Don't "Doubt" Jesus Jones
Jul 03 '01 (Updated Aug 20 '03)
Pros
Great, catchy, dancable music
Cons
Some very loud synthesizers, could be annoying to some people
The Bottom Line
Decent, danceable album from early 90's Brit pop hitmakers.
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Okay. I realize that many people don't have a clue who these guys are, so here's a quick introduction. Jesus Jones (aka Mike Edwards and company)is a synthesizer laden pop-techno group from the early 1990's. They hail from England, and are best known in America for the songs "Right Here, Right Now" and "Real, Real, Real." This, their second album, debuted at number one on the U.K. charts in 1991 and reached number two in America with over a million sold.
This is where I enter. As a young teen, I decided to get wrapped up in a record club. One of my first tapes? Jesus Jones. I don't know quite why, but it must have had something to do with MTV and the fast, fun music that Jesus Jones emitted. And while not my favorite any longer, the tape did deservedly get an upgrate to CD.
Doubt was the band's second full-length album and was preceeded by the moderately successful Liquidizer. It is actually better than one might suspect with a clean combination of pop and techno and rock. I liked it. Quite a bit actually, and it acted as a yang to the yin of "grunge." Doubt was the work of much more than a one-hit band. It was the work of an ambitious man and his peers.
Here's why "Doubt" is a great album:
1. TRUST ME
A decent intro to Jesus Jones. After having heard this song, and it's somewhat halfhearted lyrics like: "from day one i got things wrong one day i'll get things right (MAYBE) i never thought i knew the answers while the whole world thinks they might" I decided that Jesus Jones might be somewhat intersting. But, as I listened to the song further and Edwards' almost breathy lyrics it began to sink in. This song is pretty good. Not the best on the album by any means, but good.
2. WHO? WHERE? WHY?
Only a pretentious British band would put three question marks in the title of a song. That aside, this is one of the best tracks of the album. It was popular after being released in the UK, but us fickle Americans never showed this track love. Anyway, I enjoy it quite a bit. It's chorous is very repeatable and very lyrically fun. Not brilliant of course, but by all accounts interesting. It goes as follows: "who am i? where am i? why do i feel this way?"
3. INTERNATIONAL BRIGHT YOUNG THING
Another under recognized song, this one is equally as interesting as the last. I'm not saying that the music really is that good, but Edwards does manage to show some talent and quite a bit of knack for producing fun music. Yet another catchy melody for this chorous, it is definitely worth a listen if you already have this album and keep on skipping over the song to get to more popular ones like those I mentioned in the introductory paragraphs.
4. I'M BURNING
Well, after listening to this song I almost believe that Edwards is "burning up for" me. Yeah right. Well, this track is relatively weak, but is a good filler between the previous tracks and the hugely popular track that follows. No need to skip it....unless you're in a big hurry to hear the next track...
5. RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW
If I'm not mistaken, this song not only was a radio and MTV hit...it was also a hit in advertising. Anyway, I like it and it's also one of the best on the album. Again, Edwards sounds pleadingly breathy on the chorous and in the striking first lines. We've all heard this song, but I'll remind you of my favorite line...."A woman on the radio talked about revolution when it's already passed her by." This track almost hints at social consciousness, but not too much so :)
6. NOTHING TO HOLD ME
Another strategically sandwiched track. Not as strong as some of the others, but still listenable. Just not memorable by any stretch of the imagination. I don't have much to say about this one because it doesn't really interest me. The music isn't as good and the lyrics aren't as catchy. Edwards almost seems "blah" to me.
7. REAL, REAL, REAL
Well, this is an early 90's club hit. It's also one of the first two songs that drew me to this album. There's no reason why a club song should contain good lyrics...people like beats (which this song provides) and to dance. So, it's no suprise that the most profound line of the entire track may be: "but if there's nothing to say, then why don't we all go away?" Like I said. Profound.
8. WELCOME BACK VICTORIA
I like this one quite a bit. There are drums and some brass instruments on it, too. Somehow these instruments manage to blend with Edwards' nasaly delivery pretty darned well. The lyrics are sometimes nonsensical, but that doesn't stop it's sing-along quality. Here's an example: "welcome back victoria double standards are you forte, now as then." Anyway, this is one of my favorite three or four tracks here.
9. ARE YOU SATISFIED
Containing an actual siren (like much club music), this may be where some listeners end up cutting out of the album. Despite this, I like it. The opening lines are catchy, and for that matter the best of the entire song so far as I conserned. "are you satisfied? do you know what you want? will it go with you when you die?" Fun song, and I'm actually suprised that it didn't go further for the group.
10. TWO AND TWO
Well, let's see here. You get a booming drum and a rolling bass line, but...it's a good enough song. Like I said for the last song it's not one of the best, but still listenable. It does have a rather fun chorous..."two and two always equals four and life is simple when you're sure." For example.
11. STRIPPED
I usually have to be in a pretty odd mood or not actually listening to the music to make it through this song and the next. Anyway, this song is uncharacteristically noisy and oddly aggressive in comparison with the rest of the tracks on this album. It's okay. Not great. Just okay. Nothing of note actually.
12. BLISSED
This one is odd to say the least. Fortunately it's also the last on the album so you don't have to listen to any of it to get through to the next song. Fortunately, like I said. There are hints of 60's psychadelia mixed with odd beats and messed up noises. Definitely not my taste (or yours, I bet).
So this album isn't perfect. That doesn't matter though. I still like over half of it quite a bit. If you like 80's music or early 90's music, you may like this one. I recommend it to people who lean toward this kind of music. Why? It's not for everybody, although a few of the tracks can be universally appreciated. A decently good album.
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out
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