Bang

Never ones to sugarcoat anything, and immune to current fashion, Chicago's Jesus Lizard played hard and sweaty rock that had the singular ambition to go for the jugular. Totems of alternative credibility who counted the guys in Nirvana among their fans, the Jesus Lizard never took an easy way out, finally calling it quits only after sensing their day was done (coinciding with their being dropped by Capitol Records). Bang is the essential mop-up, and it includes the Lash EP, various rare singles, B-sides, live cuts, and demos. Throughout, David Yow's serial-killer vocals match up with guitarist Duane Denison's unusually precise guitar lines and the mechanical shifting of the rhythm section. It's no coincidence that the band did its best work with producer Steve Albini (Big Black, Rapeman). Albini's bargain-basement approach has ruined other subtler bands (P.J. Harvey, Nirvana), but with the Jesus Lizard his approach only points up the band's steely combustion. Away from Albini's control board, the band is occasionally flat, as several musty live recordings illustrate. Bang is essential for completists and a worthwhile introduction for beginners (though 1992's Liar remains the most obvious starting point). --Rob O'Connor