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
Electronic cover

Electronic

Electronic
Hospice cover

Hospice

The Antlers
Back Home cover

Back Home

Big Joanie
Cuatro Caminos cover

Cuatro Caminos

Café Tacuba
Lonerism cover

Lonerism

Tame Impala
Tindersticks cover

Tindersticks

Tindersticks
The Stone Roses cover

The Stone Roses

The Stone Roses
Zen Arcade cover

Zen Arcade

Hüsker Dü
Ferment cover

Ferment

Catherine Wheel