Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Like with any kind of reunion, a customary compilation is assembled to give it some added purpose. Although Jon Spencer has said his band haven't broken up and were just in a "deep sleep," Dirty Shirt Rock N' Roll comes off like a celebratory reminder of the JSBX's greatness. Subtitled The First Ten Years, this sizable retrospective consists of cuts chosen by Spencer, guitarist Judah Bauer and drummer Russell Simins between 1990 and 2000. Like the recent comp from former label-mates Pavement, if you've been a loyal fan there isn't much to Dirty Shirt Rock N' Roll. It's basically just the band's personal highlight reel, but that shouldn't short-change the fact that they made some of the most electrifying rock music of the '90s. Hearing "Bellbottoms" 16 years later doesn't change how ostentatious and explosive it will forever be, with its meaty fusion of strings and bombastic blues shout outs. "Fuck Shit Up" is a beautifully unhinged mess that, thank heavens, lives up to its name. And utilizing the king perv himself, Andre Williams, on a dirty little track like "Lap Dance" definitely earned them the type of cred they sought as true bluesmen. Dirty Shirt Rock N' Roll is by no means any sort of complete look back, leaving off shit kickers like "Dang" and "2Kindsa Love" prove there is a lack of comprehensiveness. But anyone looking for an introduction to a band wrongly forgotten can find quite an education in these 22 songs.