perfect — perfection is for squares.

But the songwriting on Psychocandy is so great it seems a little miracle it ever existed at all. Since then, JAMC has released a few other classics, like Darklands and Automatic. Few matched the sonic audacity and rock-’n’-roll romanticism of the debut. This year JAMC made yet another comeback with Damage and Joy. A fine venture it is, proving loads of great songs remain to be written on three chords and a bad attitude.

The Jesus and Mary Chain play 9 pm Tuesday, Oct. 24, at McDonald Theatre; $36, all-ages.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!