Heatmiser: Dead Air [FRONTIER]

Why you'll love it

Heatmiser's 1993 debut album back on vinyl from Frontier, fourteen songs from the Portland band Elliott Smith co-founded with Neil Gust. It's loud, raw 90s indie rock with Smith's melodic gift already shining through.

This edition

• Reissue of the 1993 debut album
• Fourteen tracks across two sides, from "Still" to "Dead Air"

About the album

Before his solo records made him one of the most beloved songwriters of his generation, Elliott Smith was in Heatmiser, the Portland band he started with Neil Gust in the early 90s. Dead Air, their 1993 debut on Frontier, is louder and angrier than anything he did later, all crunchy guitars and pounding drums, with Smith and Gust trading songwriting duties.

"Still", "Candyland" and "Bottle Rocket" race along, and you can already hear Smith's gift for melody cutting through the noise on "Can't Be Touched" and "Don't Look Down". It's a fascinating snapshot of a great songwriter finding his feet in a band that sounded nothing like where he ended up. Fans of the later records will be surprised; fans of 90s indie rock will feel right at home.

Tracklist

Listen

On Frontier (cat# 31057), a reissue of the 1993 album.