Five Songs From...The Brian Jonestown Massacre

      This is a new feature I am starting today titled 'Five Songs From...' in which I take one particular artist and post five songs from various albums throughout their career.  They are not always their best songs, or even the most popular of their music, but together they form a sort of musical timeline, outlining the band's career, style and sound that have developed over the years.

=====================================

      I start the series off with one of, if not my favorite band, The Brian Jonestown Massacre.  Formed in 1995 in San Francisco by front man Anton Newcombe, this band has had a staggering amount of former members in its history.  Some 40 different musicians have passed through its ranks, with Newcombe as the only constant.  This fact leads to the thinking that Anton must be a difficult person to work with judging from some of his peculiar media statements and shocking on-stage antics.  In fact, Anton's colorful and rebellious character was taken to the big screen in a documentary about The Brian Jonestown Massacre titled DiG!, which won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.  Newcombe however, denotes the film for its inaccurate portrayal of him.

      As this all may be true, The Brian Jonestown Massacre have never let their critical reception become a distraction from making music.  Their creative output is unmatched, going beyond the industry norms releasing 10 albums in their first 10 years.  But while their efficiency is impressive, the band's creative blend of multiple sounds and styles stands above all.  In terms of genre, they have attacked rock from all angles being defined as indie, folk, psych, shoe gaze and experimental.  They are sometimes reminiscent of the early days of rock n' roll in Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones while other times sounding more like a techno-pop mash-up made on some kid's computer. Yes, to be said, The Brian Jonestown Massacre are truly one-of-a-kind.

*Normally, I would post any additional media at the end of the page, but I feel viewing this is imperative to understanding Anton Newcombe and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. [Do not base your whole judgement on the antics seen below.  They're also capable of making some pretty good music too.] The video below is a trailer for the award-winning film DiG! (Sundance Grand Jury Prize 2004), documenting the band over seven years.

=====================================

And without further ado, here are the five songs selected for The Brian Jonestown Massacre
-Links can be found on the song's title, opening YouTube in a separate window.

1. Take It From The Man [Take It From The Man] 1996

Quintessentially BJM, if it can be said.  A rough and tough-sounding song with a multitude of diverging guitar riffs, tambourine shakes and harmonicas bound together only by the rhythmic yells heard from the background.  Its marvelous sound makes one almost forget about Newcombe's outlandish antics- or justify them. 

2. ‘Cause I Love Her [Thank God For Mental Illness] 1996

Off another one of their three albums released in '96, this short song utilizes the same trio of sounds heard in Take It From The Man, but swaps vocal chants for a heartfelt overtures.  If anything it’s romantic; a cry not for rebellion, but for love.

Hardly the band's typical brand of rebellion.

3. Anenome [Their Satanic Majesties' Second Request] 1996

A third track from '96 that once again takes on an entirely different sound than its predecessor.  Here, Anton lends the mic to April Sandmeyer who lends this psychedelic anthem a softer set of vocals.  A misty flowing drawn out hazy piece than their trademark guitar'harmonica sound,  "Anenome" stands as one of the bands most popular releases to date. [I even heard it on the radio!]releases the band has ever had.

4.  Wasting Away [Strung Out In Heaven] 1998

A regression from their new found psych sound back to the earlier folk notes, Wasting Away sounds undeniably Dylan-esque with the same brand of confounding lyrical politics and one of Bobby's signature sidekicks in the harmonica.

5. Detka! Detka! Detka! [Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?] 2010

Not only am I not sure what language this song is sung in, but I have no idea what it means.  Not folk not psych, and not exactly techno.  This songs sums up The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s ability to extend their creativity beyond genre and even beyond the English language.  It’s a catchy track that deserves its rightful place on the list.