CD Review

Well, they've gone and done it again, they have. Jadis, that is. They've gone and got Marvin and Jack Jiblet back. Why hasn't the Pasty boy left yet? Probably too much trouble for him, the lazy sod.

Anyway, they've also done a new album, Understand, and, boy, what a corker. Make no mistake, Guv'nor. This, in my opinion, is they're most mature album yet. Some of it even sound written from the heart, with lyrics like Don't hate me with silence in the opener Where in the World, a song that starts with some of the cleanest sounding guitar they you'll never hear Gazza play live on stage. It's as the drums come in that you realise just what a good job the backroom boys (Armitage Shanks and Chainsnore Aubrey again) have done. Crystal clear production shines through throughout. This is a typically laid-back Jadis track, and it only takes a couple of minutes before their trade mark harmonies start.

It's like music to my ears.

Look, I could sit here for hours plandering on and on about each of the tracks, lengths, time changes, deep meaning of the lyrics, but you know me. I know you. You just want to know how good it it. So I'll tell ya. It's very good. It's like they've grown up. At last. Just a couple of the highlights are the driving Pasty drums and the chundering Ghandler riffs at the start of 'Is This Real'

Understand, the title track, seems destined to become a live classic, if they ever play live often enough for anything to become a classic, that's. Well, it's my bloody favourite, anyway. Except for Between Here and There which must be the best track on the CD, if only cos it's about 15 year olds. My (and Gary's) favourite subject. No sorry. It's 15 years old. The song. Still, it's old Jadis and as we all know, that's good Jadis. Aaah they were they days, Trev 'Sex God', Mr Pizzazz, Pete 'Ultraworld' Salmon, Mark 'Mullett' Law. Takes me back to the old Marquee and The Rose and Crown and thousands of other Shitholes that have now been closed down for hygienic reasons.

All in all, and all in one day, this is an excellent album. Fuck me, I'm lost for words.

And that doesn't happen often.

If you've let Jadis amble on past you all these years, like some drunk tramp with a can of Special Brew held tight in hand, well, this is the time to stop him, shake his hand, and buy him a cup of tea. You might be pleasantly surprised.  

And why don't you go and visit their wonderful new JADIS-NET. It's brill!!