Die Kreuzen

In keeping with the mood of the last few days (growly and perturbed. No real reason. What the shrinks call 'free floating anxiety' but they omit the words 'Fuck it') my iPod just served up a little more Die Kreuzen. Sounded so good, I just switched over to listen to the albums rather than random.

Die Kreuzen is a Milwaukee band from several years back. They were heavy, loud and punky long before grunge ever was invented; this is the sound that the music machine co-opted, tamed and sold back to us as grunge. They have the ultimate grunge cred; one of their albums produced by Butch Vig. Pearl Jam could only hope to sound this good. This is the band Kurt Cobain should have been in.

They had a very solid underground following,but like so many, decided to pack it in. When Sonic Youth was in town opening for Neil Young, they asked if anybody from Die Kreuzen was in the house; they were also famously name checked and thanked for "being our entire audience whenever we play Milwaukee" by Too Much Joy.

And amusingly enough, just when they were calling it quits, Erik Tunison was the painter on a house I designed for some friends. Got to know him pretty well, but lost touch in recent years. Scary Joe probably knows where he is nowadays.

In any case, a much overlooked band who deserve wider recognition. And just a fine sound for the Way I Feel Right Now.