/|\(;,;)/|\ There's an ocean of music, and I'm swimming as hard as I can. I use this blog to post music & commentary; I hope you find something here that does it for you. Peace!
“For Crying Out Loud” by Scratch Acid
Imagine if Nick Cave’s band The Birthday Party were from Austin, Texas, and you’ve got Scratch Acid. This music is driving, frenetic, jump-the-rails-and-take-out-an-orphanage kinda Noise Rock, with a lead singer who sounds like he’s on fire and nobody will give him water until he finishes the song.
Addendum: After Scratch Acid disbanded in 1987, singer David Yow and guitarist David William Sims formed one of my favorite bands: The Jesus Lizard.
“Nub” by Jesus Lizard
If you’re new to these lunatics from Touch & Go Records, here’s your introduction: Add equal parts Punk and Blues, pour in a couple shots of whiskey, shake, and serve.
“Boilermaker” by The Jesus Lizard
One problem with living in the Midwest is that taste-makers on either coast tend to forget that we exist. Yes, this part of the country can feel like a cultural vacuum at times, but we did produce several kickass Punk and Alternative bands—just check out the alumni from Touch & Go Records, particularly the rhythmic mayhem of The Jesus Lizard. No disrespect to Kurt Cobain, but I’d pick this band over Nirvana any day of the week.
The Jesus Lizard started out in Texas as a recording-only outfit before moving up to Chicago to sign with Touch & Go Records and developing a fierce live act. You must listen to this record. Because it’s awesome, and because it’s probably the exact opposite of what you’re thinking about when you think about ’90s music.
Here’s the music video for “Puss” by The Jesus Lizard. If you don’t know this band, pick up a copy of their album Goat and proceed to rock the fuck out.
Personal Note: I’m not even thirty yet, but I feel kinda old as I watch this and remember a time when MTV not only showed music videos, but they even occasionally showed videos like this one—rock videos by bands who weren’t necessarily Major Label Pop Monsters. Those days are long gone, and all I’ve got to say is: I love the internet.
