Blue

The first thing one notices about the Jesus Lizard's Blue is that finally you can hear enigmatic singer David Yow's vocals clearly. Without a lyric sheet, one didn't stand a chance of making out the majority of Yow's disturbed vocals on past releases, but thanks to producer Andy Gill (Red Hot Chili Peppers, ex-Gang of Four guitarist), it's no longer a necessity. It also marks the first recording appearance of new drummer Jim Kimball (with longtime guitarist Duane Denison and bassist David Sims rounding out the band), and shows that the band may be one of the most musically underrated rock bands today. Melody is also stressed more than ever (especially when compared to their noise-landslide first albums) on Blue, which heightens the band's unpredictability even further. And although the album proves to be a consistent full-length listen, some standout tracks include "I Can Learn," "And Then the Rain," and "Post Coital Glow." The surprising "Until It Stopped to Die" shows the band laying down a killer jazz-like groove, with Yow adding his trademark eerie vocals on top of it. The Jesus Lizard's Blue proves that they're still one of the most challenging bands on the music scene today.