2 of 3 thought this review was well written
This may surprise some of you, but no, Nirvana was not terribly innovative. In the underground, almost completely unnoticed and underrecognized, was Chicago's own Jesus Lizard. What they lacked in beauty and emotion, they made up for in pure, unpolished, creepy aggression and strangeness. Not many bands can actually call their music genuinely scary, but the Jesus Lizard managed during their 12 years on Earth. It's comparable to things you know aren't real, and therefore harmless fun (Dracula, the Exorcist, Cannibal Corpse) and things that are creepy because they are actual real-life events (A kidnapping, a murder, Jesus Lizard). And they took it a step beyond; while, say, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds took their evil music as seriously and as darkly as they possibly could, the Jesus Lizard seemed to enjoy it and have fun with it; they were creating a demon and then taking it out for a beer. But enough rambling, let's get to reviewing the undisputed best album of all time.
Then Comes Dudley
There have been better openers, but this song is still all right. It has one of the coolest guitar bits I've ever heard (the spirally thing during the intro after the bass stops; you'll know it when you hear it), and the chorus is great, but it's kind of boring otherwise. 6/10.
Mouth Breather
Here we go. Right after the plodding sludginess of "Then Comes Dudley" is the wild, frantic rant of "Mouth Breather". Duane Denison and Mac McNeilly get to show off, with strange and complex guitar and drums that still manage to be catchy. The lyrics are funny, about David Yow going somewhere and leaving someone in charge of his house ("I expect when I return, for there to be some sort of order, but such is not the case"). You could call it "repetitive", but it's under three minutes long, so what the hell do you want. 9/10.
Nub
Two highlights in a row! Starts out with a simultaneously grinding and jangly guitar riff that turns into a very percussion-heavy pounder. Then the verse comes in (there really isn't a chorus), the band hilariously tells the story of an amputee ("So, since the surgery, how's that ghost limb?"), and it's just a really, really good punk song. 8/10
Seasick
More "Then Comes Dudley"-ish stuff again after that burst of energy, but it's better this time around. Duane is a master at setting the scene of a song with his guitar; it honestly sounds like you're trying to stay afloat in the ocean. But it's not loud, sweeping roars like you'd expect; he's playing jagged, broken-up notes that resemble waves pretty **** well. The chorus is pretty straightforward, resembling the lurching of a ship as Yow screams "I CAN'T SWIM!" as convincingly as he can (which is very convincingly). 7.5/10.
Monkey Trick
The scariest song ever recorded. Starts off with a musically-orgasmic two second noise burst, goes into the excellent bassline with Duane throwing in an echoey carnival-noise guitar lick every once in a while. Yow pulls off the most inhuman scream of all time right after the first verse. 10/10.
Karpis
Meh. Pretty twangy, straightforward song about prison, with an "AAH! AAH! AAH! AAH! AAH! AAH! AAAAAAAAAAH!" chorus. I like it, but it's not worthy of the rest of the album. 5.5/10.
South Mouth
Yep, David Yow was from Texas originally, and gets to show it. A dark and sarcastically country-tinged rock song with call-and-response shout vocals. Fun stuff, and the lyrics make no sense. 7/10.
Lady Shoes
Oh man, this song rules. Best guitar intro ever performed, with Duane creating the perfect ominous riff that would fit well into any action scene in a spy movie. Of course, the lyrics about masturbating on pianos wouldn't. 10/10.
Rodeo in Joliet
Back to the sludginess! Nothing much to say about this song, it's got some really catchy guitar work but isn't all that memorable. It's a 6.5/10, but just because it's not as good as the other masterpieces. On a lesser album, it would be a 10.
While it might seem too short to be an LP but too long to be an EP, the 30 or so minutes are the perfect amount of music a person can digest by this band in one sitting. Definitely something you need to listen to more than once in order to appreciate, it's music at its rawest form but still complex and unacessible to anyone looking for a challenge. 4.5/5, because it honestly could have changed music as we know it if wasn't overshadowed by Nirvana's inferior Nevermind that same year.
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I have the song "Boilermaker" by The Jesus Lizard, and it doesn't really appeal to me. I'm looking for some songs from this album, though, and I'll tell you what I think if I can get any to download. Also been looking for anything by Sebadoh, but no such luck yet.
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Boilermaker's from Liar, which is not as good. This stuff isn't as heavy. I think you'll like Sebadoh more, I did a review of III which you can check out if you want.
Digging: f - s
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I like Jesus Lizard as a whole but they also suffer in the same way like Big Black does in that they can be extreamly abrasive and ugly, but then again they can go back to more, if I can say it, "structured" song formats. Anyway that's how I feel about JL.
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Hell of a review Nacho. Very long and I love long reviews. Im going to check this one out thanks to you.
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I haven't heard much of Jesus Lizard. Only one song I believe, which is "Puss" from the 2 song Jesus Lizard/Nirvana single. All I know is that I really like it. I'm not sure which album to get, but going by your review, I'm guessing this one.
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Yes, 'Goat' is the one to get. Amazing band.
Digging: Infidel?/Castro! - Bioentropic Damage Fractal
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I like Rodeo in Joilet. 
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Wow, I didn't know there were any Jesus Lizard reviews. This album is great and my favorite Jesus Lizard album. "Mouth Breather" and "Seasick" are my two favorites off the album.
Nice review, I'll be reviewing "Liar" soon.
Digging: The Dead C | | |
The only songs from the band that I've heard are "Mouth Breather" and "Nub." They're pretty good, especially the riff in "Mouth Breather." Must be a good album, huh?
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It's a very good album. You'd probably like it as well (based on what I know of your tastes, anyway). I wish Nacho still wrote reviews. 
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Jesus Lizard rules. I'll review "Shot" sometime since it's a bit controversial.
EDIT: Punk? WTF?
This Message Edited On 11.08.05
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Jesus Lizard are out of this world. Yow is a madman, and their sounds is too awesome.
Digging: Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase
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"Nub" is the best songtitle ever.
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Worst band name of all time.
Digging: Opeth
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It's a very good album. You'd probably like it as well (based on what I know of your tastes, anyway).
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I guess you're right because I have the album and I think it's awesome! Especially "Seasick" and "Monkey Trick."
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Worst band name of all time.
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I thought it was an awesome band name.
Digging: My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
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Originally Posted by MrKite
I thought it was an awesome band name.
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definitely one of my favorite names
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Man, Then Comes Dudley is awesome.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
horribly underrated. Albini called them the most talented band he ever worked with.
This Message Edited On 05.11.08
Digging: Iggy Pop - The Idiot | | |
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