Huevos
By their fourth album (1987), the Phoenix trio had turned into a full-fledged roots-rock band, leaving their old hard-core peers far behind and instead occupying the territory more commonly associated with the full-on boogie ofZZ Topor theGrateful Dead's wanton self-indulgence. Of course, you still had Curt Kirkwood's innate feel for the desert coming through on songs such as the rollicking "Look at the Rain" and the plangent "Crazy." Listening to the heat-evocative "Sexy Music," you can hear the Meat Puppets' influence on 1998's generation of alt-country rockers, fromMike Ireland and Hollerto thePernice Brothersand upwards. Only occasionally do the trio degenerate into their old warped style (the bonus track "I Can't Be Counted On"); mostly they play it straight. Includes five unreleased bonus tracks.--Everett True