drive like jehu - yank crime: classic or dud?

yank crime + "bullet train to vegas"/"hand over fist" + "sinews"(demo)

also:
pitchfork eucalyptus + satan's outhouse EP

no dates yet...

the remaster is clean, they really brought rick's guitar up in the mix...

i think rick's guitar is too low on the original mix and lacked that "sparkly chime" that is the pride of all telecaster owners. I also think the rhythm section got kinda muddy in the original mix, compare minute 6 of "luau" for example: the bass and bassdrum are more jumpy and live sounding in the remaster.

"Production", gygax? I assumed you were named after Pitchblende rather than the inventor of Dungeons And Dragons.

maybe? @_@ it's one of my favorite records.

Rick slays in every line on the S/T - Yank Crime is overlong in every sense, and he's not as explosive with the deliveries. Obv. a matter of taste.

I totally disagree, "rome plows"/"new math" vox (esp. deliveries) are to my ears well beyond anything on the s/t.

Very similar to what Matador did to S&E - lots more low-end on the kick and tons more midrange. It's not like they're turning it into a Korn record, but my fondness for the muddier, truly-indie mid-90s sound is probably distorting my take on things. If they'd had access to better technology, etc.

I totally disagree, "rome plows"/"new math" vox (esp. deliveries) are to my ears well beyond anything on the s/t.

Bottom line: "Bullet Train To Vega$" is the best song released under the Jehu banner?

my favorite song is "new math"... this is subject to change though.

How about a huge Truman's water retrospective set?

is it from the of thick tum, soar..., or godspeed era?

The Peel sessions disc is essential though.. it contians three sessions.. One session with Glen, Kevin, Kirk, and Eli from 1993. Second one with Glen, Kevin, Kirk, Eli, and Mike from 1994. Then Kevin B., Kirk, and Kevin C. from late 1994. So I guess "Spasm Smash", post "Punchline", and "Milktrain" eras respectively I guess.

They all sound friggin' amazing.... I still see that disc occasionally go used for $3.. keep lookin'!

i work with a guy who sang lead in eli(jah)'s pre-/post-TW band cactopus... i saw them in santa barbara in the early 90s and even 10 years later recognized him. very strange indeedy.

i miss glen's rocking days. i saw him at a berkeley church in september.

When I read this I couldn't help but think "isn't everything that Trumans Water has done pretty much an oddity?"

speaking of t-shirts... swami has drive like jehu shirts (scroll down) with the "artwork" from the first lp (printed on american apparel brand t-shirts). emo guilt has run its course, it's time to get down and boogie.

that's what my friend Ned (not Raggett) says about my inability to appreciate Yngwie Malmsteen.

been listening to yank a lot as of lately....wanted to revive this

Been listening to them a lot lately myself.

Seems a little unfocused to me compared to the songwriting on Hot Snakes records, but I've only listened a few times.

this shit goes hard

kind of annoyed they're playing here next month but as part of the dreaded riot fest

I'm sure the festival circuit means they are getting paid better but it does seem a little odd they are skipping a club tour to play to sub-100 people crowds (according to reports) at Coachella et al.

Fun fact: I have never really listened to this band! Which is weird cuz some people I'm close to would consider them to be a life-changer.

I don't hate them or anything, I've just never gotten around to them.

ha yeah, i'd say they might be slightly overrated by now (inevitable when you're a band lauded mostly on the merits of just one album). but they are definitely great. glad they are getting a payday via the festival circuit...

Impossible to overrate imo.

do u compute

amazing album

"their"

I think in a way "Sinews" is the song that maybe could have suggested the direction the next album might have gone?

"Sinews" was the first song they ever wrote and recorded as DLJ. It predates their first album and was first released on a comp in 1991 and then re-recorded for Yank Crime.

"Sinews" as a path for exploration, not a temporal signifier as to where they were going. Obviously it holds little water as they stopped making music instead of exploring any of it. Thank you for continuing to take the most specific reading of any comment and jumping on it. Why do you think they revisited the song, re-recorded it, and placed it last on the album?

That question is one that might have a clear answer in an interview or something, but it is an honest one. It is kind of a curious choice considering what you mention about it (it being an older song and one they had release in another form). I mean it could simply be that they wanted another song for the record and weren't happy with the original recording of course.

His artwork for Cargo/Headhunter during the Pitchfork/DLJ years was fantastic imho, though I can see how people aren't into it.

https://i.imgur.com/EoREM4P.png
https://i.imgur.com/WeVS2wN.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RS6dmwE.png
https://i.imgur.com/N6dM6o7.png
https://i.imgur.com/v0bTewb.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8d7tXCs.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/wdm7Eyo.jpg

I love Rick's art. I particular love that train one, thanks for posting these.

The old Hot Snakes website was dope. Original Rick art all over it.

Why do you think they revisited the song, re-recorded it, and placed it last on the album?

I have no idea, but both versions do serve as proper band-bookends... kinda like Slint with "Rhoda"?

Interesting point in re the book-ending, as well as the analogue to Slint. It has been way too long since I have listened to "Rhoda," I really love that second version.

I was only kidding about the cover art, of course I love it. All of Rick's. Around the time of the Obits when he had a heart scare, I emailed him to see about buying a painting, but never heard back.

I do distinctly remember hotsnakes.com though! What a treat it was to click there.

30 years old today, reminded of this nice touch that Rick hand drew the katakana for the Japanese obi:

https://i.imgur.com/QB5G4Og.jpeg

^Love that

christ this album is so good

see also ✒ Drive Like Jehu ✒Yank Crime ✒ 20ᴛʜ ANNIV POLL ✒