The Jesus Lizard - Goat (Review)

As soon as “Head” came out and the tour for both the United States and Europe commenced, The Jesus Lizard had started getting a solid reputation for their sound and stage antics. As soon as the band got back home they struck while the iron was hot and recorded their next album. That album being, for many people, their magnum opus. I’m won’t say it is their finest work (there’s another album I think edges it out) but goddamn its a mind blower.

For starters producer Steve Albini is doing a much better job this time around. David Yow is still not the most intelligible vocalist out there but he’s a lot more understandable here than on “Head”. He still sounds as deranged as ever, maybe even more so. The band manages to be even tighter than before, no doubt from excessive touring from the previous few months. They also managed to put in more variety in their songs. A little dash of Country (“Karpis”, “Monkey Trick”), Surf-inspired riffs (“Nub”), Arena Rock chorus chanting (“South Mouth”), Post-Punk melody (“Then Comes Dudley”, “Rodeo In Joliet”), and even some irregular timing signatures (“Mouth Breather”).

Their horniness from the previous album has been greatly toned down. They instead have stories about caretakers (“Mouth Breather”), life in prison "(“Karpis”), relationships (“Then Comes Dudley”), murder (“Seasick”), and whatever the Hell “Lady Shoes” is suppose to be about. Your bases are sickeningly covered.

While I don’t think “Goat” is the bands finest work but it deserves the praises its gotten over the years. It must have been pretty good since the entire album was covered back in 2024 by fans who have their own bands now. An Underground classic.

Final score: 4.5/5

Choice cuts: “Mouth Breather”, “Nub”, “Seasick”, “Monkey Trick”