U.S. Christmas

Bad Heart Bull is, or, rather, was, the debut album from doom-folk band U.S. Christmas (who now go by the name USX), based in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. The record was originally self-released back in 2004 on CD-R and only now is seeing a proper vinyl re-release. U.S. Christmas have made their mark on the scene since this first came out and now six albums into their career, have put out their three releases with Neurot Recordings; it's a fitting partnership, as they create psychedelic, doom-infused rock that has the looping, elliptical song structures that echo Neurosis, but by way of Neil Young. The production value has a muddy, swampy quality that muddles the precision of the drumming but somehow makes the strings sound more plaintive and lonesome, especially on the intro to "Gallows Humor." All proceeds from the sale of this record are being donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe/Pine Ridge Reservation, making this good, heartrending music for an equally good cause.