Lightning Bolt: Wonderful Rainbow (Colored Vinyl) Vinyl LP Lightning Bolt

Lightning Bolt is a noise rock band from Providence, RI, founded by Brian Chippendale and Brian Gibson while they were attending RISD in the late 90’s. There they rubbed shoulders with the bands that would become Black Dice and Animal Collective, performing heavily improvised sets in their unique ‘guerilla’ style – often performing in non-traditional venues and situations, including kitchens, sidewalks, parking lots, and venue floors. Ultimately, they sound loud, taking clear cues from Japanese noise musicians such as Boredoms and Melt Banana, but the group claims Philip Glass and Sun Ra as major influences. Wonderful Rainbow is their third album and is considered the group’s most accessible, rugged bass guitar and fierce drumming nearly approaching tunefulness. Pitchfork included Wonderful Rainbow in their their list of top 200 albums of the 2ks, demonstrating the long-lasting impact of what is a rather left-field record. “Dracula Mountain” is mosquito-buzz guitar countered by sawtooth bass riffs, incomprehensible vocals drowned in the mix. “2 Towers” begins with double-time kick subsumed by shrieking guitar, rolling fills, and overdriven guitar skronk. “Asssassins” is…. almost 4/4, power-drill basslines and furious congas. This record is pressed on limited edition “rainbow splatter” colored vinyl, and features refreshed artwork (created at the time of the album’s original release) by Brian Chippendale.  

• “rainbow splatter” colored vinyl pressing
• limited edition
• deluxe packaging includes fold-over cover
• music label: Thrill Jockey 2019

reviewed by TROUBLEMAN LIMITED 09/2019