Let me get this out of the way: I’m just as surprised as you are that I’m posting on the new Boris album Smile. As you’re bound to do when you work at a record store with people of a wide variety of musical backgrounds, I’ve heard my fair share of Boris records. I’ve slammed down some Pink and even pondered quizzically at their SunO)))) collaboration Altar, but this one really caught my attention. Is it better than any of their previous works? Who knows. Probably not, based on my Boris-obsessed co-worker’s reaction yesterday. But I’d probably never forgive myself if I didn’t highlight it.

MP3: Boris – Buzz-In
When I first heard this song, I said that it was “probably what Nirvana would sound like today if Kurt hadn’t killed himself.” Then I thought that was pretty rediculous, but then it actually seemed to make sense. This doesn’t sound like too much of any existing Nirvana song, but they’re both big Melvins fans (Boris pulled their name from one of their songs), so at least there’s a connection. To let the song stand on its own (and to stop pissing off Nirvana fans who hate Boris), it’s got a rocket riff and it only slows down long enough to let you realize that you’re getting motion sickness just listening to it — but, you know, in the good kind of way. I really wish I could post the tracks before and after this to let you get a feel for how well the songs work together on the record, but you’ll just have to wait until April and pick it up at an indie retailer near you.

Southern Lord Records (preorder not available yet)

Only a few hours left to enter to win that Panda Bear-designed hat!