Jim, Week 6, Label: The Jesus Lizard

The first time I heard the album "Goat" by The Jesus Lizard, I didn't really like it. My older brother had it on in his car. "You like punk music, right? Check these guys out." I didn't get it. It was slow, and even quiet at times, and the songs were five minutes long. I thought punk music was about short, fast, pissed off songs. This was way over my head, and didn't understand until later how brilliantly this band had deconstructed a genre that is pretty limiting if you follow the formula. This music is still pissed off, but in a more sophisticated way. Bands I was into at the time like Negative Approach were pissed off in a reactionary, knee-jerk way, and they just screamed about it until they ran out of gas and the song was over. The Jesus Lizard's sound was more calculated. After much careful consideration, they were STILL pissed off. They understood that the loud parts of songs are more effective after slow, creepy buildups. Instead of jumping out and pummeling you in the head like most punk bands, they were hiding in the bushes, stalking you, taking careful aim at your kneecaps. Genius.