[karkus30]

Shellac, if you did'nt know is Steve Albini. Albini, if you didn't know is an engineer of some repute and a stickler for analogue and vinyl.

If you know Albini's work, you will know Big Black and the abrasive, twisted nature that haunts his music. Lyrics that talk of rapists and prostitutes and the whole underside of life.......think Taxi Driver and you have some idea.

This album is no different, its minimalist. If your a 4/4 fan and revel in 12 bar blues then your probably going to hate it. Its more like the most whimsical moments of King Crimson welded to ac/dc, one moment its sporadic drum rolls (oh and the beautiful sound of the drums is captured in the rarest of ways, beautiful and balanced with no hint of compression), spoken lyrics and off kilter bass suddenly flow together with Albinis dirty, cutting guitar to form a riff for a few poignant moments before it all scatters again.

Great album, here is Albini proving again that he has no interest in commercial rock, he wants to join the elite ranks of Don Van Vliet, but he wants to do it his way. He truly is the genuine article.

For the open minded only 4/5 stars.