Early Jesus Lizard records get reissue treatment

One of the great things about bands reuniting is that their records often get a makeover at the same time.

The Jesus Lizard is no exception. Chicago label Touch & Go Records has reissued the band's five-song debut, "Pure," along with its first four full-length records - "Head," "Goat," "Liar" and "Down."

Musician and producer Bob Weston remastered all of the albums with the help of Steve Albini, who produced the records back in the day. The reissues come with extra goodies, and all are available on vinyl as well as CD.

The albums don't sound too much different than they did in the 1990s, a sign of how good a job Albini did the first time around. Weston has boosted the volume and cleaned up the sound a bit, punching up the group's amazing rhythm section - David Sims on bass and Mac McNeilly on drums. Weston wisely keeps David Yow's vocals muffled and distorted, so they retain their uniquely strange power.

"Pure," recorded in 1989 before McNeilly joined the group (his role is filled by a drum machine), doesn't sound completely "Lizard"-like, but offers powerful glimpses of what's to come. The full band arrives on 1991's "Head," a strong effort highlighted by some fantastic guitar wizardry by Duane Denison on tracks like "Killer McHann." ("Pure" has been included on the CD reissue of "Head," but they've been released separately on vinyl.)

The next two records, 1991's "Goat" and 1992's "Liar," belong in every serious fan's collection. Listen to songs like "Mouth Breather," "Nub" and "Boilermaker" and hear a band performing at peak intensity.

The last Touch & Go release, 1994's "Down," doesn't quite reach the heights of the previous two records, but it's the band's most sonically varied album and contains my favorite Jesus Lizard track of all time, "Mistletoe."

For those who don't already have these records, the reissues are absolute must-buys. Longtime fans will find much to enjoy here, too, including improved (if not dramatically different) sound quality, a nice collection of bonus live tracks and great liner notes from critics and band members.