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Rack (album)

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Rack
Studio album by
the Jesus Lizard
ReleasedSeptember 13, 2024
RecordedNovember 2023
StudioAudio Eagle Records, Nashville, Tennessee
GenreNoise rock
Length36:44
LabelIpecac
Producer
  • Paul Allen
  • The Jesus Lizard
The Jesus Lizard chronology
Bang
(2000) 		Rack
(2024)
Singles from Rack
  1. "Hide & Seek"
    Released: June 5, 2024
  2. "Alexis Feels Sick"
    Released: July 7, 2024
  3. "Moto(R)"
    Released: August 14, 2024

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.

Background

[edit]

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]

Recording

[edit]

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]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[16]
Classic Rock[17]
Clash9/10[18]
Mojo[15]
PopMatters8/10[19]
The Quietusfavorable[20]
Uncut7/10[15]
Under the Radar8/10[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]

Year-end lists

[edit]
Select year-end rankings for Rack
Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Pitchfork The 30 Best Rock Albums of 2024 17 [22]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by David L. Yow, Duane P. Denison, David William Sims and Carey McNeilly.

Rack track listing
No.TitleLength
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

Personnel

[edit]

The Jesus Lizard

Technical

Visuals

  • Malcolm Bucknall – front cover painting (The Witch and Her Apprentice), back cover painting (The Girl Next Door)

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Rack
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

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rack (out Sept 13th 2024), by The Jesus Lizard". The Jesus Lizard. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Shteamer, Hank (June 5, 2024). "The Jesus Lizard, Underground Rock Heroes, Surface With a New Album". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  3. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (June 6, 2024). "The Jesus Lizard announce first album in 26 years 'Rack', and share UK and US tour dates". NME. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  4. ^ Ipecac Recordings (June 5, 2024). the Jesus Lizard "Hide & Seek" (pre-order now). Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (June 5, 2024). "The Jesus Lizard Announce First New Album in 26 Years, 'Rack'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  6. ^ Glide (June 5, 2024). "The Jesus Lizard Unearth With New Album 'Rack' Out 9/13 & Rare Tour". Glide Magazine. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  7. ^ "The Jesus Lizard Share New Single "Alexis Feels Sick": Listen". Stereogum. July 10, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Jesus Lizard – "Moto(R)"". Stereogum. August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  9. ^ Sacher, Andrew (June 5, 2024). "The Jesus Lizard announce first album in 26 years, 'Rack,' & tour (exclusive vinyl & new song)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Corcoran, Nina (June 5, 2024). "The Jesus Lizard Announce Tour and First Album in 26 Years, Share New Song and Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  11. ^ Eede, Christian (June 5, 2024). "The Jesus Lizard Detail First Album in More than Two Decades, 'Rack'". The Quietus. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  12. ^ staff, Treble (June 5, 2024). "The Jesus Lizard announce Rack, their first new album in over two decades". Treble. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "The Jesus Lizard Announces New Album Rack for September 2024 Release, Shares New Video For "Hide & Seek" -". mxdwn Music. June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  14. ^ "Jesus Lizard announce first new album in over two decades, RACK". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d Rack by The Jesus Lizard, retrieved September 20, 2024
  16. ^ a b Deming, Mark (September 12, 2024). "Rack - The Jesus Lizard | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Johnstonpublished, Emma (September 12, 2024). "The Jesus Lizard shine as brightly as ever on the irresistible, fascinating Rack". louder. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  18. ^ Interviews, Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews &; ClashMusic (September 11, 2024). "The Jesus Lizard - Rack | Reviews". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved September 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ a b "The Jesus Lizard Return With the Uncompromising 'Rack'". www.popmatters.com. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Doran, John (September 12, 2024). "Album Of The Week: Rack by The Jesus Lizard". The Quietus. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Kersey, Kyle (September 13, 2024). "The Jesus Lizard - Rack". Under the Radar. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  22. ^ "MOJO's 75 Best Albums of 2024". albumoftheyear.org. November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  23. ^ "Lista prodaje 38. tjedan 2024" (in Croatian). HDU. September 25, 2024. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  25. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  26. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
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