Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments

From 1988 to 2000 -- that's 12 years -- T.J.S.A. cranked out arty scuzz a la the Electric Eels, while chubby Ron House peeled off his shirt and ranted about drinking, rockin' out, prostitutes and the joys of Midwest-bred nihilism. You'd think such a dead-end shtick would stale after about, oh, five minutes, but it never did. The Apartments, especially on their swan song No Old Guy Lo-Fi Cry, were masters of aggression and minimalism. They also boasted one of indie's great guitarists in Bob Petric.

He's always better when you listen to the words, and he's not making it any easier ("Internet Is Just Bad Pot," "Hell"). (Grade - ***)