the Jesus Lizard : "RACK"

Noise rock became the label that most would define these guys with, though when "Pure" came out in 1989, I remember thinking they played their instruments too well to be a punk band, thought this was a time when music was shifting and the "alternative" label meant something more than a marketing slogan. There is much more of a rock n roll feeling possessing this album. Yow's voice sits back in the mix on the first song, but when he takes the spotlight on "Armstice Day" it's evident he still has his voice. There is a cool tension lurking under the surface of the rock facade. 

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More punk attitude seeps into "Grind". The guitar tones feel brighter and more organic, they are not playing with the same pent-up aggression they gave their 90s a subtle metallic edge.  "What If ?" is driven by a creeping introspection that serves as a fitting counterpoint to the rowdier "Lord Godiva". This finds Yow coming closest to his famous howl, as for the first four songs he has kept the mood pretty civil. "Alexis Feels Sick" is closer to what I want from these guys as it has an unhinged mood with an inner darkness smirking at you. 

Things got back more to a frantic syncopation, before tightening the reins into a groove for "Falling Down", which might not be as explosive as their earlier work, but is still effective. "Dunning Kruger" is much more rock n roll, it would have almost fit on rock radio in the mid-90s. The band themselves said this was some of their hookier songwriting, so this must have been one of the songs they were referring to. Not what you go into this album expecting if you are measuring them against the past but it works. "Moto(R)" bleeds from a similar vein as the previous song, a little happier than what I associate with these guys, and not as catchy as "Dunning Kruger" 

By the time we get to "Is That Your Hand?" they are beginning to bore me, but then I really like "Swan the Dog" as it has darker more melodic leanings and is a great example of how they can bring the sound we expect as fans and marry it to these more mature rock leanings the album goes into. These guys have been critical darlings for the bulk of their career, so you are going to read a lot of inflated praise of this album, I like the album but wish it was darker, and the more rock n roll direction takes some getting use to at times, so I will give it a 9, which is still better than the bulk of rock music coming out these days. 

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