Immigrant

Gene Loves Jezebel, ???????????? | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 7, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Beggars UK - Ada
• ASIN: B0007S67QG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #218,457 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Buried drums, echoed guitar, and soft cries suddenly transform into a blasting romance number; the rhythm section work easily rivals that of any other early '80s post-punkers, while the almost mandolin-like arrangements on the chorus are a lovely touch. Add in the Astons' passionate lyrics to a missing love and the glammy rush of the song, and Immigrant is off and running. Like Promise, variety is part of the album's appeal, ranging from the slow punch and chanting of "Stephen" to the giddy blasts of "Worth Waiting For" (with an intentionally hilarious spoken-word break in the middle) and "Cow," Immigrant's underrated highlight. When at their most mystic and tribal, the Astons nail it more often than not; the title track connects especially well, sounding like Echo and the Bunnymen's slightly more florid cousin with an especially catchy chorus. The group isn't afraid to let humor sneak through in other areas, as they prove in naming the last three songs "The Rhino Plasty," "Deep South Wale," and "Coal Porter." That final tune is especially good, a lovedrunk remembrance of the past with evocative imagery and a lovely arrangement; its soft percussion and electric guitar are carefully filled out with piano and backing vocals. BBG. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Jewel in Their Crown . . ., January 26, 2006

By 

Rich Latta (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Immigrant (Audio CD)

IMMIGRANT is by far the best album I've heard from this band. Before these guys went off the glam-Duran-disco-whatever deep end, they actually rocked - on this album at least. PROMISE, their first album, is kind of a warm-up for IMMIGRANT, in my view. Someone made an apparently last minute addition of "Bruises," originally on PROMISE, to IMMIGRANT (the song title doesn't appear on the original album sleeve, which I have on vinyl). "Bruises" is the best song on PROMISE but almost pales in comparison to the best songs on IMMIGRANT. I haven't heard PROMISE in a while though, and I'm not sure if "Bruises" is the same version on each album.

The songwriting (which could qualify as "gothic," your imagination permitting) is better on IMMIGRANT and the playing is tighter and punchier. The music itself is pretty distinctive, incorporating Middle Eastern touches. I find the quivering, high-pitched voices of the twin Aston brothers to be deliciously vampiric, although I think a lot of others (particluarly girls) just find them sexy. However you hear them, these guys do sound pretty unique.

The best tracks:

The opening rocker "Always A Flame"

The gorgeous, hovering "Stephen"

The evocative, propulsive "The Immigrant"

And the more easy-going closer, "Coal Porter"

But my absolute favorite is the bizarre and slinky "The Rhino Plasty." That one's really out there.

4 stars because some of the other tracks don't quite measure up as well. "Worth Waiting For" is the weakest in my view and "Cow" doesn't turn me on so much either. But "Shame" is good and I do actually like "Bruises."

An aside: I won't say this band's name is as dog-awful as, say, Marcy Playground, but I think the choice to call themselves Gene Loves Jezebel probably turned off some people who might have liked them otherwise. Can't say that it really bothers me though! Too bad, but they pretty much lost me after their next release DISCOVER came out.

Can't comment on the bonus CD as I haven't heard it. I'll have to break down and get this version at some point, in which case I will probably update my review.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Balance of Sublime and Ridiculous, June 26, 2011

By 

A Blues In Drag (NYC) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Immigrant (Audio CD)

Ah, the cackling, caterwauling histrionics of the Aston twins. A strictly take-it-or-leave-it affair, the music of Gene Loves Jezebel is just as likely to alienate as it is to enamor (especially the early records).

Immigrant, the Welshmen's sophomore album, is the band's first work of true greatness, if you ask me. The Jezebels really got it right here -- this time, the twins wrap their crazy, yelping vocal stylings around indelible melodies, while the band lock down on airtight, dancey art punk rhythms, invoking Bauhaus, the Banshees, even U2.

Somewhere, a future Perry Farrell was studying this stuff very closely.

PS - the re-issue version of Immigrant is totally worth the purchase, as its second disc teems with historical artifacts from GLJ's fascinating musical story.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Too bad they radically changed after this one . . ., September 27, 2004

By 

Rich Latta (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Immigrant (Audio CD)

IMMIGRANT is by far the best album I've heard from this band. Before these guys went off the glam-Duran-disco-whatever deep end, they actually rocked - on this album at least. PROMISE, their first album, is kind of a warm-up for IMMIGRANT. Someone made an apparently last minute addition of "Bruises," originally on PROMISE, to IMMIGRANT (the song title doesn't appear on the original album sleeve). "Bruises" is the best song on PROMISE but practically pales in comparison to the best songs on IMMIGRANT.

The songwriting (which could qualify as "gothic," your imagination permitting) is better on IMMIGRANT and the playing is tighter and punchier. The music itself is pretty distinctive, incorporating Middle-Eastern touches. I find the quivering, high-pitched voices of the twin Aston brothers to be deliciously vampyric, although I think a lot of others, girls in particular, just find them sexy. However you hear them, these guys do sound pretty unique.

The best tracks:

The opening rocker "Always A Flame"

The gorgeous, hovering "Stephen"

The evocative, propulsive "The Immigrant"

And the more easy-going closer, "Coal Porter"

But my absolute favorite is the bizarre and slinky "The Rhino Plasty." That one's really out there.

4 stars because some of the other tracks don't quite measure up as well. "Worth Waiting For" is the weakest in my view and "Cow" doesn't turn me on so much either. But "Shame" is good and I do actually like "Bruises."

An aside: I won't say this band's name is as dog-awful as, say, Marcy Playground, but I think the choice to call themselves Gene Loves Jezebel probably turned off some people who might have liked them otherwise. Can't say that it really bothers me though! Too bad, but they pretty much lost me after their next release DISCOVER came out.