Jack Ruby, Vol. 2

One of the forerunners of New York's late-'70s no wave scene, Jack Ruby were a rabid proto-punk band akin to the mutant blend of rudimentary synthesizer experimentation and raw punk energy of outfits like Suicide and the Electric Eels. Jack Ruby were alleged to have only played five times in their 1973-1977 lifespan, and no recordings surfaced until close to 40 years after they'd long disbanded. A two-volume career retrospective entitled Hit & Run surfaced in 2014, and Vol. 2 includes half of that compilation, presented in a vinyl-only release. While the first volume focused on the band's more Velvet Underground-inspired proto-punk/noise rock songwriting side, Vol. 2 looks into Jack Ruby's more experimental leanings, especially their use of the early Serge modular synthesizer systems. Along with various experiments in electronics and collage, the album includes sprawling analog noise suites like the epic "Ghost Note." ~ Fred Thomas