Le Rug is a band that has seen the ins and outs of this city, and to see them continue to make music is noteworthy and comforting at once. Lead singer/guitarist Ray Weiss might be a complicated guy, and he’s not quiet about it (he started perversely entertaining flame wars with half of the bands in Brooklyn via Facebook), but his music is undeniably passionate and fun and downright punchy. I know Le Rug from Bleenex, their first album, but revisiting the stuff I missed in between has been a real treat. There’s no wonder the man is fed up with the slacker vibes that have taken us by storm, Weiss puts all himself into the music, and what more can you ask for from anyone who practices their art seriously? Sometimes his songs are ridiculous, sometimes they’re angry, sometimes they’re 20 seconds long, but, invariably, the energy is there and it never falters. Ray Weiss and friends recently released a Le Rug Collection called Press Start (The Collection) off Fleeting Youth Records. It’s 32 songs of fuzzy maddnes including three albums, two EPs, and singles that never saw release. If you’re unfamiliar with Le Rug, it’s a great place to get started. Stream a couple of my favorites below. -Jake Saunders
