Down

Jesus Lizard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 29, 1994)
• Original Release Date: August 26, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Touch & Go Records
• ASIN: B0000019KC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,716 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Audio CD (August 29, 1994) Original Release Date: August 26, 1994 Number of Discs: 1 Label: Touch & Go Records

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the finest, May 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Down (Audio CD)

This band is the only reason that rock is not spent... They are simply the finest musicians I've heard. There's not anyone out there doing what they've done -- in their rhythms, their melodies, their arrangements, or their lyrics.They are at least 10 years ahead of their time...do they rock, too. I've been listening to Goat since its release. I still listen to it, and find new things in it every time. I've bought 300+ Cd's since it, and there's not one I'd rate as highly.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another jesus lizard CD,similiar to the rest, but still good, November 24, 2002

By 

"drumb" (milwaukee, wi United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down (Audio CD)

As the sonic maelstrom of "Fly on the Wall" is let loose, the understatement of the linear notes becomes painfully obvious. Jesus Lizard's deft musicianship, pummeling rhythms, and passionate howling vocals seem almost otherworldly in their intensity triggering a brutal assault on all fronts. To call "Down" simply an abrasive album wouldn't be giving it enough credit. This CD does not merely repel the senses like so many other "abrasive" recordings but instead launches a full-scale attack that continues at an unrelenting pace from beginning till end. Proving to be the true embodiment of noise rock itself, the individual member's talents easily rival those of legendary noise veterans. Recalling the heyday of Detroit's 1969 proto-punk acts, Dennison's riffs are as heavy as Wayne Kramer and as sloppy as Ron Asheton while David Yow's manic unintelligible rants are easily worthy of Iggy Pop himself. Holding down the bottom end, as always, is Jesus Lizard's first rate rhythm section with Mac McNeilly and David Wm. Sims literally beating every ounce of life out of their instruments. The band's veins course with aggression and power and with the help of Steve Albini's equally confrontational production work, Down proves to be a quite satisfying documentation of the band's raw energy. The only drawback to this CD would be that, although Jesus Lizard's sound is definitely as unique as it is massive, the actual songs tend to be very similar. In the grand scheme though, the repetitiveness of the individual songs tends to not really matter when coupled with the consistently striking overall sound and Down still remains a fairly strong effort. Although perhaps not as memorable as Liar or as innovative as the Head/Pure Eps, Down is another strong Jesus Lizard album, even if it is a largely repetative affair.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sinister, strong, dark and wierd, December 19, 2005

By 

Chet Fakir (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down (Audio CD)

Jesus Lizard are simply not as others. David Yow's lyrics and vocal delivery are like listening to the paranoid ramblings of a deeply twisted, and sensitive person broken by this absurd, violent, yet humorous world. Like some kind of punk rock Charles Bukowski, he deals in psychic pain and character observation (or confusion) unlike few others. He doesn't wallow in self-serving despair, rather his angst and anger is primarily directed outward in a kind of celebration of the absurd. His screams and pained vocal delivery provide a huge contrast to the surgically precise, yet no less disturbed math-metal-punk of guitarist Duane Denison, drummer Mac McNeilly, and uber bassist David Wm. Sims. They proceed like some kind of unending bad dream that you don't want to wake up from, that you can't wake up from. Relentless and abrasive and dark, yet not without humor, Jesus Lizard's Down is a unique listen from one of the odder and truly alternative bands of the '90s. Also recommended: Head/Pure (their first EP and album in one CD), Liar, Goat, and Shot.

Some lyrics from "Din":

Get me up from this terrible place

Because it's dangerous down here

There are splinters and splinters

Flying like arrows around

I turn around to see one huge black tongue

That means to lick my very being

And the sun is about to set

On the head of my shadow

so get me the hell out of here

so get me the hell out of here