Citizen Kill

For a guy schooled in the ways of mid-’80s punk rock, Citizen Kill guitarist Dave Kiner sure can kick out the jams. The Toronto scene staple's latest project, an MC5-inspired speed jam band, finds Kiner doing his best imitation of Wayne Kramer meets Keith Richards at a Motley Crüe show. Inspired riffing gives way to dangerous raw rock fury and Doug Smart does an admirable job filling the void left by original vocalist Al Nolan's departure to concentrate on his other project, CK label-mates the Downbelows. His Robin Zander-like growl is the perfect complement to the music. If Toronto's Queen West scene experiences the kind of revival it deserves, it'll be because of bands like this.