Six Finger Satellite, Law of Ruins (CD)

The last album (1998) from this era of 6FS, which began with 1995's Severe Exposure. It's sonically the clearest of the bunch, though it's still generally a bit heavy in bass and low in highs, at least on CD. I prefer the rougher, lo-fi sounds of the preceding albums, but both approaches ultimately hold up. This line-up was incredibly powerful, both in concert and on all 4 records it produced. Law of Ruins feels the group coming apart at times—it lacks the cohesion that made Severe Exposure so special. I spent a lot of time with 6FS in this era, as friend and fan, and the records still sound great to me today. The clear packaging is more special when coupled with clear vinyl, but the CD still looks distinctive and recognizable.