That might sound like a bad idea if you've listened to the lyrics for Shellac's "Prayer to God" "Watch Song" or "Canaveral" (and aren't clear on the whole Author/Narrator thing). The band's (Albini with Bob Weston and Todd Trainer) songs are often about ugly things; the songs are often ugly themselves. The heavy grinding of the guitar and bass, powered by thundering drums, plays out in stops and starts that keeps listeners off-balance, then knocks them over with a moment of unexpected grace. For all the halting riffs and odd timing and all the utterly black humor, Shellac flat out rocks. Plus, it takes a certain genius to make the Sprint guy's catchphrase sound as apocalyptic as it does on "The End of Radio."
Shellac will be performing at the Great American Music Hall on Wednesday, June 17th and Thursday, June 18th. The legendary Minneapolis band Arcwelder will open.
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