Customer Reviews

God's Own Medicine

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Compared with the glut of so-called bands these days, listening to my old goth collection is a breath of fresh air. And this classic release from The Mission, one of the UK's finest ever bands still sounds blinding as it did back in 1987! WASTELAND, a major UK chart hit, opens, with its healthy mixture of rock beats and acoustic swirling guitar riffing and is followed by the bolshy guitar-laden BRIDGES BURNING. SEVERINA features All About Eve's(anyone remember THEM? Great band!) Julianne Regan, this time in slow rock mode. LOVE ME TO DEATH is one you should play to that special person in your life, although the romantic ballad version on the 1990 single DELIVERANCE is better in my view. Comparisons aside, anyone new to the goth scene would be most foolish to miss out on this classic retrospective. And only then will you notice how influential they have been, especially towards the late 1980s and early 1990s. Overall, it brings back some memories of the live performances I saw of the Mission and especially vocalist Wayne Hussey's enigmatic stage presence; this album will remain one of my all time favourites.

It took me a while to really appreciate The Mission. In the goth scene, either you love The Sisters and hate The Mission or vice versa. I can certainly see why: Fans of The Sisters would hate The Mission's more pop-friendly sound and fans of The Mission would hate The Sisters' repetition and minimalism. All grudges aside, when Wayne Hussey left Eldritch and company to form his own band, he went his own way musically and conceptually. Some of The Mission's brightest moments are on this disc. I'd name favorites, but there's not really a dull track on this album. From start to finish it's a masterwork of superb songwriting, great hooks and The Mission's signature 12 string guitar work (a Rickenbacker electric, if I'm not mistaken). This album made me want a 12-string.

If you own no other post goth album - fer the gods' sake buy this. I've listened to it on vinyl and on cd and I never can get beyond it being the best gothic(non-depressing) album since 1985. If you want depressing, get the Cure's "pornography" or joy division's "unknown pleasures". On the other hand - if you want music that gives you hope and take's your hand and leads you, then go for this gothic classic. They haven't given up the ghost - why should you? Love conquers all....

The first and best Mission album by a long shot, this one is pure rock. I recommend it to anyone who likes the old Sisters or Fields of the Nephilim. Technically it has a few problems, but in spirit it's a fine continuation of the FALAA-era Sisters legacy. Wayne's voice is probably the weakest part of the Mission - it breaks when he screams in Blood Brother, and wavers in Garden of Delight - but he still manages to carry the songs. A lot of Sisters-style guitar work with a little more drama, some great background vocals from Julianne Regan, and nice broody lyrics. Check out All About Eve's eponymous album for an interesting tangent - various Mission members are featured on some of the songs, including the very Missionesque "Shelter from the Rain".

The closest thing to a follow up to the Sisters of Mercys''first,last & always' your going to find. This album put the Mission at the top in 86! Saw 4 Mission shows that year(87). Love Me to Death, Wasteland..every song on this album is strong. Looking back, it appears Hussy's momentum from the Sisters created this album. Too bad Andrew Eldritchs' GOTH inspired sophistication, direction & influence wore off on Hussey after a year. Subsequent Mission albums such as MASK were uninspired & hollow. As a fan, I followed in horror as month after month, the Mission appeared publicly looking more like dusty hippies. They were finished when they joined the wannabe Led Zeppelin Rockers of the late 80's. Still this album stands as the finest Goth album of 87!!(in my opinion)

this is one of the most essential Goth albums of all time...the opening wasteland in my point of view is the best Goth song of all time. the Album includes great songs as Severina , Blood brothers , and love me to death. if you are into bands as The sisters of Mercy , U2 , The editors and HIM then you have to buy this Album.

ESTE É UM CD DE ROCK ALTERNATIVO MUITO BOM, PRA QUEM GOSTA DESSE ESTILO É UMA GRANDE INDICAÇÃO.

I loved this when it first came out, and I still love it. The Mission shine in this album, despite some opinions to the contrary. This album is a complete departure from what Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams were doing as members of The Sisters of Mercy. The lyrics are uplifting, the vocals are great, and the guitar work fantastic. The Mission's version of Garden of Delight and Dance on Glass are utterly awesome, and are more than a little swipe, (as in I can do this better than you!), at their former bandmate. Great little album, and fantastic band.

»Gods Own Medicine« is not among the best The Mission albums.

The opener »Wasteland« seems to promise a good start - it's a straight-forward rock song as known from The Mission... but unfortunately, it turns out to be the best song on the album.

There are artistic attempts, and some of them are pretty successful, like the violins on »Garden Of Delight (Hereafter)«, the nearly heavy metal'ish guitars on »Sacriledge«, and the catchy, constant rhtythm on »Dance On Glass«. The latter is one of the highlights on »Gods Own Medicine«, along with »Island In A Stream«, a typical The Mission song with its easy-to-recognize guitar stroke.

This typical The Mission sound is also heard on »Let Sleeping Dogs Die«, though on this one, it becomes rather boring. Same goes for the all but original »And The Dance Goes On«.

On »Stay With Me«, everything goes totally wrong. What is this yucky grandmother waltz doing on an album by a more than decent rock band!?!

All in all, »Gods Own Medicine« leaves a dissatisfied impression, not least compared to the album »Carved In Sand« which remains the clearly best release by The Mission.