Darklands is the second studio album by Scottish alternative rock band the Jesus and Mary Chain, released on 31 August 1987 by Blanco y Negro Records. The album is the band's first to use drum machines, replacing live drummer Bobby Gillespie, who had left to pursue a career as the frontman of Primal Scream. Lead vocals are performed by Jim Reid, with the exception of "Darklands", "Nine Million Rainy Days" and "On the Wall", which are sung by William Reid.
Darklands | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 31 August 1987 | |||
Studio | Livingston (London) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 35:51 | |||
Label | Blanco y Negro | |||
Producer | ||||
The Jesus and Mary Chain chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Darklands | ||||
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Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Mojo | [2] |
Paste | [3] |
Pitchfork | 7.8/10[4] |
Q | [5] |
Record Collector | [6] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [7] |
Select | 4/5[8] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10[9] |
The Village Voice | B+[10] |
Darklands reached number five on the UK Albums Chart, the band's highest-peaking album on the chart to date.[11] The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[12]
Primal Scream later recorded a cover version of the album's title track as a B-side to their 1998 single "If They Move, Kill 'Em".[13]
All tracks are written by William Reid and Jim Reid
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Darklands" | 5:29 |
2. | "Deep One Perfect Morning" | 2:43 |
3. | "Happy When It Rains" | 3:36 |
4. | "Down on Me" | 2:36 |
5. | "Nine Million Rainy Days" | 4:29 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
6. | "April Skies" | 4:00 |
7. | "Fall" | 2:28 |
8. | "Cherry Came Too" | 3:06 |
9. | "On the Wall" | 5:05 |
10. | "About You" | 2:31 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
11. | "Some Candy Talking" | 3:18 |
12. | "Taste of Cindy" (acoustic version) | 2:00 |
13. | "Psychocandy" | 2:54 |
14. | "Hit" | 3:29 |
15. | "Darklands" (BBC Radio session) | 4:40 |
16. | "Down on Me" (BBC Radio session) | 2:29 |
17. | "Deep One Perfect Morning" (BBC Radio session) | 2:37 |
18. | "Fall" (BBC Radio session) | 3:11 |
19. | "In the Rain" (BBC Radio session) | 2:28 |
20. | "Happy Place" (BBC Radio session) | 2:24 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Kill Surf City" | 3:12 |
2. | "Bo Diddley Is Jesus" | 3:17 |
3. | "Who Do You Love" | 4:05 |
4. | "Everything's Alright When You're Down" | 2:39 |
5. | "Shake" | 2:01 |
6. | "Happy When It Rains" (demo) | 3:46 |
7. | "Happy Place" | 2:24 |
8. | "F.Hole" | 1:07 |
9. | "Rider" | 2:12 |
10. | "On the Wall" (Portastudio demo) | 3:41 |
11. | "Surfin' USA" (April outtake) | 2:58 |
12. | "Here It Comes Again" | 2:32 |
13. | "Walk and Crawl" | 2:24 |
14. | "Some Candy Talking" (NME version) | 3:10 |
15. | "Mushroom" | 3:19 |
16. | "The Hardest Walk" (soundtrack version) | 3:12 |
17. | "Don't Ever Change" | 3:32 |
18. | "Swing" | 2:25 |
19. | "Darklands" (with strings) | 5:27 |
20. | "Interview (Janice Long)" | 14:36 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Some Candy Talking" (music video) | 3:25 |
2. | "April Skies" (music video) | 3:59 |
3. | "Kill Surf City" (music video) | 3:16 |
4. | "Happy When It Rains" (music video) | 3:33 |
5. | "Darklands" (music video) | 3:59 |
6. | "April Skies" (live on Top of the Pops) | 3:41 |
7. | "April Skies" (live on Villa Tempo) | 3:47 |
8. | "Happy When It Rains" (live on The Roxy) | 3:36 |
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Darklands.[15]
Chart (1987) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[16] | 81 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[17] | 64 |
European Albums (Music & Media)[18] | 38 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[19] | 20 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[20] | 38 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] | 23 |
UK Albums (OCC)[22] | 5 |
US Billboard 200[23] | 161 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] | Gold | 100,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
[T]hey purposefully refined the dynamics to craft genuine pop hits...
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