Isn't Anything

Infobox Album | Name = Isn't Anything
Type = Album
Artist = My Bloody Valentine


Released = November 1988
Recorded = Spring/Summer 1988
Genre = Shoegazing
Length = 37:48
Label = Creation (UK), Sire (U.S.)
Producer = My Bloody Valentine
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:4sjv7i4jg7or link]
*"Entertainment Weekly" (A) 7/93 (p. 55)
* The Quietus [http://www.thequietus.com/2008/06/my-bloody-valentine-isnt-anything-and-lovelessreissues-reviewed/ link]
Last album = "You Made Me Realise"
(1988)
This album = "Isn't Anything"
(1988)
Next album = "Feed Me with Your Kiss"
(1988) |

"Isn't Anything" is the official debut full-length album by My Bloody Valentine, released in November 1988 after three years of issuing EPs and mini-LPs. It came out on Creation Records in the U.K., and is currently available on Sire Records in the U.S.

Background

When the band's original vocalist Dave Conway left, to be replaced by Bilinda Butcher, Kevin Shields returned to their "avant-garde" roots, and began to explore the possibilities offered by the studio facilities available after signing to Creation Records.Stubbs, David (1999) "Sweetheart Attack: My Bloody Valentine's "Isn't Anything" is "the" Eighties rock album", UNCUT, February 1999] The first fruits of this experimentation was the single/EP "You Made Me Realise", released in July 1988. "Isn't Anything" was eagerly awaited, and didn't disappoint, with UNCUT's David Stubbs calling it "one of the most important, influential British rock albums of the Eighties". While recording the album, the band got by on about two hours sleep a night, something which has been suggested is reflected in the vocals. "Several Girls Galore" has been described as "a cubist take on the Jesus and Mary Chain".

tyle

Displaying strong influence from Cocteau Twins, Dinosaur Jr, and The Jesus and Mary Chain, "Isn't Anything" established My Bloody Valentine as one of the leading forces in indie music. The album comprises burned-out torch-style songs ("Lose My Breath", "No More Sorry", and "All I Need"), jagged guitar anthems "(When You Wake) You're Still In A Dream", "Feed Me With Your Kiss") and dream-pop melodies ("Several Girls Galore", "Sueisfine"). The titular word in "Sueisfine" was always sung as "suicide" live, but the pronunciation is ambiguous on the album.

A music video was shot for the song "Feed Me With Your Kiss." This video is mainly noteworthy because neither Shields nor Butcher play their usual Fender Jaguar and Fender Jazzmaster respectively in it, instead opting for a Gibson ES, Charvel Surfcaster, and a different Fender Jaguar.

Track listing

All songs written by Kevin Shields, unless otherwise noted.
#"Soft as Snow (but Warm Inside)" (Shields, Colm Ó Cíosóig) – 2:21
#"Lose My Breath" (Bilinda Butcher, Shields) – 3:37
#"Cupid Come" (Butcher, Shields) – 4:27
#"(When You Wake) You're Still in a Dream" (O'Ciosoig, Shields) – 3:16
#"No More Sorry" (Butcher, Shields) – 2:48
#"All I Need" – 3:04
#"Feed Me with Your Kiss" – 3:54
#"Sueisfine" (Shields, O'Ciosoig) – 2:12
#"Several Girls Galore" (Butcher, Shields) – 2:21
#"You Never Should" – 3:21
#"Nothing Much to Lose" – 3:16
#"I Can See It (but I Can't Feel It)" – 3:10

The initial vinyl LP copies came with a free bonus 7" which was packaged in a plain white sleeve. The songs on it were titled "Instrumental A" (3:19) and "Instrumental B" (4:36). "Instrumental B" featured a Public Enemy drum loop (from "Security of the First World") which was later used by Madonna in her 1990 hit single, "Justify My Love".

Personnel

*Kevin Shields – guitar, vocals
*Bilinda Butcher – vocals, guitar
*Colm Ó Cíosóig – drums
*Debbie Googe – bass
*My Bloody Valentine – production
*Dave Anderson – engineer
*Steve Nunn – engineer
*Alex Russell – engineer
*Joe Dilworth – photography

Awards

* #22 – Pitchforkmedia: [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/36736/Top_100_Albums_of_the_1980s/page_8 Top 100 Albums of the 1980s]
* #46 – Alternative Press: [http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/apress.html#Alternative%20Press%20(10th%20Anniversary%20Issue)%20July%2095 99 Best Albums of 1985-1995] (July 1995 issue)
* #110 – Stylus: [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=898&PHPSESSID=b1493e08c6a90e5fe90dde0616f2ae55 Top 101-200 Favourite Albums Ever]

References