Casting Doubt on Already--The Fourth Jesus Jones Album
Written: Aug 04 '04
Product Rating:
Pros: Five decently entertaining songs...
Cons: Boring, monotonous, dated upon release, derivative
The Bottom Line: I don't completely dislike Already, but I do think Edwards should have really chosen a direction and stuck to it. Already entirely lacks vision and cohesion.
During the early 1990’s a host of talented British bands left an indelible mark on the face of pop culture. From Pulp and Suede to Blur and James, these bands carved out a niche for their infectious brand heavy-handed pop music. Unfortunately, at the time they became famous overseas and stateside I as a rural teenager would have nothing of the sort in my daily dose of music. I preferred heavy metal or grunge to anything even remotely classified as pop.
Strangely enough, I took a great deal of pleasure in the hip dance tracks of Jesus Jones. Even today I am mystified as to the methodology behind my madness. Jesus Jones has nothing in common with any of the other music I even vaguely considered myself to be a fan of at the time. They were dance, they wore brightly colored clothing, danced rather than thrashed about, and used keyboards and synthesizers. Jesus Jones was the least likely kind of band for me to like--yet I did. Something about Mike Edwards’ breathy urgency struck a chord despite their mainstream pop appeal and distinct lack of self-pity.
It was with 1991’s Doubt that I first became familiar with Jesus Jones. Heck, I stumbled on to them at the same exact moment that the rest of the United States did as a result of two hit singles--Right Here, Right Now and Real Real Real. So I bought the cassette and soon it was a mainstay in my otherwise thick and grungy locker. The purple cover looked out of place, but still it didn’t really matter to me. I’d found a veritable diamond in the rough (or so I though).
Sometimes hindsight is 20-20. Such is the case with Jesus Jones. I still find their music to be entertaining, but not particularly innovative (outside of the first entirely digital album ever - Perverse). Their songs are fun, but not usually creative. The same problems abound throughout the band’s entire discography beginning with Liquidizer (their debut) through 2001’s London. It was, of course, with Doubt that the band hit their stride. Unfortunately, they didn’t follow-up in similar style and by the time 1997’s Already appeared Jesus Jones had been all but forgotten. The album turned out to be too little too late.
Already (1997) was the product of years of strife between Edwards (the man behind Jesus Jones) and his record label. Try as he might, he couldn’t get the work approved and when he finally did and it was released it received a decidedly lukewarm reception from critics and fans alike looking for something with a bit more liveliness and spark. It is a fine enough effort, just not interesting enough to hold my attention for the hour it takes to listen to the fourteen largely forgettable songs. My point? If you think you like Jesus Jones (or if you used to like them) stick to the material you have fond memories for (probably that which is on Doubt). Otherwise, I advise you to steer clear so as not to sully your opinion.
Now that I’ve effectively frightened off most possible listeners, I do have to admit that that I still feel mostly positive about Jesus Jones. Doubt was always my favorite, but Already (despite it’s many flaws) is second in line as far as I’m concerned. Of course I don’t want folks to think that there’s any real need for the album (there is not) but just to know that while it is not excellent material it is still fun. The only real catch is that you have to pretend it was released at least five years earlier. It makes no major strides from the band’s earlier music and does nothing to further my opinion of them, but still I kind of like it.
The songs really aren’t that important on their own. They tend to blend into on another and to listen to Already is to partake in a hour of similarly paced not at all dynamic music. Still, for some reason I like it. It is clear from the opening song, The Next Big Thing, that Edwards was confident in his material. It’s a boisterous, rousing song with the band’s usual rock-pop-electronic dance elements. For a moment, this song reminds me of Jesus Jones in their heyday. Unfortunately as the album progresses it seems to lose vision. Run on Empty begins gruffly, as though Prodigy remixed it. This strange darkness is in great contrast to Edwards’ sparkly voice and the lovely melody. It is with this second song that hints of the problem with Already begin to surface.
Jesus Jones does manage to impress momentarily with Look Out Tomorrow. It’s a chipper mid-tempo track worth checking out. However, Top of the World ridiculous mainstream pop slant ruins so much for me. I cannot accept Jesus Jones as a mainstream pop band. I am mostly nonplussed by the songs that populate the bulk of the album. Wishing It Away is a theatrical, new agey, Middle Eastern influenced debacle while Motion is a generic trance offering obviously intended for clubs. For a Moment is another generic blend of pop and rock set to drum machines and Addiction, Obsession & Me is a too-serious and creepily monotonous dance track. Continuing in the same pseudo-dark vein, Edwards tries much too hard on February and Together to be taken seriously.
Creative? Nope. Entertaining? Modestly.
Chemical #1, They’re Out There, and album ender Man on the Moon in addition to the aforementioned The Next Big Thing and Look Out Tomorrow are the only real notable moments. Though, as I’ve said repeatedly, Already is by no means anything special. I just happen to have a soft spot for Jesus Jones ala 1991 and Doubt and these songs are the closest to that direction on this otherwise scattershot effort. There is no reason to buy Already unless you like Jesus Jones and already (errr…unintentional pun) own Doubt and want to experience the band’s whole discography. But be prepared to be disappointed (and to spend next to nothing on Half.com).
“Eh” sums up my feelings for Already despite my liking five of the fourteen tracks.
Rating: 2/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. The Next Big Thing
02. Run on Empty
03. Look Out Tomorrow
04. Top of the World
05. Rails
06. Wishing It Away
07. Chemical #1
08. Motion
09. They’re Out There
10. For a Moment
11. Addiction, Obsession & Me
12. February
13. Together
14. Man on the Moon
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