Album Notes

Gizzard was created in 1990 by guitarist Chris Strawn and sax-player Brian Hicks. Bouncing between Atlanta and Jacksonville, the band evolved through many members into its final three-member platoon (Chris Strawn: guitar & vocals; Taylor Griffin: bass; Vince Coursey: drums & percussion) which played its final show in 2000. Strawn went on to co-found Brass Castle in Atlanta later that same year.

Releases included the out-of-print, Kramer-produced e.p "Let 'em Die"(1995) as well as the "This Is This" e.p.(1996) and the full length cd's, WE DID SOME THINGS (1998) and KILL AND REISSUE (1999). They're all ghetto-punked, southern rock and roll manifestos with wild structures, incessant hooks, and excellent sax work from Hicks.

The band finished its last collection of songs as a trio in 2000. The result was DENISE! It was Gizzard's final and most meticulously produced album of music, appropriate for midnight deer shining runs, high speed Autobahn lovin', or any activity involving split second decisions. Scars of Jacksonville, brother.

If that doesn't clear anything up, try this: the drummer's heroes are James Brown and John Bonham; the guitarist grew up on Hank Williams Jr., got into copping Van Halen leads, and ended up in love with the Minutemen; the bass player really digs Magma, Caroliner, and an occasional Neil Young record.


"The tunes are damn heavy- drummer Vince Coursey is at his best when emulating the all-out bash of dead Zeppelin stick swinger John Bonham- and Chris Strawn's slamming guitars and slack-jawed vocals are always interesting. Bassist Taylor Griffin floods the dark spaces with floppy-stringed bass lines that round out Gizzard's thick 'n' chunky vibe. 'Denise!' is one of those rare records on which every song is worth the time it takes to listen. There's no filler here, not one wasted tune. But that's the Gizzard ethic, one that should be espoused by an industry bent on aesthetics and puff...Sometimes- most of the time- the best bands never make it." -- Folio Weekly (John Citrone)(2000)

"They combine elements of punk, straight-up rock, and jazz into something that sounds like jazz as interpreted by Neil Young and Crazy Horse...intriguing stuff and a far sight more inventive/creative than your average jazz-rock (with emphasis on the latter) combo." -- Dead Angel (2000)

"Imagine a cross between Fugazi, a tad of Allman Brothers Southern fried rock, and a good dose of punk rock energy...Very tight and their songs are extremely well written." -- Atlanta Music Scene (1999)

"Gizzard's music has the sound of being recorded in a large garage where they prime up for midnight drag races by banging out tunes on the walls. They jam too, which makes this perfect driving music." -- Ink Nineteen (1998)