New York’s Kissed By An Animal comes through with more psychedelic alt-rock guitar heroics, like sugar-crash J. Mascis. This record’s a hooky guitar workout with a queasy mood that prickles like an anxiety attack during rush hour, and singer-guitarist Dima Drjuchin’s melted fruit candy art—on all four sides of the gatefold—captures the sick-sweet, overstimulated mood perfectly. Put it on and find yourself singing along to stressed-out, funny lyrics like, “My body’s numb. Why’s my money gone?/Can’t go back to where I’m from.”

–Chris Terry

Kissed By An Animal

I Don’t Have To Explain Myself To You 12″ LP