Nurse
Artist: Therapy?
Community Score: 6.70

An expanded recording budget does wonders for Therapy? for their first proper studio record, released by new label A&M. But rather than record with a label-approved producer, the Irish band opted to go with their soundman to provide a grunge tinge to their punishing noise. So the band's fans rested easily knowing that Nurse was more than their... Read More

Encendedor
Artist: Dambuilders

Boston's Dambuilders thankfully didn't conform themselves for the sake of their major label debut. If anything, the opening moments of the grating "Copsucker" showed that they were ready to scream louder and rawer than they had in the past. The only noticeable change -- and a refreshing one at that -- is that the slightly polished production... Read More

Peckin' Party
Artist: Southern Culture on the Skids

This six-cut EP features three studio tracks from Southern Culture on the Skids: a re-recording of "Eight Piece Box" with Jim Spake sitting in on sax, a cover of Link Wray's "Run Chicken Run," and a new tune, "Kudzu Limbo" (which, while mostly instrumental, does feature the memorable encouragement to dancers, "How low can you GROW?"). The real... Read More

Stoner Witch
Artist: Melvins
Community Score: 7.61

The early to mid-'90s proved the Melvins' golden age, and the three principal albums from that period -- Stoner Witch provides the centerpiece -- are virtually unassailable in their range, depth, power, and experimental courage. Picking up on the basic framework of Houdini, Stoner Witch resolves into an ear-catching workup of classic rock... Read More

Tough Guy Problem
Artist: Dambuilders

This rocket of an EP served as a proper introduction to the energy Joan Wasser and her violin were capable of giving to the Boston indie band. The five songs here show the wealth of moods the band was capable of, from erratic mind games ("Dose") to romantic, tumbleweed swayers ("Idaho,") to all-out pogo rock ("Heather"). Most impressible is the... Read More

File Under: Easy Listening
Artist: Sugar
Community Score: 3.50

Given Bob Mould's reputation for searing electric rock & roll, it may be easy to think that the title of File Under: Easy Listening is ironic, and it is to a certain extent. But beneath the loud guitars lie the friendliest, most relaxed pop songs Mould had ever written. "Your Favorite Thing" and "Can't Help You Anymore" are two of Mould's most... Read More

Too High to Die
Artist: Meat Puppets
Community Score: 7.23

Although the Meat Puppets' previous album, 1991's Forbidden Places, was one of the Arizona trio's finest, the band wasn't completely happy with the album's sound, courtesy of longtime Dwight Yoakam producer Pete Anderson. So on their second album for London Records, 1994's Too High To Die, the trio hooked up with Butthole Surfer Paul Leary to... Read More

Troublegum
Artist: Therapy?
Community Score: 8.00

A high watermark of early alternative metal, Troublegum is a spectacular, powerful, clutter-free record. Densely packed at 14 songs in 40 minutes, there's sharpness on every level, demonstrating that the promise evidenced on Nurse was no mirage. Chris Sheldon's job on the boards provides separation among all the instruments, avoiding the mashed... Read More

Inhaler
Artist: Tad
Community Score: 8.00

Thanks to producer J. Mascis, Tad gets a more focused and driven sound on their major-label debut, Inhaler, easily their best and most consistent album to date. Fortunately, the group has lost none of the grit that marked them as the grungiest of the Seattle scene, while keeping their songs full of hooks and melodies. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine,... Read More

Where You Been
Artist: Dinosaur Jr.
Community Score: 9.15

By the time Where You Been surfaced, Seattle had completely exploded, and given that Dinosaur Jr.'s sound, attitude, and more were as proto-slacker as could be, the temptation must have been great to cash in. But J Mascis stuck to his guns, and there's little about Where You Been that would have seemed out of place on Green Mind or even some... Read More

Radio 1 Evening Show Sessions
Artist: The Chameleons UK

This disc is actually the perfect complement to the Peel Sessions collection: not only does it contain two more full radio broadcast sessions of the band from 1983 and 1985, there is zero track duplication with the other collection. Even more happily for hardcore fans of the band, between the two collections one can create an entire alternate... Read More

The Full Custom Gospel Sounds
Artist: Reverend Horton Heat
Community Score: 10.00

With fellow Texas maniac Gibby Haynes on production, Heat and his trusty sidemen go at it again on The Full Custom Gospel Sounds and do so with all the style and sass one could want. Kicking off with "Wiggle Stick," a perfectly lubricious number that ended up scoring the band some airplay with Beavis and Butthead, the good Reverend serves notice... Read More

Satiate
Artist: Avail

A tight, aggressive collection of hardcore-tinged punk tunes, Satiate captures Avail at their prime. Thanks to a bare-bones production and subtle -- though not indulgent -- shifts from the standard four-chord punk anthems, tracks such as "March" and "Pinned Up" sound nearly as good as they do during the group's infamous live shows. There's even... Read More