Devastated that the Jesus Lizard broke up? Here's a tip - "The Rye Coalition." Very J.Lizard, with spines of guitar work repeated until grating, woven with shouted spoken word lyrics lacking in polish of any sort. The interplay between bass and guitar are very artistically cutting, leaving bleeding melodies in trails, while wedging rhythms into unnatural phrasings (see the stuck record riff of "Thanksgiving Day For Cats"). There's an intentional disturbing quality, with the aim being to form awkward, but structured, racket into a sense of a musical idea.

Not always going against the grain, but showing their most original side when they do, "Rye Coalition" occasionally strike with that Fugazi sensibility when they are shooting for a more traditional structuring in their songs (which also find RC at their most melodic). Sticky guitars abound in the stuck and stutter of "The Dirty Aristocrat" make a very shaken tempo. Just to keep you guessing, the piano/keyboard-ish lullaby of "Tangiers" serves as a bizarrely pretty intermission amongst the rest of the madness.

The harsh, non-vocal presence will push some people away, but generally holds its own against the tension of the music. Indie Rock that likes to be abrasive in its endeavor for creativity, and achieving an admirable clamor of edgy, thought out deliveries, "Rye Coalition" is melodically uncomfortable.