The initial run of The Jesus Lizard lasted almost exactly a decade. Their first album “Head” was released in 1990, followed by their first break in 1999 after the Capitol misunderstanding. It was enough to earn them legendary status. The band from Chicago lived off this status, even if they didn’t take advantage of it. No expensive reunion concerts, they played unobtrusively here and there over the last few years.
And now, after a 26-year break, the first material from the studio, entitled “Rack” (Ipecac), the record also does no harm to the band’s image. Neither half-baked nor pretentious, the gentlemen present themselves as fresh as ever.
The Jesus Lizard in unchanged form: Noise rock, played raw and dry as dust. Plus the energetic David Yow as a tireless bouncer. All in impressive form and not aged a day.
“Rack” sits confidently on the shelf next to ‘Goat’ and ‘Liar’, pushing ‘Shot’ and ‘Blue’ to one side. Perhaps the record is a little more accessible after all. “Moto(R)”, for example, is super catchy. But when they make the sound swell so beautifully menacing, as on “What If?”, you can confidently present it to your evil-eyed friends.
“Lord Godiva” sounds incredibly crisp. Nasty rock music seems to be a fountain of youth.
The Jesus Lizard – Rack: Everything as it was – RIFL
