The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Acme (CD)

All Music Guide

Part of the reason Jon Spencer Blues Explosion has been so distasteful to legions of blues purists is that Spencer cherishes not the mythology of the blues or the songcraft, but the actual sound of classic blues records -- what's important is the feel and the grit of the performance. Often, that means that the Blues Explosion's records are better when they're playing than they are in memory, but there's no question that the trio has shrewdly crafted albums that pack real sonic force. They've also been sharp enough to subtly explore new territory with each album, and on Acme, pure sound matters more than ever. Like the Stones, the Blues Explosion never abandons their signature sound, even when they're branching into new territory. No matter how many electronic bleeps, hip-hop loops, or cut-and-paste arrangements rear their heads on Acme, or how many producers or remixers are employed, the primal, two-guitar racket remains at the center of Blues Explosion's sound. But the electronica and... hip-hop flourishes aren't folly, either -- they confirm Spencer's ultimate goal of sound over structure, force over sense. And while there are only a handful of songs to latch on to, the dynamic explosions of sound guarantee that Acme is a captivating listen, at least the first time through. Still, it doesn't quite live up to the standards of its three predecessors, not only because it lacks full-fledged songs (the other three were weak on those, anyway) but because it simply isn't as overwhelmingly visceral as other Blues Explosion excursions. While frequently exciting, the sonic experimentations sound cerebral instead of primal, and JSBX have always been better when they aimed straight for the gut, since that's when they came the closest to capturing the feel, if not the sound, of the classic blues records they've used as a blueprint. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read more Less