The Jesus Lizard: for a living and loving it

Suzanne Struglinski

Associate Editor

Though their name sounds like a pet store in downtown Nazareth, The Jesus Lizard offers a unique sound both on their albums and live. Despite their recent jump from independent label Touch-and-Go to Capitol Records, their music has improved, but it has kept the same sound. The newest release Shot offers the hard-rock sound The Jesus Lizard is known for, clearly showing they have not sold-out.

"To me selling out means to do something you don't want to do just for the money," guitarist Duane Denison said. "We don't do anything we don't want to do. We're still the ones who write the songs and play the shows. We made it clear from the onset that we wanted [the record companies] to understand what they were getting, and that's how it went."

Shot's best tracks include "Trephination" and "More Beautiful Than Barbie." Although "Trephination" only has 27 words to it, the constant bass line with strange sounds and conversation samples force you to listen to the song over and over again.

Vocalists David Yow screams of this girl he thinks is more beautiful than Barbie, in the song of the same name. A funny thing about the song is that the music brings to mind a sweaty concert and not the plastic Mattel bimbo.

Another good song off Shot is "Mailman." Yow sings as if he is a woman being seduced by some weirdo-stalker "Sleeping with the Enemy"-type guy. The lyrics, "He can't see me; he cannot hear me; he can't smell or touch me; he sure as hell can't touch me," accompanied by Denison's creepy guitar and David Sims' bass, make the song sound like something from a haunted house soundtrack.

Denison said some reviews of the album have bothered him. "Reviews spend more time talking about the production, having a new producer and being on a different label than actually talking about the songs." Fans who may have lost respect for the band because of switching to Capitol also bother him. "We've never, ever considered ourselves a non-profit organization [and] always wanted to make a living for ourselves. It was just getting to the point where we just ran out of reasons not to take the offer."

Recording albums is obviously a big part of the band, but performing live is also a favorite. "There's nothing more exciting than a really good live show in front of an excited audience who are appreciative of what you are doing," Denison said. "As you make more albums and find yourself spending more time in the studio, you pick up things and get a little better at making use of your recording time, so it can be enjoyable as well. I like to find a balance between the two it's kind of the next goal I guess."

The Jesus Lizard will be performing Thursday at the Blue Note 17 N. Ninth St. Opening acts are Firewater and Erector Set. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at door.