Public Mental Health System (Criminal IQ)

When a band takes five years to follow up its debut record, you wonder why. The witness-protection program, sheer laziness, lack of inspiration—there are plenty of far-fetched scenarios to draw upon. But rest assured that none apply to moody Chicago punkers Vee Dee.

It may have taken the Midwest trio half a decade to turn out Public Mental Health System, but judging from the expansive proto-punk riffage on the ambitious double LP, there was a good reason for the delay. While the influence of fuzzed-out mainstays like the Stooges and Electric Eels is undeniable, Vee Dee’s new material is far more intriguing than the run-of-the-mill garage-rock blasts coming from the countless New York Dolls wannabes currently stinking up the podcast airwaves.

Sinking its teeth into a sonic smorgasbord that includes everything from classic rock and fierce metal to free jazz and beyond (check out the flute and a prayer bell), Vee Dee turns out fierce numbers like “Electric Room” and the ever-so-catchy “Cleveland, Outerspace”.

Five years might seem like a long time to wait for 13 tracks, but a gem like this requires time to germinate. Besides, when you consider how bloody long it took poor ol’ Axl to put out Chinese Democracy, no one can fault Vee Dee for dragging its heels—especially since this disc borders on being a masterpiece while the bloated Mr. Rose ultimately squeezed out a steaming pile of dog shit.