I purchased God's Own Medicine after "Wasteland" had become a hit single. I didn't know much about them, and had no idea that frontman Wayne Hussey had been in both Dead Or Alive and Sisters Of Mercy. The term Gothic Rock seemed to being applied to any group that predominately dressed in black so The Mission fitted that bill.
I really liked God's Own Medicine with its satisfying guitar patterns, the deep crooning vocals, and there were great well structured songs and melodies, although the flowery lyrics of love, death, rituals and religion were sometimes a little bit silly. It was consistently good, and there wasn't a bad track on it.
Looking at the track listing before playing again, I could remember all the songs, except perhaps ironically for "Stay With Me", the first hit from the album.
The album begins with the spoken line "I still believe in God but God no longer believes in me" before launching into the main riff and the great driving bass line of the mid-tempo "Wasteland", which has nothing to do with the TS Eliot poem. It has a searing guitar solo in the middle and a great chorus. The playing throughout is excellent and it is still a brilliant song. "You can touch, but please keep your distance. You're innocent and pure and with no shame. The spirit is willing, and the flesh is craved. You tease and you taunt with the pleasure of pain"
"Bridges Burning" is more frenetic but is spoiled for me by the screams and yelps over guitar for intro and screams at the end. The guitar intro reminds me of "She Sells Sanctuary" by The Cult.
The pace drops with "Garden of Delight ( Hereafter )" which features violins and cello. "Take my hand and lead me to the Garden of Delight". Listening now, its the best song on the album
"Stay With Me" is not to be confused the Faces hit from 1970 and I immediately remembered it once it started with what I refer to a downward reverse chord sequence. "One to the floor at dawn with lips tied and drawn. Sleepless nights spent, with angels heaven sent. Stay with me, lay with me, lay down by my side"
"Let Sleeping Does Lie" closes side one and is another slow number, with some synthesizer and a mournful vocal.
The side two opener "Sacrilege" starts with some frantic guitar before launching into the main riff. "Sacrilege, burning on the funeral pyre"
"Dance On Grass" has a slower pace and sounds a bit like The Cure from around that era, especially the drumming, and "And The Dance Goes On" is another strong track.
The third single "Severina" features dramatic operatic female vocals from All About Eve's Julianne Regan. When I first heard the song I thought they were singing "Semolina" !
"Love Me To Death" is a great closing number, with a slow plucked guitar into but the tempo soon picks up. It has a great chorus.
In conclusion, God's Own Medicine remains a very good album, and there still is not a bad track on it.
Track Listing :
Side One :
1. Wasteland
2. Bridges Burning
3. Garden Of Delight ( Hereafter )
4. Stay With Me
5. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
1. Sacrilege
2. Dance On Grass
3. And The Dance Goes On
4. Severina
5. Love Me to Death
Released 1986
UK Chart Position : 14
Singles :
Stay With Me ( No 30 - 1986 )
Wasteland ( No 11 - 1987 )
Severina ( No 25 - 1987 )
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