Brian Jonestown Massacre

Who Killed Sgt. Pepper? (A. Records)

By Megan Martin
Published: March 9th, 2010 | 7:00am

From the beginning of the group’s inception, there was an unpredictable air of anticipation surrounding Anton Newcombe and the Brian Jonestown Massacre: erratic behavior, wild beats, indie pop noise rock, a mentally unstable singer, and the frustrated band that followed all led to cracks in the foundation. And although the band has survived for over a decade with a revolving lineup and Newcombe’s attempts at sobriety, it’s nice to know some things never change.

BJM’s latest and eleventh release to date, Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?, brings another drastically unexpected depiction of the San Francisco–born band that changed the indie rock scene. This latest feat captures some of the group’s past with whimsical, free-flowing sounds, while also revealing some of its future with a fresh electronic beat. With haunting echoes, danceable electro tracks, Bhangra beats, and gypsy influences, Sgt. Pepper introduces the Western world to Eastern musical influence just like their namesake Brian Jones did.

With this new collection of songs comes a fresh view of the band, one original fans may not love as much since it’s less cohesive than previous works and BJM’s darkest material. “Let’s Go Fucking Mental” is a heavy chant-like number that combines scratchy indie pop with a maniacal mantra. “This Is the One Thing We Did Not Want to Have Happen” opens with something that sounds eerily close to old Joy Division, but in the best possible way. Clocking in at a little over seven minutes long, “This Is the One…” could be the album’s anthem whereas “Someplace Else Unknown” could be a cult’s death march song. Newcombe himself said that he hates when someone calls his music “European,” claiming that it only means it’s not understood by those in the Western world — but there is something undeniably foreign about Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?, a soundtrack for a transition into a new life for the singer and his band.

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