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The Jesus Lizard Book
"If you're a Jesus Lizard fan or a David Yow devotee, you're sure all over this. But even if you've never heard of the band, the book stands as one of the best ways to experience being in a tight, cohesive band. You get everything except the sweat, spilled beer, and blood. It's a fun ride, and the closest thing possible to getting in the van with these guys."
--Mother Jones
"Book is a valuable document that brings us back to the era when artists were conditioned to practice the art of self-defense."
--Pitchfork
"Crawling out of the same noisy, punk and hardcore indie underground of the early 1980s, Dinosaur Jr. and the Jesus Lizard took somewhat similar paths on the road to becoming two of the most influential bands of their generation...Now the two bands have something else in common: books. Two beautiful volumes, The Jesus Lizard Book (Akashic) and Rocket 88‘s Dinosaur Jr. scrapbook...Both are loving tributes to two very unique bands."
--Flavorwire
"Book is pretty much the sort of thing you would want from any band you adore: thoughtful, articulate comments from all of the players, short essays, some only a few lines, from various folks who knew or worked with them and a ton of excellent photos."
--Austin American-Statesman
"The Jesus Lizard Book by The Jesus Lizard (out now). Much like Dinosaur Jr., the band has created a detailed, full-color hardcover for its fans. And as a bonus, members are reuniting to promote it at South by Southwest and elsewhere."
--Pensacola News Journal
"The only way to truly do this band justice in book form is with exactly the kind of energetic and engaging visual weight that Book provides."
--KGB Bar Lit Magazine
"There is finally a book that captures the godhead megalithic monstrosity that was the Jesus Lizard. ... know this is going to be one of my favourite books of all-time."
--The HuffPost Music (Canada)
"The deluxe coffee-table book about The Jesus Lizard that we can't believe exists."
--Oregon Public Broadcasting/NPR
"The big, beautiful Jesus Lizard Book…delivers a fun, albeit wild ride fans are sure to enjoy thoroughly."
--BookPeople Blog
"Book suits the Jesus Lizard as well as, say, The Dirt suits Mötley Crüe….Everyone I know loves the Jesus Lizard, and all those same folks are going to love Book."
--Dark Forces Swing Blind Punches
"Stunning new work of popular culture historiography…The Jesus Lizard Book is a work of art, and it should be treated as such."
--Alibi.com
Included in "A Book I'd Read" for Washington City Paper/Arts Desk
The Jesus Lizard Book is a coffee table affair of exclusive photography, art, and other imagery with written pieces by all four members of the seminal indie rock band the Jesus Lizard. The layout is stylish and elegant, particularly in contrast with the harshness of much of the band's music. Other contributors include Steve Albini, Mike Watt, Krist Novoselic, and more.
--Mother Jones
"Book is a valuable document that brings us back to the era when artists were conditioned to practice the art of self-defense."
--Pitchfork
"Crawling out of the same noisy, punk and hardcore indie underground of the early 1980s, Dinosaur Jr. and the Jesus Lizard took somewhat similar paths on the road to becoming two of the most influential bands of their generation...Now the two bands have something else in common: books. Two beautiful volumes, The Jesus Lizard Book (Akashic) and Rocket 88‘s Dinosaur Jr. scrapbook...Both are loving tributes to two very unique bands."
--Flavorwire
"Book is pretty much the sort of thing you would want from any band you adore: thoughtful, articulate comments from all of the players, short essays, some only a few lines, from various folks who knew or worked with them and a ton of excellent photos."
--Austin American-Statesman
"The Jesus Lizard Book by The Jesus Lizard (out now). Much like Dinosaur Jr., the band has created a detailed, full-color hardcover for its fans. And as a bonus, members are reuniting to promote it at South by Southwest and elsewhere."
--Pensacola News Journal
"The only way to truly do this band justice in book form is with exactly the kind of energetic and engaging visual weight that Book provides."
--KGB Bar Lit Magazine
"There is finally a book that captures the godhead megalithic monstrosity that was the Jesus Lizard. ... know this is going to be one of my favourite books of all-time."
--The HuffPost Music (Canada)
"The deluxe coffee-table book about The Jesus Lizard that we can't believe exists."
--Oregon Public Broadcasting/NPR
"The big, beautiful Jesus Lizard Book…delivers a fun, albeit wild ride fans are sure to enjoy thoroughly."
--BookPeople Blog
"Book suits the Jesus Lizard as well as, say, The Dirt suits Mötley Crüe….Everyone I know loves the Jesus Lizard, and all those same folks are going to love Book."
--Dark Forces Swing Blind Punches
"Stunning new work of popular culture historiography…The Jesus Lizard Book is a work of art, and it should be treated as such."
--Alibi.com
Included in "A Book I'd Read" for Washington City Paper/Arts Desk
The Jesus Lizard Book is a coffee table affair of exclusive photography, art, and other imagery with written pieces by all four members of the seminal indie rock band the Jesus Lizard. The layout is stylish and elegant, particularly in contrast with the harshness of much of the band's music. Other contributors include Steve Albini, Mike Watt, Krist Novoselic, and more.
- GenresMusicNonfiction
176 pages, Hardcover
First published August 14, 2012
6 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 8, 2014
I was given an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. (btw thank you if you read this later :D )
If you where/are a fan of Jesus Lizard this book will fill you with so much joy.
Its messy its right on and tracks the lives of JL members from childhood to them lighting their own farts backstage. Find it hysterical in a way how the photos from their childhood are so clean and wholesome them BAM madness of adulthood.
Indeed, complete madness.
Madness wrapped in a extremely handsome and well thought out book.
Awesome addition to a fan's coffee table. Be warned though its not completely child friendly, but really would it be a true book about Jesus Lizard if it was?
If you where/are a fan of Jesus Lizard this book will fill you with so much joy.
Its messy its right on and tracks the lives of JL members from childhood to them lighting their own farts backstage. Find it hysterical in a way how the photos from their childhood are so clean and wholesome them BAM madness of adulthood.
Indeed, complete madness.
Madness wrapped in a extremely handsome and well thought out book.
Awesome addition to a fan's coffee table. Be warned though its not completely child friendly, but really would it be a true book about Jesus Lizard if it was?
August 14, 2014
Having seen this band almost every time they came to town I obviously come from a fan perspective. The pictures in this coffee table size book are worth the cover price. The passages written by the band (especially David Wm. Sims) and producer Steve Albini are invaluable in giving a fan a look of the creative process an well as the inside view of the band's career. The sections written by admirers from other bands and super fans I didn't find as informative or compelling but would probably paint a fuller picture for somebody who wasn't around.
March 20, 2024
I'm a huge fan of tJL - this is an unexpected, rich document of their history. It's super-detailed with lots of first hand accounts by and about the band. The detail is the main strength of the book, but also the only weakness as the book suffers from myopia. It's so focused on the band that it fails to contextualize them in any way in the larger post-hardcore/indie scene of the 80s and 90s. It's also a bit repetitive, with innumerable people recalling how great they were. Nonetheless, highly recommended. Essential if you are a fan.
February 28, 2020
“David Yow said that he’d like the Jesus Lizard to be remembered as ‘a band who worked really hard, never really got anywhere, but were important to a handful of people who don’t know much about anything.’” - Mathew Coyte
“They weren’t Chicago’s best live band of the ’90s, they were the world’s best live band of the ’90s.” - Bernie Bahrmasel
The Jesus Lizard are one of the few bands that have ever won me over completely with their live show. I had never heard of them before I saw them open for Ministry in ’96, but they blew me away and I’ve been a fan ever since. I’d say this book is a must-read for anyone who is into them. Or anyone who just has an interest in incredibly loud, insane punk music :).
“They weren’t Chicago’s best live band of the ’90s, they were the world’s best live band of the ’90s.” - Bernie Bahrmasel
The Jesus Lizard are one of the few bands that have ever won me over completely with their live show. I had never heard of them before I saw them open for Ministry in ’96, but they blew me away and I’ve been a fan ever since. I’d say this book is a must-read for anyone who is into them. Or anyone who just has an interest in incredibly loud, insane punk music :).
March 31, 2023
Got me activated
January 12, 2014
Please read my full review and corresponding interview with singer David Yow.
April 20, 2014
0. listen to a TJL album.
1. ask yourself: are you a fan?
if yes, go to 2.
if no, go back to 0.
2. read Book.
Repeat.
this book is everything it should be, I wish all my favourite bands had one of these. my only gripe is that Down often gets the short end of the stick.
1. ask yourself: are you a fan?
if yes, go to 2.
if no, go back to 0.
2. read Book.
Repeat.
this book is everything it should be, I wish all my favourite bands had one of these. my only gripe is that Down often gets the short end of the stick.
December 5, 2025
Amazing collection of information about an outstanding band.
July 3, 2022
David Yow of The Jesus Lizard was on my program Outsight Radio Hours 30-Mar-2014 to discuss "The Jesus Lizard Book".
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews