Ty Segall Band: Slaughterhouse

Does this guy ever stop working?

Ty Segall is one of the hardest-working AND hardest-rocking musicians active right now, putting out a ton of high-quality new releases at a hyper-prolific rate. This album finds our hero shredding guitar and singing, with Mikal Cronin (who also put out a dynamic solo album last year) on bass and vocals, Emily Rose Epstein on drums, and Charles Moothart also on guitar. This quartet is a force to be reckoned with, bringing a serious heft to Segall’s simple brilliance in songwriting.
There’s less quirk and lo-fi charm than one may have come to expect from Segall, but he makes up for it in power that is actually perfectly balanced while sounding just insanely out of control. There’s also a pair of covers on here, coming from Fred Neil (The Bag I’m In) and Bo Diddley(!) (Diddy Wah, of course). The omega-track (penultimate, if you please), “Fuzz War”, lives up to and beyond its moniker, bringing 10.5 minutes of electric noise lunacy through your speakers. That one is probably not the best for your radio set, but who am I to limit your expression? Can’t say I didn’t give you a heads-up, though. This disc DESTROYS.
Quick Take: A rock quartet that rocks their brains out, without losing sight of the hooks
Think: Hard + (Thee Oh Sees), (Jay Reatard [Lost Sounds]), (Black Lips)
REC: 1, 2, 4, 5
FCC: 3, 6, 7, 9
Label: In The Red
Release Date: June 25, 2012
Alex Applegate reviewed this album on July 1, 2012