Cosmic Lightning

Unearthed by Chicago label Drag City, this once obscure collection of singles by troubled Windy City native and DIY punk auteur John Timmins is by turns abrasive, poignant, violent, and touching. LIGHTNING reveals a young man influenced by the Velvet Underground and early hardcore, seething with anger, yet longing to be loved. Husker Du is the clearest comparison however, as J.T.'s brief discography spans feedback-driven adrenaline like "Death Trip" and moving, echo-affected, near-acoustic gems like "Song For Suzanne." But it's the album opener, "Waiting For The CTA," with its direct nod to Lou Reed and the Velvets, that deserves to be re-heard as a post-glam underground classic.