| Rack | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 13, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | November 2023 | |||
| Studio | Audio Eagle Records, Nashville, Tennessee | |||
| Genre | Noise rock | |||
| Length | 36:44 | |||
| Label | Ipecac | |||
| Producer |
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| The Jesus Lizard chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Rack | ||||
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Rack is the seventh studio album by American rock band the Jesus Lizard, which was released on September 13, 2024, on Ipecac Recordings. [1] It is the first studio release by the band in 26 years since Blue (1998). The record was praised by music critics upon release.
Following the release of the band's sixth studio album Blue, the band broke up in June 1998. They would briefly reunite in 2009 for a tour, but would soon dissolve again. It wouldn't be till September 2017 that the band would re-unite permanently. While the rest of the band wanted to, lead vocalist David Yow was not committed to making another record, but upon hearing the demos the rest of the band sent to him, he was impressed and began to workshop vocals in 2019. [2]
The album was announced on June 5, 2024, along with the release of the lead single and music video for "Hide & Seek" and tour dates spanning from June 2024 to May 2025. [2] [3] [4] [5] Yow would describe "Hide & Seek" as a "a perky ditty about a witch who can't behave, and it's got nearly as many hooks as a Mike Tyson fight." [6] The second single "Alexis Feels Sick", written about Girls Against Boys drummer Alexis Fleisig, and third single "Moto(R)" would be released on July 7, 2024, and August 14, 2024, respectively alongside music videos. [7] [8]
In an interview the band did for The New York Times , the band began working on the record in 2019 at Audio Eagle in Nashville, Tennessee with local producer and session guitarist Paul Allen. [9] [2] According to bassist David Wm. Sims, they chose to write a new record because "we thought it would be fun". [10]
The only track on the record to have its origins in the nineties is "Lord Godiva", with everything else written within the past five years. [5]
In a statement by guitarist Duane Denison on the musical direction of the record, "there are definitely some references to the past, but it's more as a point of departure: We don't stay there," [10] [11] [12] Drummer Mac McNeilly also noted in a statement that "we are bonded by the music we make, and also by the respect we have for each other.", when talking about the making of the record. [13] [14]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 84/100 [15] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [16] |
| Classic Rock |  [17] |
| Clash | 9/10 [18] |
| Mojo | [15] |
| PopMatters | 8/10 [19] |
| The Quietus | favorable [20] |
| Uncut | 7/10 [15] |
| Under the Radar | 8/10 [21] |
According to music aggregation site Metacritic, the average rating is an 84/100 from 11 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [15] Brian Stout of PopMatters believed that despite the long hiatus, the members "haven’t lost a step", specifically highlighting Yow's vocals and lyrics, describing them as "man possessed, howling his trademark demented but poetic tales", Sim's "rumbling" bass, and Denison's "inventive riffs". They also praised Allen's production work, stating that it "fits snugly between the raw, brute force of their work with Steve Albini and the punched-up sound of the group’s major label debut Shot ". Overall, they stated that "Rack is another thrilling chapter of one of the most significant noise bands ever to do it. For the uninitiated, it will be instantly apparent why so many groups claim them as an influence." [19]
Classic Rock's Emma Johnston also praised the record, giving it a rating of 4.5/5. They described it as a "fine balancing act of controlled noise and vocal bedlam", specific highlights were "Lord Godiva" and "Is That Your Hand?". In conclusion, Johnston states that 26 years later, "still no one can hold a candle to the Jesus Lizard". [17] The Quietus also praised it, giving it album of the week. [20] Concluding the review for AllMusic, Mark Deming called the album, "living, breathing, sweaty proof the Jesus Lizard can write songs and give them shape in the studio just as well as they ever did, and it honestly stands beside the best of their Touch & Go catalog in both spirit and execution. And they still hit like a crescent wrench to the face. Which is a compliment." [16]
| Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitchfork | The 30 Best Rock Albums of 2024 | 17 | [22] |
All tracks are written by David L. Yow, Duane P. Denison, David William Sims and Carey McNeilly.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hide & Seek" | 3:04 |
| 2. | "Armistice Day" | 4:26 |
| 3. | "Grind" | 2:35 |
| 4. | "What If?" | 3:45 |
| 5. | "Lord Godiva" | 3:04 |
| 6. | "Alexis Feels Sick" | 4:29 |
| 7. | "Falling Down" | 3:25 |
| 8. | "Dunning Kruger" | 2:33 |
| 9. | "Moto(R)" | 2:50 |
| 10. | "Is That Your Hand?" | 3:08 |
| 11. | "Swan the Dog" | 3:25 |
| Total length: | 36:44 | |
The Jesus Lizard
Technical
Visuals
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Croatian International Albums (HDU) [23] | 13 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [24] | 18 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC) [25] | 25 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [26] | 7 |
Rapeman was an American noise rock band founded in 1987 and disbanded in 1989. It consisted of Steve Albini on guitar and vocals, David Wm. Sims on bass and Rey Washam on drums. In the years since their brief tenure, Rapeman’s sound has also been described as post-hardcore.
The Jesus Lizard is an American rock band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas by vocalist David Yow, guitarist Duane Denison and bassist David Wm. Sims. They relocated to Chicago, Illinois, in 1989, where they found kindred spirits in recording engineer Steve Albini and Touch and Go Records. With the addition of drummer Mac McNeilly, they began performing live, eventually attracting an international audience with their powerful live show.
Duane Denison is an American guitarist best known for work with the punk rock band The Jesus Lizard. He is also a founding member of super-group Tomahawk.
Tomahawk is an American rock supergroup. They formed in 1999 when singer/keyboardist Mike Patton met guitar player Duane Denison and the pair started swapping tapes with the intention of collaborating. Denison then recruited drummer John Stanier (Helmet), while Patton invited bass player Kevin Rutmanis (Melvins/ex-Cows). The group recorded three albums and toured extensively from 2000–2007 then went on extended hiatus, and reformed in 2013 with Trevor Dunn replacing Rutmanis.
David Lambeth Yow is an American musician and actor born in Las Vegas, Nevada and best known as the vocalist for the noise rock bands Scratch Acid and the Jesus Lizard. Yow's debut solo album, Tonight You Look Like a Spider, was released in June 2013 on Joyful Noise Records.
Tomahawk is the debut studio album by American experimental rock band Tomahawk. Recorded after a meeting between vocalist Mike Patton and guitarist Duane Denison, the album features members of Faith No More, The Jesus Lizard, Helmet and Melvins. The band toured with Tool in support of the record.
Mit Gas is the second studio album by the musical supergroup Tomahawk. It was released on May 6, 2003, through Ipecac Recordings, a record label co-owned by the band's vocalist Mike Patton. Mit Gas charted in several countries, reaching the top 20 in Norway's VG-lista and the United States' Billboard Independent Albums charts.
Head is the debut studio album by the American band the Jesus Lizard. It was released on Touch and Go Records in 1990. It was their first album to feature a drummer, Mac McNeilly.
Scratch Acid was an American post-hardcore/noise rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in 1982. One of the pioneers of noise rock in the 1980s, the band is best remembered as a stepping stone for its frontman David Yow, and bass player David Wm. Sims, both later of The Jesus Lizard.
Pure is the debut EP by The Jesus Lizard, released in 1989. The cover artwork was by bassist David Wm. Sims. This is the only record by the Jesus Lizard recorded with a drum machine. Drummer Mac McNeilly was added to the group soon after it was recorded.
Goat is the second studio album by the Jesus Lizard, released in 1991. The album was produced by Steve Albini.
Shot is an album by the band The Jesus Lizard, its first release on Capitol Records. Some copies of the album were accompanied by a documentary titled "Sho(r)t".
Down is an album by the Chicago band The Jesus Lizard. It was their last album for Touch and Go records and the last to be produced by Steve Albini.
Anonymous is the third studio album by the musical supergroup Tomahawk. It was released on June 19, 2007, through Ipecac Recordings, the record label owned by the band's vocalist Mike Patton. Anonymous charted in Australia, Norway and the United States.
Blue is the sixth studio album by The Jesus Lizard, released in 1998. Produced by Andy Gill, it is something of a departure for The Jesus Lizard, exploring some of the more experimental instincts hinted at on earlier songs like "Happy Bunny Goes Fluff-Fluff Along" on Pure. It is one of only two releases by the band to feature new drummer Jim Kimball, the other being the self-titled EP released two months prior. A limited edition vinyl pressing was released on Jetset Records on April 21, 1998. The album was released in Canada only by Sonic Unyon Records under license from Capitol Records in the USA after EMI Canada passed on releasing the album.
Qui are a rock group formed in 2000 in Los Angeles by Paul Christensen (drums/vocals) and Matt Cronk (guitar/vocals). A combination of punk, noise and experimental rock, they released their first full-length album Baby Kisses in 2003.
Oddfellows is the fourth studio album by musical supergroup Tomahawk. The album is the first to feature new bass player Trevor Dunn, who has replaced previous member Kevin Rutmanis. Oddfellows was recorded live in the Easy Eye Sound Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, after a brief period of rehearsal. Guitarist Duane Denison favored the location as its cheaper studio costs allowed for longer periods of song-writing.
The Denison/Kimball Trio were a musical duo consisting of American guitarist Duane Denison and American drummer Jim Kimball. Their music was completely instrumental and heavily influenced by jazz, the avant-garde and movie scores. The group's debut album was the soundtrack to Walls in the City, a short film directed by independent filmmaker Jim Sikora and featuring Jesus Lizard front-man David Yow in a bit role. The band's name was changed to DK3 with the release of their third album Neutrons, which included Ken Vandermark on reeds. The members parted ways in 1999 to pursue other interests, with Denison touring for Hank Williams III and forming Tomahawk in 2000.
"Mouth Breather" is a 1990 song by American rock band The Jesus Lizard from the album Goat. It was revealed in the documentary Breadcrumb Trail that the song was inspired by Steve Albini's opinion of Slint drummer Britt Walford, after Walford had house sat for him.
Tonic Immobility is the fifth studio album by musical supergroup Tomahawk. Released after an eight-year gap following their previous record, Tonic Immobility was preceded by the singles "Business Casual" and "Dog Eat Dog". Described by guitar player Duane Denison as "an escape from the realities of the world", Tonic Immobility has been well received critically, particularly for its diverse-sounding songs, and has charted in several countries including Australia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
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