Review Summary: A staple to a rock music fan's listening repetoire
The first time I heard a song by The Jesus Lizard was when I got the song “Puss,” which I thought was by Nirvana. Didn’t sound like Kurt Cobain I thought, and I was fooled by the illusion of incorrect download-tagging. Remember back in the day, when there were so many incorrectly tagged mp3s on the web? Those days…
Anyhow,
Goat was the first record I heard from The Jesus Lizard, and I did not like it for years. The music blistered by without great rhythm, and I had no idea what David Yow was saying. I usually skipped most of the songs on my iTunes with the exception of “Karpis.” Over the years, I listened to a couple other records by the band, which I liked quite a bit, and decided to pay more attention to
Goat. I was glad I did.
Goat could be considered the band’s magnum opus, along with
Liar. What we have with this album is a quick run of punk noise rock fusion, which is made unique by the band’s definitive sound.
First, David Yow notoriously does not sing clearly. It is not possible know the words to the songs without looking at lyrics sheets. The short, stage-diving, exhibitionist frontman uses his voice as an instrument with many growls and shreeks through the record. *There is also much shouting and mumbling in the songs. While inadequate singing could be a huge factor in listenability, it works for this record and melds well with the songs, which are shaped more by the music. The guitar and bass playing in this record are quite superb in tandem. Duane Denison’s guitar work is best described as precise and on point, through complicated tabs. There is a well-syncopated starting and stopping in the guitar playing. David Wm. Sims bass playing is very powerful compared to average bass playing, making its grooves known in most songs in this record. Some songs are completely bass driven. Together with the drumming of Mac McNeilly, we have a collection of tracks that will appeal to punk fans, with enough noise and deranged humor to appeal to many others.
The album opens up with a somewhat slower track in “Then Comes Dudley” which is filled with a deep bassline, along with piercing guitar sounds. The next two tracks are some of the most well-known tracks and best in the album. “Mouth Breather” is an interesting track about someone doing a poor job housesitting, while “Nub” is about a person losing his arm from a car window. *“Mouth Breather” displays the start-stop guitar playing very well, and “Nub” has the grooviest sound in the album and is partially in Spanish. The guitar produces some explosive chords and riffs in the song.
“Seasick” is good clash of quiet and loud noises throughout. The guitars and drums set it up well, with sounds of impending doom it seems with a more explosive refrain. Yow yells “I can’t swim” throughout the “refrain” of the song. “Monkey Trick” is a bass-driven track that is a little slower in pace that maintains a sleazy sound throughout. “Karpis” is the track that got me into this band and sounds like the most normal rock song in the album, though in retrospect, it fits here quite well. It is a slower track that is accented by the guitar work by Denison.
“South Mouth” seems like a throwaway track if there was one in the album. It alternates fast singing with a slowed down portion. Not sure what else to say. “Lady Shoes” is one of the best in the album, and is probably the most propulsive track. It maintains a very unusual sound throughout, one in which the bass and guitar sound like a unionized instruments. Also some very unusual and sadistic lyrics and singing by Yow are present. Very good yelling utilized. Closing track “Rodeo in Joliet” is probably the calmest track in the whole album and features some more start-stop guitar playing and some growling.
Grades
Then Comes Dudley - 7
Mouth Breather - 10
Nub - 10
Seasick - 8
Monkey Trick – 8.5
Karpis - 9
South Mouth - 7
Lady Shoes – 9.5
Rodeo in Joliet – 7.5 *
Album Cover – 6 – It is suppose to be a naked lady covered with fingernails. Looks like a flame instead.
Cohesiveness – 9 – Yes, these songs blend quite well compared to songs from other records.
Upshot – My descriptions were a bit vague here, as it is hard to describe their sound. Just think very noisy punk band, with a unique singer. Not palatable for all, as it took me years to like some of these songs. Overall, very solid record. I tend to like tracks from
Liar and
Shot more though.
