Brian Jonestown Massacre – Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?
Carley Hall

Another year, another album from Brian Jonestown Massacre. Honestly, these guys turn over new material every other year (a whopping three albums in 2006). And with a new release comes a new line up. Those who couldn’t hack the infamous onstage violence and verbal slandering simply moved on (see cult music doco DiG!). The only constant is resilient leading man Anton Newcombe. Arguably, and dangerously, more widely regarded for his drug-fuelled antics in the aforementioned film, Newcombe has further developed his unique brand of revivalist 60s psyche-rock and dragged it into Who Killed Sgt. Pepper, a curiously culturally-inspired collection that will put steadfast fans to the test.

Recorded in Berlin and Iceland last year, WKSP? is certainly flavoured with a bit more ethnic spice then is usually found in amongst their previous 13 albums to date, bringing a few novelties to the table to see if they mix with their trademark ‘shoegaze’ sound. Fusing their rock n rave moments with some tabla beats is certainly a new one for these guys.

While most of these attempts are gratifying, especially on “This Is The First Of Your Last Warning” and “Detka! Detka! Detka!,” I still found myself in want of some classic BJM buzzing, lo-fi craziness, and to be fair, snippets were heard in amongst “Let’s Go Fucking Mental,” “Super Fucked” and “Our Time.”

If you love sitting still and letting a raging cyclone that’s swallowed a pack of crayons swirl around you, then you’ll love Who Killed Sgt. Pepper? Too often though, songs are simply bereft of structure, but this won’t deter diehards; it’s classic BJM. Matt Hollywood’s re-acceptance into the band has served it well, and to hear Newcombe’s voice not drenched in distortion and cacophonic noise during one number was a welcome change. All in all, WKSP? presents a bit of an oxymoron: it revels in its dirty, polished rock while still keeping some of the shoegazing, drug-addled 60s alive, which is why we loved BJM in the first place. With lyrics like I said look motherfucker now I’m looking for drugs/ I’m not asking ‘bout Jesus not asking for hugs, what’s not to love?

- Carley Hall