I've known the Baseball Furies for a long time now; I think the first time I heard them was on the 2004 compilation CD Maybe Chicago. To be honest, that recording on the CD is awful, some kind of muddy, lo-fi, demo version, so it's no wonder it took me so long to actually start paying attention to them.

I realized something last night; every time one of their songs comes on, I turn the volume up. I may even turn shuffle off and just start listening to them. Plus, I have a lot more of their songs than many other local bands. It's the sort of music you'd expect to hear in a dingy, sweaty basement packed wall-to-wall with bodies who are so close they can't even slam, just push against each other. The guitar never slows down enough to scream or wail, but it pushes along with the crowd and drives the speed and intensity. Last night, I was able to lose myself in that pulsing, hypnotic, almost-Detroit-style distortion, and for that I thank them. I needed it so. Whatever.

I don't know what the deal is with baseball, but I get the fury part. Maybe it has something to do with knocking out the neighbor's window, dropping the bat and hiding out in your basement with the music turned up the rest of the day.

Again, no pictures. Deal.