Customer Reviews

London

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

 

 

Since it seems to be a 4-year wait between albums these days for Jesus Jones it can get tricky being a fan, but when I got this CD in the mail yesterday-- back to the old logo, old style liner notes with commentary from Mike Edwards, beautiful graphic design-style art instead of that weird kiddy coloring of the last album Already... what a rush.

Briefly, this is an album that features Jesus Jones as a rock and roll band, first and foremost, which is not something you could really say about the usual one-man-band-and-a-producer style of old. The other major sound to the album comes from UK garage/ 2-step, which I suppose makes this the first 2-step/ rock crossover album. It's also kind of a dirty and grimy album, mostly about cars and bicycles and nights on the town. Here's a track run-down:

1. Message-- Foo Fighters esque and non-dance-- very un-Jesus Jones-like, but tough and meaty.

2. Stranger-- very fast, almost straight rock n' roll that reminds me a bit of oldie "Never Enough."

3. Rocket Ships of La Jolla-- a favourite-- garage in the verse, rock in the chorus, apparently about seeing California as some kind of fantasy landscape.

4. Asleep on the Motorway-- a re-worked Yoshi track that has a lovely pop piano.

5. Hello Neon-- another instant favourite, maximizing the rock / 2-step crossover. Goofy laughing samples abound.

6. A-Team-- confusing, lo-fi deal that I haven't given a chance.

7. Half Up the Hill-- Jesus Jones + nu metal? The concept sounds foreign but here we have it, and it redeems the whole genre.

8. Princess of My Heart-- one sort of droning sound and a soft, high pitched acoustic guitar, lovely.

9. Getaway Car-- the only nod to the Eastern sounds of previous Jesus Jones tracks, this doesn't have many rock elements but a concise, goofy story to match the clipped, goofy vocoded voices. Like a humourous version of Radiohead's "Packt Like Sardines..."

10. To Get There-- almost standard sample-rock that is simply a good song about perseverance.

11. Nowhere Slow-- more fast paced rock and roll the way everyone used to want it, with more nods to 2-step.

12. In the Face of All This-- strangely mentions a plane crash and Afghanistan, which may have or may not have been added to the final recording, as this record was released in late October.

Now buy it.

Jesus Jones has gone almost purely rock-and-roll on this album, but unfortunately have performed terribly. On past albums like "Perverse" and "Doubt," the offered us an artistic, melodic rock and roll sound also, but intertwined with cool sound effects and often danceability. This album just doesn't "rock" at all -- It sounds like weak pretty-boy rock. Previously, their work had an artistic appeal that made them unique among the bands, but these songs don't compare. There best album is definitely "Perverse," so this album is not for those new to Jesus Jones. This album is not recommened.

The last JJ album 'Already' was fantastic but sadly hardly anyone bought it ( I'm not even sure if it was released in the USA).'London' is equally good but also a little different.'Already' was a poppy commercial record by JJ standards, 'London' has had a lot of the electronic elements in the bands music stripped away, they are still there but they have definitely gone for a rockier sound this time.Having said that, this is not a straight forward rock record, a couple of the tracks have rhythm tracks that are heavily influenced by the drum and bass/garage sound that has been going on in England over the last couple of years. One thing that really stands out on 'London' as some other reviewers have mentioned, is Mike Edwards voice, his voice is in really good form .Please go buy a copy for everyone you know ( even your Gran ! ) and help to prove there is some justice in the world !!

Didn't think it was possible to get a 20 y.o CD at these prices but they proved me wrong.
Great store!

This album, released in August of 2001, is a much awaited upbeat shift in the lyrical pondering that Jesus Jones is known for. Rather than a totally grim evaluation of humanity's spiritual tendencies which seemed to color most of their previous album, 'Already', 'London' seems to be a sort of lightening up for them. Not like they are avoiding important issues, but rather, that they are ocassionally more OK with just putting out some good, solid, entertaining and fun dance tracks as well. Hopefully this a sign of even better things to come in future albums from digital rock Electronica pioneers Jesus Jones.

Most of the reviews I write are for bands I've loved for a long time, like Jesus Jones, but the content of the CD is usually more of the same and the review is really preaching to the choir. This time that is not the case. In this album Jesus Jones has continued to expand stylistically but even more so than in their last album. Mike Edwards still uses the same sampling and tech hooks that got him into music in the first place but not nearly as much on this album as in albums past. The album sounds more like genuine rock 'n' roll than any other JJ album. The only non-positive thought I had about this as I listened to it is that some of thes songs vary from one style to another so much that unless you are very eclectic there will almost surely be at least one song on the album you won't like that. At the very least though that can be expected on almost every album. After listening to this album I realize that I found it worth the money only because I'm such a long time fan. If you're a die hard fan of their earlier stuff you might not care for this one, if you hated their earlier stuff this might be the time to listen to them again.

I am biased. I love this band and wait impatiently for thier records. That said, London is a non traditional album by Jesus Jones. The singer, Mike Edwards, is in true form but much of the techno wizardry has been srtipped away. Not to say that samples are all gone but the guitars peer through the mix much more clearly. The sounds of live drums also show the garage rock sound that jesus jones opposed durring thier early ninties success. LONDON IS A KEEPER. BUY THIS RECORD.

It has always amazed me how Jesus Jones dropped off the top of the album charts soon after the release of 'Real, Real, Real'. The newest cuts tend to fuel my amazement, but left me looking for the big hit that would help to propel them back to the lofty heights where this band belongs.

This cd is full of songs that please the listening palette, and by all means are much more engrossing to listen to than most other drivel currently dominating the charts. The first three tracks, 'Message', 'Stranger', and 'Rocket Ships of La Jolla', will have you thinking that they are at their best. Also, they seemed to stick the best tracks in a bookend style, because the last 2 tracks ('Nowhere Slow' and 'In The Face of All This') are pretty well done also.

Speaking of the middle of the album however, there are a few songs ('A-Team', 'Half Up The Hill', and 'Getaway Car') that just seem like filler instead of true album tracks...more b-sides than great music.

I would still recommend this album to anyone. Whether you are looking for a WELcome change from the ordinary or a refreshing new blast of songs from a great band, this is a ticket out of today's musical mediocrity.