Monkeywrench

Celebrating 17 years of a great idea, Monkeywrench returns with a new studio album, their first since 2000's Electric Children. Putting together the progenitors of the modern underground--Mark Arm and Steve Turner of Mudhoney fame, Tim Kerr (Poison 13, King Sound Quartet, The Big Boys), Gas Huffer's Tom Price, and Martin Bland (Lubricated Goat)--Monkeywrench is nothing less than a punk/grunge supergroup. 
 
The band kicks out the same glorious, fuzz-laden mess that characterizes Mudhoney's work, but there are notable differences here: Monkeywrench has a twisted take on everything from country to psychedelic and offers impressive bluesy guitar playing. There is a Texas roots taste spread through the tracks and the rhythm section lays down a fast and furious groove (Turner's bass playing is outstanding) while dueling guitars engage in a race to the finish line. Then there's Arm's influential rasp--an unkempt, sneering yowl. It's comforting to know these gents haven't settled down.