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How do you introduce the Jesus Lizard? The closest anaolgy to listening to their music is being punched in the face and then having the bruise licked by a drunken preacher who screams at you while speaking in tounges. The Jesus Lizard existed in the strange period after the first big wave of hardcore had receded and the shambling behemoth that was 'alternative rock' began to rise up and slay hair bands left and right. The Jesus Lizard never rose to the heights of their contemporaries (despite issuing a split 7" with Nirvana) but they left behind a few amazing records and a fair amount of influence. Listen to some Jesus Lizard and then check out Converge's latest record to hear a clear modern descendant.

Goat, a quick nine songs in thirty minutes, is a tour de force of brutality, angularity and fierce insanity. It stands easily as their best work, not to mention possibly the single greatest piece of Steve Albini engineering ever committed to tape. Each instrument is recorded in beautiful clarity despite the guitar tones being as sharp and angular, the bass as rusty and mean and the drums being beaten like unwanted stepchildren. David Yow's voice, low in the mix, sounds like a madman screaming over the sound of the demons in his head. Together, they make scary music. Songs that make you want to drink whiskey and fight ghosts.

From the violent, angular swagger of "Then Comes Dudley," to the utterly mind-blowing interplay of the driving guitar and syncopated drums on "Mouth Breather," to the full speed ahead beatdown of "Nub," the drunken brawl that is "Sea Sick," the sheer dynamic explosion of "Monkey Trick," the weird cowboys on bad acid of "Karpis," the swimming breakdowns on "South Mouth," the ferosity of "Lady Shoes," the sweaty bad dream of "Rodeo In Joliet"...

Goat is a rare, perfect album. It is one of those records that jjust can't be played quietly. The sheer joy of blasting them in the car in the summer, or when you just need to blow off some steam. Goat is a winner every time, that friend that you love to be around but secretly scares the shit out of you. The Jesus Lizard had all the heavy that counts.



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    Posted by KillerMcHann on 2007-12-15 15:29:25

    Best fucking band ever, best fucking album ever. If you don't like it, you're a pussy.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 24, 2005 at 7:11 PM (EDT)

    Is this album more recommended for sludgy grunge fans (ie Alice in Chains, Melvins), metalheads, or alt-rock/grunge fans(local h, nirvana, mudhoney)?

    -Not-To-Regret

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2005-09-22 18:30:39
    My Score:

    Down is my vote for best album. "I sat in my office and ovulated"

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 at 8:08 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this band is kind of a litmus test. if you don't like or at least respect them, it's very probable that you suck and that your musical taste is for shit. (see: ratm dude for proof.)

    great review.

    Posted by mikeinflames on 2005-09-20 22:27:38

    best live bands?
    the fucking singer sang half of the set lying on his back cause he was so fucked he could barely stand
    the band sucks ass

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 7:43 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    The Jesus Lizard has to be one of the best live bands ever!
    Except for there last album, they never put out any bad material.
    Too bad they are no more.

    Posted by Mr_Pink on 2005-09-19 17:14:43

    "Glamorous" may have the all-time greatest guitar riff.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 10:56 AM (EDT)

    nope ... i didn't like them back then and i still don't like them now
    they suck shit ... plain and simple

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 5:39 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i saw these guys open for RATM a long time and they sucked ... bad

    Yeah, RATM sure did suck.....

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 11:29 PM (EDT)

    i saw these guys open for RATM a long time and they sucked ... bad""

    You were probably one of those poseur in the crowd and would probably dig them now. When they opened for RATM that was like 8 years ago.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 4:38 PM (EDT)

    agreed.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 4:26 PM (EDT)

    i saw these guys open for RATM a long time and they sucked ... bad

    Posted by Dante3000 on 2005-09-18 12:24:42

    I got nothing against the Hey-Zeus Lizard but:
    a quick nine songs in thirty minutes
    This is a punk site, and nine songs in thirty minutes? That's more than three minutes on average. Sure they're not of epic length but they don't sound too quick. Now DRI had quick songs...And a lot of them...some of which sucked dog balls.
    -Dante

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 10:57 AM (EDT)

    i've only heard liar, and i love that one. so i'll have to hit this shit up, for sure.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 10:51 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Too much noise, too much artsy pretention, too few things to say. Jesus Lizard were the Locust of their time.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 10:14 AM (EDT)

    this band is awesome! when i first heard bear vs shark i though. dang these dudes sounds sorta like the jesus lizard at times. good stuff

    Posted by xmidipunkbastardx on 2005-09-18 05:50:12
    My Score:

    well put. damn great record.

    Posted by jamespastepunk on 2005-09-18 03:32:28

    Interesting review. Maybe I'll listen to a couple songs.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 3:12 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Never before have I agreed more with a review.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 2:05 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    really good, though i prefer "liar".

    Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2005-09-18 00:19:28

    Good Stuff

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