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
Rid of Me cover

Rid of Me

PJ Harvey
EPs 1988-1991 cover

EPs 1988-1991

My Bloody Valentine
Source Tags & Codes cover

Source Tags & Codes

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
Bizarro cover

Bizarro

The Wedding Present
Entrench cover

Entrench

KEN mode
Palo Santo cover

Palo Santo

Shearwater