My Bloody Underground
Encyclopedia
My Bloody Underground is the eleventh studio album by The Brian Jonestown Massacre
, released on April 15, 2008 on A Records, a label set up by the band's leader, Anton Newcombe
.
, England
in August of 2007
; however Newcombe found that the album wasn't working out the way he'd hoped, and so, then decided to record the rest in Reykjavik
, Iceland
in October 2007
.
The title of the album was originally believed to be a homage to the bands My Bloody Valentine, The Velvet Underground
, and The Jesus and Mary Chain
, being a combination of first two names and a play on track name "My Little Underground"
by The Jesus and Mary Chain. However, in an interview, Anton mentioned that the word "bloody" is used in place of the word "fucking". Rough mixes of many of the songs from the sessions were first made available on the band's MySpace
page, and then as a pre-release download from the official website on September 3, 2007.
My Bloody Underground contains more experimental sounds than previous BJM albums, especially with a collaboration with Mark Gardener
, formerly of Ride
, who co-wrote the song 'Monkey Powder'. The album is a more avant-garde approach to producing and recording. The space-rock/neo-psychedelic sound of the album can be attributed to Newcombe's large intake of psychedelic
drugs and adopting a "no talking in the studio" policy whilst recording.
The music videos of the songs on the album have also been released on YouTube
and as a music video compilation DVD entitled 'Book of Days'.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Brian Jonestown Massacre is an American eclectic musical group led by Anton Newcombe, whose music spans multiple genres including psychedelia, electronica, folk music, blues, experimental music, and many others....
, released on April 15, 2008 on A Records, a label set up by the band's leader, Anton Newcombe
Anton Newcombe
Anton Alfred Newcombe is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and leader of the music group, The Brian Jonestown Massacre.-Music:...
.
Background
It was recorded at first in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in August of 2007
2007 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
; however Newcombe found that the album wasn't working out the way he'd hoped, and so, then decided to record the rest in Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
in October 2007
2007 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
.
The title of the album was originally believed to be a homage to the bands My Bloody Valentine, The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
, and The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
, being a combination of first two names and a play on track name "My Little Underground"
Psychocandy
Psychocandy is the debut album by the Scottish alternative rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain, released in November 1985. Psychocandy combined the concepts of pop songs and searing guitar chords....
by The Jesus and Mary Chain. However, in an interview, Anton mentioned that the word "bloody" is used in place of the word "fucking". Rough mixes of many of the songs from the sessions were first made available on the band's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page, and then as a pre-release download from the official website on September 3, 2007.
My Bloody Underground contains more experimental sounds than previous BJM albums, especially with a collaboration with Mark Gardener
Mark Gardener
Mark Stephen Gardener is an English rock musician, and former singer and guitarist with the shoegazing band, Ride.-Ride:...
, formerly of Ride
Ride (band)
Ride were a British alternative rock band that formed in 1988 in Oxford, England, consisting of Andy Bell, Mark Gardener, Laurence "Loz" Colbert, and Steve Queralt. The band were initially part of the "shoegazing" scene. Following the break-up of the band in 1996, members moved on to various other...
, who co-wrote the song 'Monkey Powder'. The album is a more avant-garde approach to producing and recording. The space-rock/neo-psychedelic sound of the album can be attributed to Newcombe's large intake of psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
drugs and adopting a "no talking in the studio" policy whilst recording.
The music videos of the songs on the album have also been released on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and as a music video compilation DVD entitled 'Book of Days'.
Track listing
- "Bring Me the Head of Paul McCartney on Heather Mill's Wooden Peg (Dropping Bombs on the White House)" – 6:27
- "Infinite Wisdom Tooth / My Last Night in Bed With You" - 6:06
- "Who Fucking Pissed in My Well?" - 4:33
- "We Are the Niggers of the World" - 5:19
- "Who Cares Why?" - 8:20
- "Yeah-Yeah" - 4:29
- "Golden Frost" - 3:44
- "Just Like Kicking Jesus" - 4:38
- "Ljósmyndir" - 4:08 (IcelandicIcelandic languageIcelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
for "Photographs") - "Auto-Matic-Faggot for the People" - 5:46
- "Dark-Wave-Driver/Big Drill Car" - 7:42
- "Monkey Powder" - 6:55
- "Black-Hole-Symphony" - 10:20
- "The Origin of Love" (iTunes bonus track, alternative version named "Amazing Electronic Talking Cave" on "Just Like Kicking Jesus EP") - 6:09