Album Review by Mark Bayross
Back at the start of the Nineties, Jesus Jones were one of the bands who seemed to make inventiveness look easy. Fusing dance beats and samples with punky guitars, they defined a crossover sound that was to go on to spawn every techno-rock band you can hear gate-crashing the charts these days.
While EMF, Pop Will Eat Itself and The Shamen have all since fallen by the wayside, Jesus Jones have kept at it, although it’s been far from plain sailing. After the massive success of 1991’s second album DOUBT, the follow up two years later – PERVERSE – saw their sound become heavier, but coincided with cracks appearing in the Jesus Jones machine, both professionally and personally.
When the next album, ALREADY, appeared in 1997, the band had been divided by side projects and the departure of drummer Gen. The album failed to re-ignite the spark and Jesus Jones were dropped by EMI. Then last year, they secured a deal with MI5 in America and recorded LONDON, album number five. The album was released in the US and the band began playing live again, including a short tour with The Wonder Stuff in December 2001. As signs of life were beginning to return to Jesus Jones, EMI suggested they release a compilation of their former glories…
And here it is. NEVER ENOUGH: THE BEST OF JESUS JONES comes on two CDs, the first containing classic tracks from the band’s four UK-released albums, plus a brand new track, COME ON HOME. All the classics are here – debut single INFO FREAKO, number one hit (and Edwards’ fave) RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, and the insanely catchy WHO? WHERE? WHY? and INTERNATIONAL BRIGHT YOUNG THING.
As the target audience for this compilation is likely to own the first two albums already, the second half of the track-listing provides the most interest. Of particular note are IDIOT STARE, an impressively ahead-of-its-time fusion of rising synths and industrial-strength staccato beats, and the haunting, Dead Can Dance-meets-Massive Attack throb of FEBRUARY.
The second disc is made up of remixes of tracks from the first three albums, which vary from extended versions of the DOUBT-era singles to the speed-metal-and-samples frenzy of ENOUGH-NEVER ENOUGH and the bass-heavy BEAT IT DOWN. Star guest turns come from The Prodigy and The Aphex Twin, both of whom stay true to form by remixing ZEROES AND ONES into floor-shaking rave anthem and clanking drum & bass respectively (demonstrating where both acts were musically back in 1993).
This compilation is never less than entertaining. There are some real classics here, and it’s fascinating to see how the band’s sound has evolved while remaining consistently cutting-edge. This will either be a nostalgia trip for you, or an eye-opener. Either way, it’s highly recommended.
[To coincide with this compilation, a DVD collection of all 12 of the band’s videos is being released and the first three albums are being re-issued. Jesus Jones are also touring the UK and US in May and June, 2002.]
