The Power of Negative Thinking – B-Sides & Rarities
The Jesus and Mary Chain · 2008
237 min · 81 tracks · alternative rock
A sprawling collection of raw demos and rare B-sides, echoing the Jesus and Mary Chain's signature blend of melody and distortion.
Top tracks — play these first
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Just Like Honey (demo Oct. ’84) — This early demo presents an unpolished yet captivating glimpse into what would become one of the band's signature songs, emphasizing their raw musical roots.
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Taste of Cindy (acoustic version) — The acoustic rendition strips down the original's noise-pop layers, revealing the song's emotional depth and lyrical nuance.
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Never Understand (alternate) — This alternate version showcases the band's foundational sound while highlighting subtle differences in arrangement that enhance its lyrical themes.
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Some Candy Talking — As one of their more recognized B-sides, it embodies the band's ability to blend catchy melodies with darker lyrical content, making it a fan favorite.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic collection of raw gems
- wave-like pacing with surprises
- for nostalgic late nights
- short bursts of melodic energy
- exploration of unpolished soundscapes
Maybe skip if you
- seeks polished, radio-friendly tracks
- prefers long, cohesive narratives
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — A collection of rarities that offers insight but isn't a primary entry point.
- Career context
- Released in 2008, The Power of Negative Thinking – B-Sides & Rarities came at a time when the Jesus and Mary Chain were reuniting after a lengthy hiatus. This compilation followed their 2007 album, Damage and Joy, showcasing previously unreleased material alongside lesser-known tracks from their extensive catalog. It served both as a retrospective of their influential sound and as a bridge to a new chapter in their career.
- Stylistic neighbors
- My Bloody Valentine· Slowdive· Spiritualized
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Up Too High 3:44
- 2 Upside Down 3:00
- 3 Vegetable Man 3:35
- 4 Suck 2:08
- 5 Ambition 3:29
- 6 Just Out of Reach 2:08
- 7 Boyfriend’s Dead 1:43
- 8 Head 3:50
- 9 Just Like Honey (demo Oct. ’84) 2:59
- 10 Cracked 3:47
- 11 Taste of Cindy (acoustic version) 2:00
- 12 The Hardest Walk 3:13
- 13 Never Understand (alternate) 3:26
- 14 My Little Underground (demo) 2:33
- 15 The Living End (demo) 2:17
- 16 Some Candy Talking 3:18
- 17 Psychocandy 2:54
- 18 Hit 3:28
- 19 Cut Dead (acoustic) 2:47
- 20 You Trip Me Up (acoustic) 2:42
- 21 Walk and Crawl 2:24
Disc 2
- 1 Kill Surf City 3:11
- 2 Bo Diddley Is Jesus 3:18
- 3 Who Do You Love 4:05
- 4 Everything’s Alright When You’re Down 2:39
- 5 Shake 2:01
- 6 Happy When It Rains (demo) 3:47
- 7 Happy Place 2:24
- 8 F.Hole 1:09
- 9 Rider 2:12
- 10 On the Wall (Porta Studio demo) 3:42
- 11 Surfin’ USA (April outtake) 2:58
- 12 Here It Comes Again 2:33
- 13 Don’t Ever Change 3:33
- 14 Swing 2:26
- 15 Sidewalking 3:35
- 16 Surfin’ USA (Summer mix) 3:32
- 17 Shimmer 2:47
- 18 Penetration 2:48
- 19 Break Me Down 2:31
- 20 Subway 2:06
- 21 My Girl 3:05
Disc 3
- 1 In the Black 2:55
- 2 Terminal Beach 2:25
- 3 Deviant Slice 3:03
- 4 I’m Glad I Never 1:31
- 5 Drop (acoustic remix) 1:54
- 6 Rollercoaster 3:52
- 7 Silverblade 2:58
- 8 Lowlife 3:28
- 9 Tower of Song 4:50
- 10 Heat 3:01
- 11 Guitar Man 3:43
- 12 Why’d You Want Me? 3:14
- 13 Sometimes 2:52
- 14 Teenage Lust (acoustic version) 2:25
- 15 Reverberation (Doubt) 3:47
- 16 Don’t Come Down 2:41
- 17 Snakedriver 3:41
- 18 Something I Can’t Have 3:03
- 19 Write Record Release Blues 2:57
- 20 Little Red Rooster 3:27
Disc 4
- 1 The Perfect Crime 1:35
- 2 Little Stars 3:33
- 3 Drop (re‐recorded) 1:53
- 4 (I’m in With) The Out Crowd 2:37
- 5 New York City 1:59
- 6 Taking It Away 2:12
- 7 Ghost of a Smile 2:55
- 8 Alphabet Street 2:17
- 9 Coast to Coast (alternate – William vox) 3:23
- 10 Dirty Water (demo – William vox) 3:15
- 11 Till I Found You 2:05
- 12 Bleed Me 3:38
- 13 33⅓ 3:19
- 14 Lost Star 2:05
- 15 Hide Myself 3:31
- 16 Rocket 3:02
- 17 Easylife, Easylove 4:08
- 18 40,000k 2:51
- 19 Nineteen666 3:31
What to play next
Damage and Joy
2017
This album blends raw energy with melodic elements, continuing the band's signature sound.
Stoned & Dethroned
1994
It offers a more introspective take that leads into the rarities collection's emotional depth.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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