Rack
What doesn’t get mentioned often enough about The Jesus Lizard’s relentlessly ugly music is how fragile it is. They can make a stumbling noise riff sound like a broken music box (“Hide & Seek”) and a man ranting about giving birth to a perfectly trained dog feel like a secret wish (“Swan the Dog”)—strange, private moods rendered in noisy, explosive music. Like “Louie, Louie,” The Stooges, and Nirvana (whose Kurt Cobain was a vocal and devoted fan), they are both caveman-simple and savant-smart, or at least in touch with a force beyond our earthly realm. Part of what makes *Rack* such an unsettling listen—26 years after 1998’s *Blue*—is realizing how prophetic their version of America turned out to be: a violent, mysterious place where the biggest threat is probably that guy next door.
Rack, the first album from post-hardcore legends The Jesus Lizard in 26 years, begins with a show of force: the hook-laden, up-tempo rocker “Hide & Seek” that functions as both lead single and album opener.
If you look up ‘noise rock’ in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of The Jesus Lizard frontman David Yow in his obligatory live flow: half-naked and
The Nirvana peers’ first album in 26 years is a masterclass in tightly controlled chaos
Gavin Brown reviews the new album from returning noise rock legends The Jesus Lizard! Read the review of 'Rack' here on Distorted Sound!
'Rack' is another thrilling chapter from the Jesus Lizard, one of the most significant noise bands ever and whom many groups claim as a heavy influence.
The Jesus Lizard - Rack review: After more than a quarter-century, maybe the best that could be expected from the Lizard