Album Review: Brian Jonestown Massacre – Their Satanic Majesties’ Second Request
Perhaps most people know of Anton Newcombe from Ondi Timoner’s 2003 questionable documentary Dig! than through his career itself; as leader of the neo-psychedelic Brian Jonestown Massacre, Newcombe and his cohorts have turned out a dozen discs showcasing his unique musical vision.
In any event, there’s growing evidence that Newcombe’s got his act more together these days. One major indicator is the timed re-release of the BJM catalog. These lovingly-packaged albums are out on CD and high quality colored vinyl. The sound is top-notch, and the records are a thing of beauty.
And of course the music’s great. This particular album is an example of truth in packaging: the music herein is very much along the lines of the Rolling Stones oft-maligned 1967 answer to Sgt. Pepper’s. The original Satanic Majesties was intended as a darker corollary to the Summer of Love, and the 1996 BJM album builds from there with all original material; it’s not exactly a Stones sound-alike, but it just fits. It makes one yearn for the days of vinyl, and the sort of music people put out then. Luckily, BJM are still at it.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.