LET’S GET L ST

A Royal Trux buyers’ guide

TWIN INFINITIVES DRAG CITY, 1990

After a ramshackle 1988 debut, the Trux unpack their first great visionary work, a double album sprawl of densely layered noise-rock, driven by fractured rhythms, feral guitar riffs and vocals that nudge the pain barrier. 9/10

UNTITLED DRAG CITY/ DOMINO, 1992

A first real dalliance with conventional song, albeit of the fiendishly diseased variety. Their early preoccupations feed into “Hallucination” and the captivating “Junkie Nurse”, while “Sun On The Run” owes much to Cale-era VU. 8/10

CATS AND DOGS DRAG CITY/DOMINO, 1993

Herrema and Hagerty break with Trux protocol by heading up a five-piece band, sharpening their scuzz-rock tendencies into something fiercely elemental. “The Flag” and “Hot And Cold Skulls” quickly became fan favourites. 9/10

THANK YOU VIRGIN, 1995

Produced by the legendary David Briggs, the band’s major label debut is imbued with the hip-swinging groove of Exileera Stones, at its most persuasive on “Ray O Vac” and “Night To Remember”. 8/10

SWEET SIXTEEN VIRGIN, 1997

A return to the weighty conceptualism of Twin Infinitives, only this time measured in ’70s-indebted jams, warped psych boogie and extended solos. Panned on release, but since acknowledged as a misconstrued classic. 9/10

ACCELERATOR DRAG CITY/DOMINO, 1998

Overdriven guitars, big hooks and heavily compressed pop make this seventh album one of the Trux’s most accessible efforts. “Juicy, Juicy, Juice” feels like a gleefully dumb mantra; the outlying “Stevie” is dedicated to, yes, Steven Seagal. 9/10

VETERANS OF DISORDER DRAG CITY/DOMINO, 1999

Supposedly intended to sound like an album of killer singles, the duo get straight to it on the riffy concision of “Waterpark” and “Second Skin”, though closing epic “Blue Is The Frequency” is a fabulous exploratory showcase. 8/10

WHITE STUFF FAT POSSUM, 2019

The Trux’ 11th and most recent album (and their first since 2000’s Pound For Pound) is a self-referencing return to convulsive grooves, fat riffs, reassuringly chafed vocals and weirdness on top. The title track is a thing of beauty. 8/10