Released

It’s impossible to imagine the Jesus Lizard’s music without Steve Albini’s engineering; he was the band’s de facto fifth member, and on this, their second album, he takes their already powerful songs and turns them into paradigmatic Midwestern noise-rock. Duane Denison’s twangy, bent guitar riffs are supported by David Wm. Sims’ loud, rumbling bass and Mac McNeilly’s subtle but whomping drums, and honestly, that would be plenty satisfying enough, but add David Yow’s howling, fever-dream vocals to the mix and you’ve really got something. Albini’s contribution is to mix all four elements more or less equally; Yow is never shoved into the spotlight, indeed he’s often drowned out by Denison, making him sound even more like a crazy guy ranting from the corner.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
Wonderful Rainbow cover

Wonderful Rainbow

Lightning Bolt
Thee Caesars Of Trash cover

Thee Caesars Of Trash

Thee Mighty Caesars
Shame cover

Shame

Uniform
Cuatro Caminos cover

Cuatro Caminos

Café Tacuba
Disconnect From Desire cover

Disconnect From Desire

School of Seven Bells
Key Lime Pie cover

Key Lime Pie

Camper Van Beethoven
Frozen Blood cover

Frozen Blood

Crispy Ambulance
Jamboree cover

Jamboree

Beat Happening