Rick Moody and Brendan Canty at Salmagundi:
The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis constitute one of the most interesting and rewarding bands of the 2020s. Like many listeners familiar with the independent music of the 90s, I was interested in the early trio formation of the this group (consisting of the former rhythm section of Fugazi—Joe Lally on bass, and Brendan Canty on drums—and Anthony Pirog, a specialist-in-all-styles on guitar) back when they started, back before the pandemic, and I especially liked their second album in that configuration, Anthropocosmic Nest, where no strange idea is unworthy of being set to an infectious rhythm. But when the band began collaborating with the remarkably versatile saxophonist James Brandon Lewis it was as if they sprouted a brace of extra capabilities. Suddenly they were thinking and making melodies in a way so incredibly broad, and with such energy, that they immediately lofted themselves into any discussion of most striking instrumental bands working today. Their first collaboration with Lewis, which was released in 2024, was among my most enthusiastically listened to albums of that year, so I especiually looked forward this new follow-up, Deface the Currency, which came out in January 2026. It was like I was a much younger person, again, excited about his favorite band.
more here.
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