My Bloody Valentine-This is Your Bloody Valentine

Formed in Dublin in 1983 by guitarist Kevin Shields and drummer Colm O’Ciosoig, My Bloody Valentine started out as an indie band that featured vocalist Dave Conway and his girlfriend/keyboardist Tina Durkin. Influenced by the Jesus & Mary Chain, the group were also into the world of jangle-pop and post-punk as the fused the varied sounds that was miles away from the shoegaze sound that would later define the band in the late 80s and early 90s. In January of 1985, the band would release their debut in the form of a mini-album that was entitled This is Your Bloody Valentine.

Produced by My Bloody Valentine and songs written by the trio of Dave Conway, Colm O’Ciosoig, and Kevin Shields. This is Your Bloody Valentine is an album where MBV started out as a post-punk band with its energetic sound as well as Dave Conway’s vocals which is similar to the baritone vocal style of Joy Division vocalist Ian Curtis. The EP that clocks at nearly twenty-five-and-a-half minutes shows what the band was before they became the influential shoe gaze band that is revered by many in this interesting although unoriginal debut record.

Opening the record is Forever and Again that is led by a baritone-heavy bass line and ringing guitar chimes with tapping beats as Conway sings dark lyrics with his low-heavy vocals. The mid-tempo track picks up a bit in this Goth-inspired track that includes Tina Durkin’s soft keyboards. Homelovin’ Guy is an upbeat rocker with driving guitars and pummeling beats as Conway sings indecipherable lyrics while Shields brings in a wailing guitar solo. Don’t Cramp My Style is a fast, energetic track with pounding beats and thrashing guitars as Conway snarls through with his vocals and punk-inspired lyrics. Tiger in My Tank is another fast, upbeat track with a driving guitar riff and walloping beats while Conway sings in his low-vocal register to talk about a car.

The Love Gang is an energetic track with washy guitar noises, crashing drums, and Conway’s vocals that delve into very silly yet derivative lyrics. Inferno is a menacing yet raucous rocker with drums going all over the place with driving guitars and wailing keyboards as Conway continues to sing in his hollow vocals. The closing track in The Last Supper, as the track is led by Durkin’s flowing organ-like keyboard and sputtering rhythms that is followed by spurting guitars and Conway’s vocals. Featuring lyrics that is about a last supper, it’s a fitting closer to a very un-thrilling album.

This is Your Bloody Valentine is a decent but very derivative record from My Bloody Valentine. While there’s hints of the noisy guitar work that Kevin Shields would use in the later recordings that would define the band. It’s nothing more than just a pretty weak mix of the Jesus & Mary Chain as if it was sung by Ian Curtis that doesn’t really work. For hardcore fans of MBV, this is a record to get only if they’re really interested while casual fans should just avoid it and stick to the later, great work of the band from the late 80s/early 90s. In the end, This is Your Bloody Valentine is an OK record from My Bloody Valentine.

My Bloody Valentine Reviews: Studio Albums: (Isn’t Anything) - (Loveless)

Compilations: (Ecstasy & Wine)

EPs: Geek! - The New Record by My Bloody Valentine - Sunny Sundae Smile - (You Made Me Realise) - (Feed Me With Your Kiss) - (Glider) - (Tremolo)

© thevoid99 2011