The Jesus Lizard's first formal release, this five-song EP shows that the engagingly evil minds behind Scratch Acid songs like "Mary Had a Little Drug Problem" were hardly about to change their ways, certainly not by coming up with a murky, echoed beat-fest called "Happy Bunny Goes Fluff-Fluff Along." The use of a drum machine on this initial release doesn't actually hurt the incipient group too much; if anything, it intensifies the brute punch of the music. Denison's freaked-out sheet-metal-abuse approach to guitar playing gets plenty of moments to rip forth; the teeth-grinding squeals of songs like "Blockbuster" and "Rabid Pigs" are hardly easy listening. Yow oddly sounds a bit distanced and mysterious at many points, almost conversational, but more than once he unleashes his ghost-of-Nick Cave breathless howl. Certainly the chorus on "Bloody Mary" will have most checking for bodies or monsters under the bed. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide
Pure is the debut EP by The Jesus Lizard, released in 1989. The cover artwork was by bassist David Wm. Sims. This is the only record by the Jesus Lizard recorded with a drum machine. Drummer Mac McNeilly was added to the group soon after it was recorded. The song "Blockbuster" was sung by bassist David Wm. Sims and was covered by the Melvins, with David Yow on vocals, on their album "The Crybaby".
Track listing
"Blockbuster" - 3:29
"Bloody Mary" - 1:59
"Rabid Pigs" - 2:09
"Starlet" - 2:42
"Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" (aka "Happy Bunny Goes Fluff-Fluff Along") - 3:54
