As a band that made a name for itself on the frantic energy of its live shows, the release of a live album from
Screaming Females
has been a long time coming. With
Live at the Hideout
, listeners can experience the sonic might of the New Jersey power trio with a live set recorded by none other than
Steve Albini
, who the band worked with on its fifth album, 2012's
Ugly
. While
are always impressive in the studio, the band's live presence is a whole other beast. Guitarist and singer
Marissa Paternoster
completely pours herself into her performance as she makes a case for being one of the best indie rock guitarists since
J Mascis
. Between
Albini
's knack for capturing a band in its natural, live state and
' habit of giving their all on-stage,
feels like a new take on the "best-of" compilation, capturing some of the group's strongest work in an environment in which it thrives. This makes for an album that will not only satisfy longtime fans looking to satisfy their craving for a live set, but also work as an introduction to the band for any new fan looking for a jumping-on point. ~ Gregory Heaney