The Jesus Lizard - Liar (Review)
With “Goat” getting rave reviews, then and now, The Jesus Lizard follows that almost immediately with “Liar”. An album that manages to be slightly longer (by almost 4 whole minutes!), 10 times louder, and 7 1/2 times more insane, and 2 times better than its predecessor. Hyperbole? You wish.
Pretty much every Jesus Lizard album starts with a banger. No silly intros, no one-instrument-starts-playing-then-gets-added-on, no samples from an obscure movie, straight into the pit you go! But “Boilermaker” catches you off guard every time it gets spun. You know its coming but you’ll still get spooked every time. The drinking song for a guy who meds are wearing off and he’s getting really mad. “Gladiator” and “The Art of Self-Defense” are a constant beating to your senses with your only recourse is just to go with it. “Slave Ship” is a slow but unrelentingly heavy number. “Puss” (famously being on a split single with Nirvana) features riff that screeches back and forth with Yow not helping by singing a song about rape. Mac’s little drum breakdown after the swirling little guitar solo is a wonderful little touch.
The minimal lyrics on “Whirl” about insecurities before sex works well considering the previously violent sex number that “Puss” is. “Rope” is another Country flavored mosher that is determined to get you moving. “Perk” gives you a little Jazz flair, something akin to Miles Davis’s work in the 1970’s. “Zachariah” is the closest thing to the album calming down but not letting up on the nightmare fuel. Its a track that feels like it could’ve been in a violent Italian Western. “Dancing Naked Ladies” closes out the record with what “Gladiator” and “The Art of Self-Defense” was putting up but this not nearly as intense.
“Liar” does have a little less variety in musical subtext than “Goat” had but the band cranks up the attitude and volume so highly its impossible to ignore. Even the production is better! This is the Jesus Lizard’s real magnum opus. Put it on and stand back, its gonna to get messy!
Final score: 5/5
Choice cuts: “Boilermaker”, “Gladiator”, “Puss”, “Zachariah”