They invented punk rock

Something burning this white hot, might out-vie language itself. For those joining us late, the Sonics started out in Tacoma, Washington, as teenagers. They invented punk rock — and anyone who doesn’t believe that can listen to their first two albums from 50 years ago. They scattered, although guitarist Larry Parypa, at least, kept his hand with Charlie and the Tunas. “Wild thing,” Charlie sang, “you made my thing sting.” (I could have sworn that was “stink” but I was formally corrected.)

The Sonics never sung or screamed (Gerry Rosalie screams like a man who’s woken up in a buried casket and found himself a skeleton) about sex so plainly. Only on the oblique. But a ferociously pounded home oblique. On this new set I think someone’s singing “don’t disappear and masturbate,” but that might be my ear wax. Rolling on three-fifths of the original quintet (new bassist, new drummer, both old) they pound, choogle, and rain down fire so frantic you’ll need a quad-shot espresso to try twisting along.

I love Rob Lind for sounding plausibly fragile, a sax man who probably stepped away from that horn a few decades — flying fighters in Vietnam. I love how Rosalie yowls that you can’t judge a book by looking at its cover, a frustrated-date rant flung out wide to cover the “ugly” woman who gets it more than you (times 20). Or the quiet veteran of ECT therapy who listens to co-workers make “loony” jokes. Or any other white-hot oversight.

• Album: This Is The Sonics
• Artist: The Sonics
• Label: Revox
• Songs: (1) I Don’t Need No Doctor (2) Be a Woman (3) Bad Betty (4) You Can’t Judge a Book by the Cover (5) The Hard Way (6) Sugaree (7) Leaving Here (8) Look at Little Sister (9) I Got Your Number (10) Livin’ in Chaos (11) Save the Planet (12) Spend the Night