Munki

Jesus & Mary Chain

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 9, 1998)
• Original Release Date: June 9, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sub Pop
• ASIN: B000006OJF
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,667 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
You just can't keep a good doom-and-gloomer down. In a career that began with the white-light, white-heat explosion of Psychocandy back in '85, the Reid Brothers--singer Jim and guitarist William) have rarely allowed any rays of sunlight to disrupt their rainy feedback parade. Until Munki, that is. Label-less for a couple of years, the Reids reassessed their situation with the self-financed Munki and saw that life, at least for the time being, was good. Trips back to childhood, reflections on the joys of rock 'n' roll, analysis of the optimistic reasons they made Psychocandy in the first place--it's all here on the relatively upbeat Munki. Shocking, but fun. --Tom Lanham

Option
...The J&MC appear content to return to their old ways, which is not a bad thing. Sure, there are a few changes ... such as the addition of a trumpet on a couple of songs; on "Man on the Moon" this not only works, but it works magnificently.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars JMC's last hurrah is a mixed bag, September 7, 2005

By	trainreader (Montclair, N.J.) - See all my reviews

Yet another instance where Rock and Roll brothers just can't stay together. After only six studio albums (I'm not counting "B-Sides"), William and Jim Reid came to the conclusion that they couldn't stand being in the same room (or on the same stage) together. What a shame.

What's so interesting about "Munki" concerns the authorship of the songs. No longer could I be confident in identifying a song as Jim's or William's. William especially, can apparently write in his brother's style. For instance, my favorite song on the album, "Degenerate" sounds like Jim at his grungy best, but no! It's brother William's composition.

In my opinion, "Munki" is somewhat of a mess. By far, JMC's most adventurous and experimental album, the whole thing seems to heavily depend upon the three songs in the center of the album, namely "Virtually Unreal," the aforementioned "Degenerate," and "Cracking Up." Honestly, I could skip the others, a few of which are laced with pointless obscenities, almost as if the Reids wanted that parental advisory sticker.

Anyway, I still thoroughly enjoy listening to The Jesus and Mary Chain. After "Stoned and Dethroned," I saw them in concert at a small NYC venue, which was great (although my date didn't quite get it and wanted to leave after "Reverence" -- the one that starts off with "I want to die just like Jesus Christ"). Mazzy Star opened, and, you guessed it, the adorable Hope Sandoval came out to duet with Jim on "Sometimes Always."

Hey, if the original members of "Cream" can reunite, there must be hope for the Reid brothers too!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stands the test of time, November 27, 2001

By	rgonzale "rgonzale1" (Delaware, USA) - See all my reviews

I've had this CD for a couple of years now and it is
still one of my favorite JAMC disks. I think time will
tell whether the critics of this CD were listening
open-mindedly. To my ears, it is a maturing and progression
of the JAMC sound: the production, instrumentation, and
subject matter are all more sophisticated than previous,
yet the cathartic threat of losing control is still there.
While some of the tracks are a bit plodding (it's a long
album!), there are several that are pure sugar. Just to warn
you, my other favorite JAMC albums are Honey's Dead and
(dare I say it?) Automatic.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best albums in years, January 3, 1999

By A Customer

Listening to the torrential feedback and deliberately raw production of Psychocandy, it is amazing to see how far brothers Jim and William Reid have come as musicians and songwriters. It has been fascinating to see their development , and the place that white noise has held throughout their blistering career. "Munki" their latest sonic excursion, melds their affinity for walls of sound with a mature, refined songwriting approach. The results are spectacular. Lyrically, musically, and emotionally, this is the most gratifying Mary Chain album in years. On "Munki", the Reids put their entire career into perspective without seeming maudlin or self-important. "Munki" gives more answers than it asks questions, yet the mystique is ever-present. The humorous, cynical "Birthday" and the retrospective "Never Understood" contain some of the most personal, ingenious lyrics the Reids have produced to date. "Perfume" swoons in a sexual haze, while "Virtuallyunreal" and "I Can't Find the Time for Times" are pure rock grooves that prove complexity isn't synonymous with brilliance (or even necessary, in this case). More than anything, "Munki" is an overview of a brilliant catalogue of music that precipitated the band's subsequent demise at the now-infamous House of Blues show in Los Angeles. Quite simply, one of the most witty, substantial albums in years. Rock and roll should always be this good.