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The Jesus Lizard

Goat (1991)
Touch and Go Records

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Contributed by: Futtbuck
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on September 18th 2005

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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KillerMcHann (December 15, 2007)

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

Anonymous (September 24, 2005)

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

Icapped2pac (September 22, 2005)

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

Anonymous (September 21, 2005)

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.

mikeinflames (September 20, 2005)

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

Anonymous (September 19, 2005)

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.

Mr_Pink (September 19, 2005)

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

Anonymous (September 19, 2005)

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

Anonymous (September 19, 2005)

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

Yeah, RATM sure did suck.....