Liquidizer [140g Translucent Green Vinyl] Jesus Jones Artist

It's a product of its time, and it wanted nothing more than to be seen as such -- the credits list for the album names every last sample source, ranging from {|Prince|} and {|Sonic Youth|} to {|Apocalypse Now|} and the news and views of 1988 and 1989... Read more

It's a product of its time, and it wanted nothing more than to be seen as such -- the credits list for the album names every last sample source, ranging from {|Prince|} and {|Sonic Youth|} to {|Apocalypse Now|} and the news and views of 1988 and 1989. But it's the breadth which makes {|Liquidizer|} a thrilling experience, even if the end results are oddly enough one-dimensional: instantly catchy {|power pop|} fed through {|industrial|}, {|techno|}, and {|hip-hop|} approaches, topped off with {|Mike Edwards|}' confident bark. However, it's better that than just another {|guitar pop|} album, and even if {|Jesus Jones|} reflected trends rather than started any on their own, their debut album was still a confident statement of purpose, demonstrating that yes, there was such a thing as wide-ranging listening eclecticism. As such, {|Liquidizer|}, like the late-'80s work of {|Jesus Jones|}' grubbier brothers-in-arms, {|Pop Will Eat Itself|}, may not make anyone forget the two groups' obvious joint inspiration, {|the Bomb Squad|}, but the principle was still the same: eat the world, spit out the results at loud volume. {|Never Enough|} was the overdriven semi-radio hit in America, but {|Info Freako|} is the real kicker of the bunch, with a blasting chorus that would silence most {|metal|} bands of the time and probably {|Edwards|}' best trademark yeaaah! Elsewhere, heavily processed {|aggro-tech-funk|} that's kissing cousins with the likes of {|World Domination Enterprises|} and {|Renegade Soundwave|} slams up against bubble-{|salsa|} piano lines and {|Beach Boys|} backing harmonies, all aimed at instant memorability and, clearly, {|pop|} success without apology. Top it off with the aggressively friendly sarcasm of {|Edwards|} -- he has his targets, however couched in metaphor, and doesn't spare them the edge of his tongue -- and {|Liquidizer|} holds up better than might be expected. Compared to most wretched {|American nu-metal|} bands a decade later, {|Jesus Jones|} doesn't forget the sheer fun of {|hip-hop|} as well as the potential rage. ~ Ned Raggett Less