codymcg94 wrote: Mon Sep 27, 2021 6:26 am ‘Shot’ should absolutely be an option. I think if that album had a production somewhere between Albini and the producers that they ultimately went with on the Major Label, this album would absolutely be one of their best. David Sims basslines are fuckin incredible on this one AND you can finally hear Yow lol

I gave Shot another, um, shot today and I don't think the production is the main problem. There are a few okay songs on there (Skull of a German, More Beautiful Than Barbie, Now Then, parts of Blue Shot). Too Bad About the Fire is particularly awful. I think they were either just tapped out or trying too hard to make things more songy or something.

Sure basslines are great on Shot, but still a step backwards. Probably songs are not the problem... I mean, my main problem is I can't stand that metallic crisp-clear sound of the era... Garth/Colin Richardson, Terry Date... it just sound so antiorganic to me for the most part.

I enjoy Blue more; Sure songs are the worst of their career, still sounds crisp and clear ... but at least it adds some low end, some "bassines" to the mix.

I'm very picky with the recordings in general. A lot of "masterpieces" I ignore just because I find the recording "wrong". A lot of records I love just because everything sounds "right".

Shot is far weaker than the preceding records, it's not just the production. That's clearly where the band ceased making music based on their strengths.

Still should be on the poll, though.

story from law school. guest speaker was from a big label like warner.

"we signed the jesus lizard for $600,000. you couldn't find a chorus, but it was worth it."
me: that's when steve albini would say they stopped being the best band in the world.
"Yeah, we corrupted them."

Bernardo wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:42 am Shot is far weaker than the preceding records...

IMO, while it has a different set of of strengths and weaknesses, it's no better or worse on the whole than Down.

It's Goat. But goddamn this is a hard pole

Head 10/10 underrated I reckon. this is one sick, sick, beautiful ride. Maybe too much for the PRF Phil Collins/Steely Dan/Peter Gabriel/Radiohead crowd to handle.
Goat 10/10
Liar 10/10
Down 7/10
Shot 6.66/10

Goat for sure but Head and Liar are equally fucking rad.

Much of Shot sounds like the direct continuation of the more streamlined and conventional, less jagged and angular "alt-rock" tracks on "Down" like "Countless backs of sad losers" and "Destroy before reading". At the same time, those tracks on "Down" had climaxes in the last minute where the music switched up whereas "Shot" is very pop-rock and "circular" as far as the structures go. I don't know, I think "Shot" might be more consistent but "Down" has more highlights or something and a far amount of tunes that still sound like classic Lizard, just less inspired and more recycled. I prefer the more Scratch Acid type vocals on "Shot" though whereas "Down" was Yows worst album IMO.

Production can never make or break an album IMO unless it's TOO bad; "Shot" doesn't sound too bad but needless to say, I prefer the drum-sound on the earlier records and the way the guitar is mixed on "Shot" (frequently only in one channel with the "strategic" overdubs coming in in the other) make it sound powerless and artificial. The bass stands loud and proud and is clearly the main appeal as far as the instrumental sound balance goes but the *tone* of the bass is pretty wack IMO; Sims overrates how good the bass sounds on this album, I suspect he was just happy to hear himself above everything else...

Head - 9,99
Goat - 10
Liar - 8
Down - 8,5
Shot - 6
Blue - 6,5

Bump

Have been listening to Down a lot lately. Just changed the stylus on my turntable and it was the first record I decided to put on. It's all over the place, in mostly a good way. Certainly makes me chuckle more than any other record by them. "Meow meow meow beep beep"

It might not be #1, but it very well might be #2. Goat is still #1.