The Jesus and Mary Chain - "Chemical Animal"

Photo by Mel Butler

Shoegaze legends The Jesus and Mary Chain just released a new single that is a must listen for fans. "Chemical Animal" sounds a lot smaller than Jesus and Mary Chain classics, but it's still a song that sounds like classic Jesus and Mary Chain. "Chemical Animal" feels more personal and intimate. This isn't anything like the Reid's are going folk or acoustic. There is still a wall of feedback and noise to enjoy throughout the song, just not quite as overpowering. As noisy as this is, there is still plenty of beauty throughout. The song feels like it was painful to write and perform, which may be where much of the beauty comes from.

Jim Reid says of the new single:

"Our work on our autobiography definitely bled into our work on the album. 'jamcod,' the first single from the album, was about that night in 1998 in the House of Blues when the band broke up. 'Chemical Animal' is different but related. I was thinking back to those dark days of chemical dependency. When you fall so deep into that hole that everything you do is by instinct. The drugs are the driving force. The thing that gets you from a to b is whether you can score. It was a horrible way to live and I’m thankful I don’t live that way any more. One effect is that it made me aware of how our brains, who we are, how we feel, and what we do, depend on our neural chemistry, a chemistry beyond our control. It’s a biological curse we can’t escape.”

You can listen to "Chemical Animal" below. Glasgow Eyes is due out March 8 on Fuzz Club, and is available for pre-order here. For more on The Jesus and Mary Chain, check out the band's website.