Abrasive, guitar-driven post-punk with the occasional soft spot

It’s pretty bold to claim, as Jack Name does in the title of the first song on his new album Light Show to have your “own Electric Ladyland.” It’s even bolder when you consider that the song in question is a far cry from the psychedelia of Hendrix’s masterpiece, ditching blues virtuosity in favor of a pounding, repetitive electric guitar riff that seems more like Glenn Branca than like Hendrix. Most of the album follows the example set by this first song: primarily guitar-driven post-punk with filtered and muffled vocals. Occasionally, Name, who is also a touring guitar player for White Fence plugs in his effects pedals and some synths, with the result sounding like a more introverted Flaming Lips. These moments, found on lead single “Pure Terror” and “Out of Sight” are some of the album’s high points. Elsewhere, he takes straight punk songs and gives them a slight twist with computerized vocals (“Do The Shadow”) or slows things down for simpler, darker more contemplative tracks (“New Guitars,” “Light Show,” “Killing a Shadow.”)

RIYL: Gap Dream, Joanna Gruesome, Beach Fossils
Recommended Tracks: 1, 6, 7