The Jesus And Mary Chain – Barbed Wire Kisses (B-Sides And More)

The Jesus And Mary Chain – Barbed Wire Kisses (B-Sides And More)

Barbed Wire Kisses (B-Sides And More) is an essential collection of B-sides, rarities, outtakes and non-album tracks from The Jesus And Mary Chain, capturing the Scottish band's distinctive blend of feedback-drenched noise, darkly melodic songwriting and stripped-back alternative rock. Originally released in 1988 following the landmark albums Psychocandy and Darklands, the compilation offers a fascinating insight into the band's early years.

Rather than simply functioning as a collection of leftovers, Barbed Wire Kisses showcases just how adventurous the Reid brothers were with their additional material. The album moves between distorted noise pop, hazy psychedelia, surf-rock influences, moody acoustic performances and raw post-punk, making it an especially rewarding release for fans looking beyond the band's classic studio albums.

The opening Kill Surf City delivers a heavily distorted take on Beach Boys-inspired pop, while Head, Rider, Hit and Happy Place demonstrate the band's ability to combine abrasive guitars with deceptively catchy melodies. Psycho Candy revisits the title track from their hugely influential debut, while Don't Ever Change and Swing provide rare glimpses into the Darklands recording sessions.

Side B contains some of the compilation's most important material. Sidewalking, originally released as a standalone single in 1988, brought the Jesus And Mary Chain's feedback-heavy sound together with a hip-hop-influenced drum loop and became a UK Top 30 hit. The band also turns its attention to classic American rock 'n' roll with a dark, distorted version of Bo Diddley's Who Do You Love and a heavily thrashed interpretation of the Beach Boys' Surfin' USA.

The closing tracks are particularly valuable to collectors, with an acoustic version of Taste Of Cindy, the Darklands outtake Swing, and the atmospheric On The Wall (Porta Studio Demo/F.Hole) providing a glimpse into the band's songwriting and recording process. The vinyl edition is a concise 16-track collection of B-sides, outtakes and rarities from this crucial period of the band's career.

For collectors of The Jesus And Mary Chain vinyl, 1980s indie rock, noise pop and post-punk, Barbed Wire Kisses is an essential companion to Psychocandy and Darklands. Highly recommended for fans of My Bloody Valentine, The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, The Cure and Echo & The Bunnymen, this is a brilliant snapshot of one of Britain's most influential alternative bands at their most experimental and unpredictable.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Kill Surf City – 3:13
2. Head – 3:52
3. Rider – 2:11
4. Hit – 3:29
5. Don't Ever Change (Darklands Out-Take) – 3:35
6. Just Out Of Reach – 3:06
7. Happy Place – 2:23
8. Psycho Candy – 2:59

Side B

1. Sidewalking – 3:34
2. Who Do You Love – 4:04
3. Surfin' USA – 2:58
4. Everything's Alright When You're Down – 2:39
5. Upside Down – 2:59
6. Taste Of Cindy (Acoustic Version) – 2:01
7. Swing (Darklands Out-Take) – 2:28
8. On The Wall (Porta Studio Demo/F.Hole) – 4:50