Peter Case

It's hardly surprising anymore when first-generation punks gravitate toward the bedrocks of American music as a means to continually distance themselves from mainstream trappings. Former Nerve and Plimsoul member Peter Case has accomplished that transition more successfully than most, and Wig! is easily his most effective attempt at casting himself as a bluesman. A tasty mix of vintage, reverb-laden Memphis rockabilly and gutbucket harmonica is the album's immediate hook, and with it, Case is able to refashion some time-tested themes with unexpected panache. The entire album bristles with electricity; it almost sounds on tracks like "House Rent Jump" and "New Old Blue Car" that the musicians are enduring shocks throughout the takes, suggesting that, while performances are always crucial, the overall feel of a recording is just as important. Case has certainly captured something special in those terms on Wig! and any fan of American rock should be thankful.