Methodrone
Encyclopedia
Methodrone is the second studio album by American
neo-psychedelia
band The Brian Jonestown Massacre
, released in 1995. The name of the album is a pun on the drug methadone
, used in treatment of heroin addiction, as well as the word "drone", referencing the overall shoegaze sound of the album. The album's dreamy rock sound, comparable to that of Spacemen 3
and My Bloody Valentine, sets this record apart from the rest of the band's discography, as they would later dive into a defined yet open-ended psychedelia sound.
who had begun playing bass in the band. It was also Graham Bonnar's only appearance in the band. "She Made Me" and "Evergreen" were released as a double A-side single in 1992. Methodrone was re-released in 2007 on Anton Newcombe's A Records.
"Wisdom" was later re-recorded on the band's first and only album with TVT Records
, Strung Out in Heaven
. "Wisdom", "She's Gone", "That Girl Suicide" and "Evergreen" were included on the band's greatest hits compilation Tepid Peppermint Wonderland: A Retrospective
.
Engineering and mixing
, where Brian Bannin wrote, "Everything moves with the slowness and presence of a disgraced monarch in exile...At its best, Methodrone has the tormented grace of accepting doom".
, Anton Newcombe
, and Dean Taylor
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
neo-psychedelia
Neo-psychedelia
Neo-psychedelia is music that emulates or is heavily influenced by the psychedelic music of the 1960s. It began to be revived among British post-punk bands of the later 1970s and early 1980s and was taken up by groups including bands of the Paisley Underground and Madchester scenes, as well as...
band The Brian Jonestown Massacre
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 in 1995. The name of the album is a pun on the drug methadone
Methadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...
, used in treatment of heroin addiction, as well as the word "drone", referencing the overall shoegaze sound of the album. The album's dreamy rock sound, comparable to that of Spacemen 3
Spacemen 3
Spacemen 3 were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1982 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Peter Kember and Jason Pierce. Their music was "colorfully mind-altering, but not in the sense of the acid rock of the '60s; instead, the band developed its own minimalistic psychedelia"...
and My Bloody Valentine, sets this record apart from the rest of the band's discography, as they would later dive into a defined yet open-ended psychedelia sound.
Background
This was the first album released after the departure of guitarist and founding member Travis Threlkel, and the only album to feature vocalists Elise Dye and Paola Simmonds. Drummers Brian Glaze and Graham Bonnar were also brought into the line-up to replace Ricky MaymiRicky Maymi
Ricky Rene Maymi is a multi-instrumentalist from San Francisco, California. Born September 15, 1972. He is most famous for his work with the neo-psychedelic rock band, The Brian Jonestown Massacre .-The Brian Jonestown Massacre:...
who had begun playing bass in the band. It was also Graham Bonnar's only appearance in the band. "She Made Me" and "Evergreen" were released as a double A-side single in 1992. Methodrone was re-released in 2007 on Anton Newcombe's A Records.
"Wisdom" was later re-recorded on the band's first and only album with TVT Records
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
, Strung Out in Heaven
Strung Out in Heaven
Strung Out in Heaven is the seventh full-length album by American neo-psychedelia band The Brian Jonestown Massacre. It was the band's first and only recording with the large independent label, TVT Records...
. "Wisdom", "She's Gone", "That Girl Suicide" and "Evergreen" were included on the band's greatest hits compilation Tepid Peppermint Wonderland: A Retrospective
Tepid Peppermint Wonderland: A Retrospective
Tepid Peppermint Wonderland: A Retrospective is a double album by The Brian Jonestown Massacre, released in 2004. The album is a best-of compilation spanning the band's career ....
.
Track listing
Personnel
The Brian Jonestown Massacre- Anton NewcombeAnton NewcombeAnton Alfred Newcombe is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and leader of the music group, The Brian Jonestown Massacre.-Music:...
- Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals - Jeffrey DaviesJeffrey DaviesJeffrey Davies in Washington D.C. is a guitarist best known for his contributions to the neo-psychedelic rock group The Brian Jonestown Massacre. He played in the band from 1992 to 1999. He rejoined the band in 2001 only to quit again in 2003. Spending a good deal of his early years in Washington...
- Guitar - Rick MaymiRicky MaymiRicky Rene Maymi is a multi-instrumentalist from San Francisco, California. Born September 15, 1972. He is most famous for his work with the neo-psychedelic rock band, The Brian Jonestown Massacre .-The Brian Jonestown Massacre:...
- Bass - Matt HollywoodMatt HollywoodMatt Hollywood is an American indie rock guitarist and singer. He was a founding member and leader of the Portland-based indie rock band The Out Crowd, as well as a founding member of the neo-psychedelic rock band The Brian Jonestown Massacre. He currently fronts the drone rock band The Rebel...
- Bass, vocals - Brian Glaze - Drums
- Graham Bonnar - Drums
- Elise Dye - Vocals
- Paola Simmonds - Vocals
Engineering and mixing
- Anton Newcombe
- David Deresinski
- Eric Holland
- John Karr
- Jessica Wing
- Adriene Gulyassy
Critical response
The second album by a band that had been steadily releasing singles throughout the two years previous, Methodrone was largely ignored upon its release. However, it garnered a favorable review in British tastemaker magazine MojoMojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
, where Brian Bannin wrote, "Everything moves with the slowness and presence of a disgraced monarch in exile...At its best, Methodrone has the tormented grace of accepting doom".
Cover artwork
The faces featured on the cover artwork are, clockwise from top left, Brian Glaze, Matt HollywoodMatt Hollywood
Matt Hollywood is an American indie rock guitarist and singer. He was a founding member and leader of the Portland-based indie rock band The Out Crowd, as well as a founding member of the neo-psychedelic rock band The Brian Jonestown Massacre. He currently fronts the drone rock band The Rebel...
, Anton Newcombe
Anton Newcombe
Anton Alfred Newcombe is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and leader of the music group, The Brian Jonestown Massacre.-Music:...
, and Dean Taylor
Dean Taylor (musician)
Dean Taylor is an American indie rock guitarist.-The Brian Jonestown Massacre:Taylor is most famous for his work with the neo-psychedelic rock band, The Brian Jonestown Massacre. He was an original member and contributed as a guitarist throughout the band's early career.Taylor was featured in the...
.