Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: Xtra-Acme USA

Woman, off my back!

Once, when I was in high school, my girlfriend made me get tickets to see the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (JSBX). So I did, even though I secretly didn't want to, for two reasons. First, I'd never heard of them. And second, what I knew about them, (i.e., their name) sounded really stupid.

Then I got what at the time seemed like a lucky break. We were waiting in line for the show, and they were maybe two hours late. The enormous woman who was taking tickets at the door said they probably wouldn't start until after 10 p.m! So I said, "Well, I've got to wake up early for school tomorrow, and I have that biology quiz, and well, as much as I want to see your Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, I really have to go." My girlfriend tried to argue: "He's an attractive man!" "But I'm straight," I said, "as you know well." Then she said, "But Winona Ryder played him in the band publicity movie. [This is actually true.] You like her, don't you?" I did, but it was no use. I got the fat woman to give me my money back, and I was home watching L.A. Law in no time.

This is a cautionary tale for those of you who blanch at the thought of a "blues explosion." It's time to graduate from high school, because this band rocks more beats, as they say, than Jesse Owens won track meets. The blues may never have sounded like this, but it always wanted to.

JSBX's latest is Xtra-Acme USA, a bunch of outtakes and remixes from its previous album, Acme. Xtra is a little rougher, as you might expect, but just as hard-driving and energetic. With a blues-ish repertoire, you might expect everything to sound sort of the same. And I guess it's sort of true, but it all sounds good. And there's enough synth weirdness to keep things humming. Tracks like "Bacon," with its bad-ass violins, pass in and out of straight rock without once approaching the dastardly isle of funk. "Magical Colors (31 Flavors)" borders on Credence, if Frank Black were its frontman—you can interpret that any way you want. I couldn't resist turning the volume up on "Leave Me Alone So I Can Rock Again" so high that the woman who lives upstairs started banging on my ceiling. All I could do was shout, "Leave me alone so I can rock again!"

Bottom line: forget about school. Trust your girlfriend's taste in music. Then tell her to leave you alone.(Matador)

—Ian Blecher

Back to A&E...