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Release your inner Jesus Lizard

By Nick Schwab

Earlier last month, there was a cause for jubilation, if not celebration. No, not just for Halloween, but also when Touch and Go Records released deluxe re-mastered re-issues of their Jesus Lizard catalogue. Any fan of that time period knows that along with the emotionally stirring howling of singer David Yow, who was also known for sometimes baring his genitals during performances, The Jesus Lizard was an act that was one of the pivotal 1990s noise rock berserkers.

The new editions include six of their albums (4 LPs and two EPs) that also contain a few bonus tracks and live versions of songs as well as a few demos. These albums may not be perfect by any means, but they are a mark of their era. This Chicago band simply rocked like a banshee from hell, or a rabid dog going for the jugular, grinning the entire duration of the attack. They were the stuff of both a head-banging and air guitar-playing adrenaline rush, yet the music acted both disturbing and with a reclusive, misanthropic hatred.

Having influenced similar modern acts such as Pissed Jeans and Giddy Motors, The Jesus Lizard's sonic assault, so abrasive and fast that it borders on ear-rape, also has energy akin to a nuclear reaction. Yet, despite its baroques, giving off the feeling of aggression and perversion, it's music suited to chew the floor and climb the walls to. With that said, it's not the typical generic sounds you will hear on mainstream radio stations and MTV. Frankly, this is rock 'n' roll as it is supposed to be heard in all its underground glory and sleaze.

That is not to say the music is played by amateurs. The Jesus Lizard are very talented musicians who have gone on to play with the post-rockers Battles and the Mike Patton-fronted metalliers, Tomahawk. Furthermore, noise rock extraordinaire Steve Albini, who produced every Jesus Lizard release they did for Touch and Go, once called the act, "Easily the best group of musicians I've ever worked with in terms of aggregate talent and ability." That is an especially special statement, as Albini has worked with such seminal acts as Nirvana and the Pixies.

Formed from the ambers of the Austin, Texas noise rockers Scratch Acid, Yow, guitarist Duane Denison and bassist David Sims, along with a drum machine, released their first singe in 1989 called "Chrome." Later that same year they came out with their debut EP "Pure." By the time their first LP "Head" was released in 1990, they had added a drummer in Mac McNeilly. A few more albums followed, including "Goat" and "Liar," records many consider to be seminal. The band would later sign a major label album deal with Capitol records, which brought forth their albums "Shot" and "Blue" (note: these two albums are not part of the re-issues.) The Jesus Lizard broke up in 1999, but as of this year have started playing again in some well-known festivals.

Their aforementioned 1992 album "Liar," in this writer's opinion, is possibly their best. Led off by the scorcher "Boilermaker," a track that utilizes both harsh dissonance to melodic guitar chime with Yow's raspy, guttural scream, it shows the listener that all is not right in Wonderland. The album moves to the chaos of "Gladiator" and the demon purging "The Art of Self Defense," then delves into subtle, death dirge-like songs. However, the album is truly at its apex at the halfway point with "Puss."

That song's attack will give you violent whiplash from the slashing instrumentals. It is probably the best song they have ever done. The album's energy starts to go slack at the end, and although it's still intriguing, the next five songs don't so much attack as they do sizzle. However, the first half of the album is classic.

Moreover, The Jesus Lizard is one of the definitive figures of the noise rock scene and will burn their mark on your forehead while destroying your Peter Pan-like happy thoughts. It is the stuff great nihilism is made out of.

The Jesus Lizard's deluxe re-mastered re-issues are available now through Touch and Go Records.

Originally Published: November 4, 2009

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