STILL SINGLE

A space for thoughts on music and culture, as written by Doug Mosurock and a select handful of individuals. This is intended as a supplement to our regular feature Still Single, published on Dusted Magazine. Updates will run here more frequently, and may feature writing on music not covered in the column. Compact discs are still not accepted for review -- we have more than enough vinyl and the occasional cassette to worry about.

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January 12, 2012

Bitch Magnet – Discography 3xLP (Temporary Residence)

RECOMMENDED

About 1.5 LP’s worth of Bitch Magnet’s output holds up to scrutiny during these times of cultural warfare; times which greatly decrease the footprint needed to secure “keeper” status for any title. Now that I was “around the first time” for more and more reissue content, I cannot help that my brain automatically reverts to issuing a “hold-up” grade. I will say that I’m astonished at how immensely loud this band was (it may be the re-mastering job on this set), having existed right on the cusp of the “new loud” development; a development largely brought into being by Steve Albini (I’m thinking, more and more, that Albini is an angel if there ever was one), if we’re going to talk recorded works. This band was where Jon Fine worked out how to be one of the loudest, most powerful guitarists in the world of all that is loud and powerful. Something else that no one seems to want to admit: There’s a lot of metal in Bitch Magnet. Well, a lot of metal riffing, and most of it is back-loaded onto their final LP, 1991’s Ben Hur. Interesting then, that the most notable spinoff of Bitch Magnet happened to be the extremely enjoyable adult-emo of Seam, but that’s about all I have to say about this or any specific quality of Bitch Magnet’s initial run or this lovingly appointed triple vinyl set. Is it an essential part of a newbie’s history lesson? Right now, ANYTHING is mandatory, considering a widespread negative reaction to studying facets of important rock history in general. Lastly, I have to shoot a kudos to Temporary Residency for reissuing a body of work that doesn’t immediately have thru-the-roof eBay capitol or hyped-up following, or any other blatant attributes that equal a unit-moving safety net. Sure, there’s been a little bit of murmuring and Seam records command stupid money online, but this is about the quality of the music (see Jagjagwuar’s Supreme Dicks reissues for an untouchable example of this).

Perhaps you are curious as to why this review feels so lukewarm. Or perhaps not. A lot of you know whether or not you need to have this, and it is most certainly a proper footnote in the History of Hook & Heavy. On black vinyl. Hurry up because Temporary Residency stuff tends to prematurely enter the appreciation zone, if you get my zipper-drift. (http://www.temporaryresidence.com)
(Andrew Earles)

1 month ago • 0 notes