While it was regarded as something of a disappointment when it was first released in 1994, in retrospect,
Down
stands as the last really vital album from
the Jesus Lizard
. It lacks the same degree of bone-crushing force and sweaty psychosis that made
Goat
and
Liar
instant classics (the band seems to be aiming for a slightly more subtle approach this time out), and most of the songs take a bit longer to sink in. But bassist
David Sims
and drummer
Mac McNeilly
were still capable of connecting like
Mike Tyson
against a speed bag on the heavy tunes,
Duane Denison
's sheets of chrome-plated guitar are as gloriously fragmented as ever, and there's never been a rock vocalist before or since quite like
David Yow
. It was also the last
Jesus Lizard
album to benefit from
Steve Albini
's spare, dry recording; if ever there was a band that didn't take to a more "hands-on," "user-friendly" production, it was
, and between
Albini
's decision not to work with the group again after they signed to
Capitol Records
and the departure of drummer
McNeilly
, this group was never the same in the studio again.
was the greatest recorded moment for
, but
captured one of the most powerful American bands of the 1990s in their last gasp of twisted glory. ~ Mark Deming