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
Liar cover

Liar

The Jesus Lizard
Emergency & I cover

Emergency & I

The Dismemberment Plan
Piecework cover

Piecework

Kowloon Walled City
Sink cover

Sink

Foetus
Chambers cover

Chambers

Lorelle Meets The Obsolete
Pink cover

Pink

Boris
Galore cover

Galore

The Primitives