Bed & Bugs

Personnel: Sohrab Habibion, Rick Froberg (vocals, guitar); Alexis Fleisig (drums).Recording information: Arlington, VA; Cold Drinks.Much has been made of the Obits' celebrated pedigree, as the band exists in a long line of projects from the minds that gave us post-punk powerhouses like Edsel, Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, and others. While these associations probably serve as both a blessing and curse to the band in terms of trying to express themselves outside the weight of their own past, with third album Bed & Bugs, Obits seem to be entirely comfortable taking their muse in whatever direction suits them, seemingly without regard to stylistic boundaries or critical reception. That's not to say Obits have turned in a shoddy, self-indulgent album. With 13 tracks that dip in and out of snaky, Seeds-like garage stomp, surf tones, and even some drifty moments of neo-psychedelia, the band is covering all the bases, and tying together what could be disparate styles with their whole-heart