Sister Vanilla
Little Pop Rock
Chemical Underground / Stomp



Jesus and Mary Chain fans your attention please. Sister Vanilla is the entire Reid family together, not just the two brothers (ala Jesus and Mary Chain) but this reunification came about because their sister, Linda Reid brought them all together. Now let me get straight to the chase, this IS NOT an attempt to rewrite Pscyhocandy, and it's not as good. But be thankful for small mercies, this album still has the unmistakable melodies of the Reid's stamped all over it.

Packed with swagger and style, it has more snarl than a throwback into the 'Stoned And Dethroned' country days, and despite some sweet riffs and dreamy vocals, the guitar distortion is restrained. The slow start and melody line of Angel could be a cousin to the classic JAMC ballad Sometimes Always while Jamcolas and Delicat even contain William and Jim in the lead vocals, with Linda stepping back to the role of backing vocals.

One of the highlight moments is fuzzed up guitars and boastful hedonist lyrics of What Goes Around, in which they admit they pissed all their money down the drain. Linda Reid name checks the JAMC great albums of the past in K To Be Lost, which is underpinned by a melody line that could only be written by that loveable Reid family. Some might say they are predictable and going over well worn areas, but I'd just call it, doing what they do best, sweet pop melodies covered in guitar sounds.

'Little Pop Rock' is a welcome return to form by the Reid family and although it won't start up a whole scene of pretenders this time, I'm sure this album will bring plenty of joy to JAMC fans and will motivate others to check out to their ground-breaking back catalogue.

Scott Berry