Synopsis

Set in an American bar, the video frames "Sometimes Always" as a tense, uneasy duet between two people caught in a failing relationship. Jim Reid and Hope Sandoval perform amid drinks, cigarettes, and cramped late-night surroundings, while the Jesus and Mary Chain linger around the bar as detached observers. The casual setting contrasts with the song's romantic promises, creating a mood of jealousy, resignation, and emotional distance. Sandoval's reserved presence gives the video an especially cool, melancholic edge.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was released in 1994 to promote "Sometimes Always," the first single from *Stoned & Dethroned*.

• Hope Sandoval's appearance marked a notable meeting between two understated alternative-rock voices: the Jesus and Mary Chain and Mazzy Star. She shares the song with Jim Reid and also appears on screen with the band.

• William Reid conceived the song as a modern take on a Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra-style duet. The pairing of Reid's plainspoken delivery with Sandoval's hushed vocal became the song's defining feature.

• The clip was produced by Rob Small for Oil Factory.

• Stills from the video were used throughout the artwork for *Stoned & Dethroned* and the accompanying singles, making the clip part of the album's visual identity.

• The single became one of the Jesus and Mary Chain's most successful UK releases, reaching No. 22 on the UK singles chart.