1994

In a lot of ways, DRIVE LIKE JEHU's "Yank Crime" is the perfect angular rock album. It calls to mind ZAPPA's drummer Vinnie Colaiuta's remarks about real music: "Put some garlic in it." Well, there's garlic here, baby. The car-crash solo clunge of John "Speedo" Reis and Rick Froberg will keep the vampires away from your stereo for years. But as much as this band takes it to the outside sonically, it seems that every track has a piledriving, dirge-like pulse that just keeps your fist in the air. Tracks like "Do You Compute" and the torturous "Luau" are simply the perfect blend of noise and raw power. Abrasive, driving, and anything but boring -- nothing can touch the mighty DLJ.

"Give me some powder, to spray up in the air."

With the help of sonic magician Brendan O'Brien, KINGS X decided to forgo the polish and overtly spiritual themes of their last couple efforts in favor of an aggressive sound that bites the listener and doesn't let go. Tabor's playing reaches absolutely stratospheric heights in the bluesy solos of "Flies and Blue Skies" and their scorching cover of "Manic Depression". How many bands in 1994 could flood a subsonic drop "B" riff with gorgeous harmonies and come through without a scratch? Top all of this creativity off with an absolute killer drum sound (check out "Pretend") and it's another bona fide reinvention of this sonic chameleon. The question is, why didn't these guys ever become the next RUSH or QUEEN?

Picks of the litter, 1994: