Royal Trux – Pound for Pound [LP]

"The final ROYAL TRUX album to be released while they were still a live, touring entity, Pound for Pound promised another new world of classic rock in the new millennium. Royal Trux had been flying the flag (well, actually a bunch of different flags) in the name of rock and roll since the beginning—while simultaneously, and with a cynical grin, manipulating styles to get across to certain crowds and mindsets. Two interests at the same time: rock and roll, and the short con. In ‘98, Royal Trux had emerged from their Virgin contract buyout, proudly bearing the brand of SELL-OUT! tattooed on their forehead by the angry mini-hordes of indie rock. As always, out was in and the only direction was UP. Accelerator and Veterans of Disorder provided Frankensteinean takes on the anti-narrative of their career arc, to show the indie-hordes that perhaps these guys hadn’t changed after all. Well, of course they had, but that wasn’t really the point. Remember: rock and roll, and the short con. With a production almost as clean and lean as David Briggs’ mix of Thank You, Pound for Pound plays like the follow-through to the two Virgin Records, but separated by four years and a flurry of other releases, just to keep you guessing. Knowing Royal Trux, this was the beginning of nothing—the next album was just as likely to slide into another direction—and as it transpired, Pound for Pound was the last go-round for the muse and bliss of Royal Trux, both of which involved being wildly out of step with any movement, group or person that actually seemed to want them around."

Drag City, 2014