Austin, Texas' most notorious musical outfit released "Liar" in 1992 at the apex of the "grunge" phenomenon. Musically and lyrically, TJL distinguished themselves with their anxious and often chaotic sound. The band worked primarily with producer Steve Albini, whose emphasis on raw and unaltered production helped solidify the band's primitive and natural sonic art. One of the noticeably fantastic musical elements of The Jesus Lizard is the perpetual build-up that each song contains, creating a very tense environment that often makes the listener impatient to receive the punch in the mouth that happens at the climax of every tune.
Butthole Surfers- "Locust Abortion Technician" (Touch and Go, 1987)
Some years ago, a journalist placed this record on a list entitled "100 Albums You Must Own Before You Die," and with good reason. The experimental guitar work, layered production, and barrage of unique sounds and samples make this record a whirlwind. It is not surprising that so many bands have cited this album and band as a significant influence.
R.E.M. - "Document" (I.R.S., 1987)
The last R.E.M record on the independent label I.R.S. marked not only the band's musical maturation, it also represented a pivotal transition in music history. One of the first independent artists to "cross over," R.E.M did so with well-crafted, honest, and focused music that wasn't intended for a large audience, it just happened to attract one.
The Wipers- "Is This Real?" (Park Ave, 1979)
A criminally unappreciated band throughout their existence, Greg Sage and The Wipers helped transcend the punk label with melodic, well-produced songs that helped formulate the alternative genre. Sage's clear vocal delivery rode alongside spectacularly memorable riffs to create some of the best songs out of a seemingly simplistic structure.
Breeders- "Pod" (4AD / Elektra, 1990)
As the demise of the Pixies was set in motion, bassist Kim Deal returned to her roots in Dayton, Ohio to form The Breeders with her sister Kelley (who does not appear on this, the debut record). Although not incredibly dissimilar from the music of the Pixies, "Pod" displayed a more casually natural and less obviously collaborative sound than the Pixies, allowing the listener to truly appreciate the uninterrupted talent of Deal, who by this time felt limited in her previous band. Kim's prototypical soothing and beautiful vocal delivery is also present and surprisingly comfortable to listen to without the dynamic of Black Francis.
Dinosaur Jr. - "Green Mind" (Bianco y Negro / Sire, 1991)
Former members of the ultra-intense Deep Wound, Dinosaur Jr. truly epitomized the alternative sound in the 1990s. Feedback, distortion, and melody were fused with a clear and heartfelt vocal delivery to create some great tunes. There really isn't much else to say about Dinosaur Jr., their music speaks for itself.
Husker Du- "Candy Apple Grey" (Warner Bros., 1986)
The first major label release from Husker Du, much like "Document" by R.E.M, marked a significant transition for independent music. This album featured more melodic and structurally tighter songs with a clearer emphasis on lyrical integrity. Much like R.E.M, Husker Du refused to conform to the philosophical confines of independent music that punish bands for success. Husker Du became successful for making some of the best music of any band of their era, and they didn't compromise an ounce of integrity to do so.
- Joe