RUSTED SHUT - DEAD (LOAD 123)

RUSTED SHUT ARE ONE OF THOSE BANDS THAT I FEEL ONLY AMERICA, IN ITS VAST YAWNING SPACES PUNCTUATED WITH DYING CORRODED TOWNS RIPPED APART BY WHITE FLIGHT AND LATE CAPITAL, CAN PRODUCE. BANDS THAT STAY TOGETHER FOR YEARS PRODUCING THE SAME RECORD TIME AND AGAIN THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE SAVE THE BAND MEMBERS WANT TO ACTUALLY HEAR. I THINK IT IS GREAT. MEANING IN LIFE IS HARD TO FIND. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT.

HOUSTON GROUP RUSTED SHUT ARE ONE SUCH BAND, FORMING IN 1986 AND POSSIBLY STILL BEING AROUND TODAY TO THE ACCLAIM OF VERY FEW. THEY'RE A GROTESQUE DOWNER OF A BAND. THE GUITAR SOUND (ACCENTUATED BY HISS AND GROT IN THE RECORDING) IS THE EMBODIMENT OF THE BAND'S NAME, A KIND OF OXIDISED OBSOLESCENCE IN MUSIC. THE BAND CRAWL ALONG WITH IT OBLIGINGLY. AESTHETICALLY: RUSTED SHUT ARE REALLY RIGOROUS.

IT'S LIKE SLOW CREEPY GARAGE ROCK PLAYED BY NIHILISTS BUT WAY BETTER THAN BRAINBOMBS. IT'S NOT QUITE A CERTIFIED: GOOD RECORD BUT IT IS IN THE UPPER PERCENTILE OF LOAD RELEASES. IT IS EXTREMELY LEGIT.